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TSMC: КАК ДЕЛАЮТ ЛУЧШИЕ ПРОЦЕССОРЫ В МИРЕ? ФОРМАТ

Droider・41 minutes read

TSMC dominates the production of advanced chips, with their revenue in the billions annually and Apple praising their timely completion of modems leading to the release of the fifth iPhone. Intel faces delays in new processes, and Apple struggles to produce as efficiently as TSMC due to high capital costs and distribution volume.

Insights

  • TSMC, a key player in processor production, dominates the market by producing advanced chips with a project norm of less than 14 nanometers, generating tens of billions of dollars in revenue annually and accounting for half of all microcircuits ordered by contract factories.
  • The intricate process of chip manufacturing involves engineers developing technical processes, operators working in 24/7 shifts, and integrators coordinating different steps to create the final product, emphasizing the critical role of precision, quality control, and continuous innovation in the semiconductor industry.

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Recent questions

  • What is TSMC known for?

    Processor production

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Summary

00:00

"TSMC: Leading Global Chip Manufacturer"

  • A janitor in a factory earns $12,000.
  • A mimosa salad can have up to 1,000 layers, thinner than a human hair.
  • Apple released its fifth iPhone.
  • TSS produces 90% of the most advanced chips globally.
  • TSMC is a key company in processor production.
  • TSMC's revenue is in the tens of billions of dollars annually.
  • TSMC produces half of all microcircuits ordered by contract factories.
  • TSMC dominates in producing chips with a project norm of less than 14 nanometers.
  • Taiwan's industrialization transformed it into a powerful industry hub.
  • The production process involves creating silicon wafers, crystal growth, and chip manufacturing with up to 1,000 layers.

15:43

"Foundry Operations: Efficiency, Precision, and Challenges"

  • The foundry had a capacity of about a million wafers per year, with 300-millimeter wafers, but when not at full capacity, they processed around 600 thousand wafers.
  • Engineers at the foundry focus on creating recipes for processes, writing reports, analyzing results, and ensuring quality control through statistical process control.
  • Technological groups are responsible for specific areas of the technical process, with technologists overseeing individual processes like lithography and etching.
  • Integrators are responsible for coordinating different processes to create the final product, akin to architects overseeing construction.
  • Equipment manufacturers are primarily responsible for repairs in large factories, with strict security measures to protect technological secrets.
  • Ultraviolet lithography is a key technology requiring complex machines, like those produced by the company SML, which involves precise focusing of X-ray radiation without lenses.
  • Factories operate 24/7 to maximize production efficiency, with direct production costs being relatively low compared to other expenses like gases, plates, and maintenance.
  • Operators work in shifts of 12 hours or more, with day and night shifts overlapping slightly for smooth transition, focusing on operational control and quality assurance.
  • Engineers play a crucial role in developing and maintaining technical processes, with tasks ranging from creating new technology to ensuring its continuous operation.
  • Mistakes in the technical process, like an error in ion implantation, can lead to significant losses if not promptly addressed, highlighting the importance of transparency and quick corrective actions.

30:46

Qualcomm Modem Development Challenges and Successes

  • Qualcomm ordered modems from the company Qualcomm, but due to technology being in development, only 70% of the volume could be provided initially.
  • The modems were completed with 25 plates, each containing 1,500 chips, with only one chip functioning as a signal.
  • Globalfoundries offered to ship a full batch of wafers, but Qualcomm was initially skeptical of success.
  • Apple praised the timely completion of the modems, despite initial doubts, leading to the release of the fifth iPhone.
  • Microelectronic factories consume significant electricity, with water playing a crucial role in production.
  • Water purification involves removing ions to prevent damage to semiconductor devices.
  • Installation of equipment must consider the Earth's magnetic field to minimize control inhomogeneity.
  • Clean rooms require precise air conditioning, including cooling, heating, and humidification processes.
  • Intel faced delays in new processes due to attempts to avoid lithography, impacting their competitiveness.
  • Intel's focus on powerful processors for data centers sustains their presence in the market, despite challenges in mobile processor development.

45:08

"Manufacturing Challenges and Apple's Plant Expansion"

  • The factory demands complete identity of machines, requiring bolts, stickers, and gas tubes to be from the same manufacturer, with specific colors and placements. Additionally, angles, wedges, and cardinal point orientation must be identical, with strict requirements for equipment sold to Intel.
  • Apple faces challenges in producing equipment as efficiently as TSMC due to high capital costs and volume distribution. Different plants like Tessa Xi in Taiwan and the US are being built with varying technologies, with the US plant expected to be older than the Taiwanese one.
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