Dresden (Germany) - Three companies, AMD, Qimonda and Carl Zeiss SMT announced yesterday that they're forming a "joint nanoanalysis project" to be funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research to the tune of 12 million euros ($17.4 million).  The project's goals are to look for "new analytical and characterization methods required for the development of the next chip generation."  Basically, they're looking for ways to master the increasingly small features in each process generation, even those heading down toward individual atoms.
  

  
 
The Carl Zeiss Innovation Center, for example, is currently installing ultra-high resolution particle beam systems.  These use electrons "for imaging, analysis and processing of specimens down to the level of individual atoms," according to Dr. Wolf-Dieter Lukas, Head of the German Federal Ministry of Education.  He continued to say that, "[with this facility], we have access to leading edge electron and ion microscopes and believe we can therefore further accelerate the introduction of new technologies.  The experience gained in industrial utilization may be incorporated at an early stage in the development of future analytical systems."

The collaboration is hoping to analyze and study the extremely small features in upcoming process generations, the knowledge of which will feed into a better model which ultimately speed-up maturity and maximize yields.

Read more ... Carl Zeiss SMT press release.
 
 

Interesting

Nov 07, 2007 19:39     

But will it be enough to save AMD from bankruptcy at the hands of Intel?
some1ne report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

"Characterization methods?"

Nov 07, 2007 20:12     

Before you look to the future, you'd better make certain you have one.
Bruce report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Re: some1ne

Nov 07, 2007 20:39     

This has nothing at all to do with AMD and their lack of profits. Not everything in the world revolves around AMD and intels price war.
TheCapulet report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

very

Nov 08, 2007 02:20     

some1ne: perhaps not if people don't stop buying those stupidly named Intel processors just because of the brand and not because price/performance ratio.
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re: johnny fairplay

Nov 08, 2007 08:48     

What? Core 2 Duo is a great name compared to Athlon and *shudder* Pheonom, or even the ugly name of Opteron. (yes I have owned AMD (k6-2 and a 4200 ) But comon, Intel has great names compared to AMD. Pentium, Core, Xeon, Itanium,Celeron compared to what? Athlon, Opteron, Pheanom, Sempron, Turion, K5, K6, Am286, Am386, Am486, Am5x86, oh and lets not forget te 8080 clone. etc...
joz report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Its Phenom....as in phenomenon. Im sure all you Int...

Nov 10, 2007 14:33     

Its Phenom....as in phenomenon. Im sure all you Intel fanboi's will stab yourself in the gut while paying 3000$ for a snore 2 duo if amd does go bankrupt. Hope not.....I like paying 300$ for the best desktop processor technology. Either from intel or from amd.
Zowlie report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

What is your problem with those names ????

Nov 10, 2007 21:33     

Dude phenom is actually the name of my girlfriend....what is your problem with it !!! Don't mess with my girlfriend names dude !!!
Mario Laudicina report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

hmph

Nov 11, 2007 22:04     

sounds like they laying some ground work for the future.. wonder if 12 mill is enough.
scott report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0