Korean chip manufacturing giant Samsung is developing simulation technologies for lithography that rely on quantum computing and artificial intelligence, suggests a report from the Korean press. The technology will be used to run simulations of the first stage of the chip manufacturing process, and Samsung will also rely on artificial intelligence to streamline the process. Through the technology, the firm aims to reduce the time and cost of the lithography and etching processes.
Samsung Is Developing Algorithms To Boost Its Photolithography, Say Sources
In the semiconductor manufacturing process, lithography is the first and most important step. It involves high-end machines, called scanners, that lay down the blueprint for the circuits on a wafer. For the latest manufacturing processes, this step requires advanced machines manufactured by the Dutch firm ASML, and they rely on ultraviolet light to lay out the designs for minute circuits.
Due to its importance in the process, lithography often determines the success of a manufacturing technology. On this front, Korea's Seoul Economic Daily suggests that Samsung is developing algorithms that rely on quantum computing to refine the lithography process in order to focus on chip density and yield.
In semiconductor fabrication, yield refers to the number of usable chips on a wafer while density refers to the amount of transistors present on a unit area of a chip.
Samsung Aims To Run Proof Of Concept For Quantum Lithography Algorithms Next Year
According to the details, Samsung is developing algorithms to simulate the lithography process. To run this algorithm, the firm intends to rely on quantum computers. After the lithography process has been simulated, the firm aims to rely on artificial intelligence to detect and correct the errors in the lithography process.
The Daily's sources add that Samsung aims to verify the algorithms through a proof of concept next year, as it has already secured the algorithms. The technology is being developed by Samsung SDS, which is the digital arm of the firm. If the simulation software is viable, the firm is expected to share it with Samsung Electronics, Samsung's flagship subsidiary.
Artificial intelligence is already used in the semiconductor fabrication process with Taiwan's TSMC relying on NVIDIA's technologies to develop its nodes.
About the author: Ramish is a seasoned technology writer and editor with more than a decade of experience. He specializes in semiconductor fabrication and market analysis. With a background in finance and supply chain management - via his bachelors in Finance and a micromasters in supply chain management from MIT - Ramish combines financial rigor with deep industry insight to deliver accurate and authoritative coverage.
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