Why does Intel get so much smaller so much faster than anyone else with the same machinery? Their fabled discipline in factory layout etc. and experience in design for manufacturing no doubt helps, but I can't believe that's all it is at this moment any more. That explains months, not years.
I have the feeling Intel has locked in all the decent ways of doing computional lithography with use of pixelated transparent masks (which have some inherent advantages for diffractive optics) through patents. This seems to me the most important differentiator between Intel and everyone else. Everyone else seems to be fighting over scraps like source mask optimization. Which AFAICS is only really useful for highly regular directional patterns and not say CPU logic layers (flash manufacturers seem the only ones keeping up with Intel BTW).
Am I correct in this conclusion?
PS. damn, no title editing.
I have the feeling Intel has locked in all the decent ways of doing computional lithography with use of pixelated transparent masks (which have some inherent advantages for diffractive optics) through patents. This seems to me the most important differentiator between Intel and everyone else. Everyone else seems to be fighting over scraps like source mask optimization. Which AFAICS is only really useful for highly regular directional patterns and not say CPU logic layers (flash manufacturers seem the only ones keeping up with Intel BTW).
Am I correct in this conclusion?
PS. damn, no title editing.