Nikon Announces Development of a Digital Lithography System With 1.0 Micron Resolution

[AleksandarK]

Nikon Corporation (Nikon) is developing a digital lithography system with resolution of one micron (L/S) and high productivity for advanced semiconductor packaging applications. This product is scheduled to be released in Nikon's fiscal year 2026.

The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technology is driving demand for integrated circuits (ICs) for data centers. In the field of advanced packaging, including chiplets, the size of packages is increasing with the miniaturization of wiring patterns. This will lead to heightened demand for panel level packages that use glass and other materials suitable for larger packages, requiring exposure equipment that combines high resolution with a large exposure area. To meet these demands, Nikon is developing digital exposure equipment that combines the high-resolution technology of its semiconductor lithography systems, which has been cultivated over many decades, along with the excellent productivity made possible with the multi-lens technology of its FPD lithography systems.




The digital lithography system does not use photomasks. Instead, it irradiates light from a source onto a spatial light modulator (SLM) that displays a circuit pattern and transfers it onto a substrate using a projection optical system. Since there is no need to design or produce photomasks, the digital lithography system also contributes to reducing costs, as well as shortening product development and manufacturing times.

Nikon will continue to contribute to advanced semiconductor manufacturing by providing lithography systems and solutions to fully satisfy our customers' goals and production requirements.

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[Wirko]

Reading this, I can already sense the smell of a 3D resin printer in action. This machine seems to have almost everything in common with it.

But it's impressive. The Intel 80486 CPU was made on 1 μm process, so this printer would be able to print a 80486 chip. Well, at least it could expose the photoresist.

And if Nikon enhances it with some stinky resin printing technology, it would be able to print layers of insulation on substrates very much directly.

 

[ScaLibBDP]

I remember that Canon develops Nanoimprint Lithography semiconductor manufacturing system and I think both companies, Nikon vs Canon, will compete in that field of technology. That is very good!