Intel And Dai Nippon Printing Collaborate On Photomask Technology For Next Generation Microprocessors

Advanced Photomask Technologies To Enable 0.13-Micron Production

TOKYO, Jan. 17, 2000 -- Intel Corporation and Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. today announced they are jointly developing advanced photomask technologies for Intel's upcoming 0.13-micron process technology. The advanced photomask technology will be designed to meet the high-volume production requirements for Intel's future generation microprocessors.

Intel is currently transitioning all of its mainstream microprocessor manufacturing to 0.18-micron process technology. The advanced 0.13-micron process technology is the follow-on technology, which is planned for use in 2001. "Advancing the state of the art in photomask technology is critical to Intel's continued semiconductor leadership," explained Michael Splinter, senior vice president and general manager of Intel's Technology and Manufacturing Group. "Developing this capability is crucial to the yield and performance of our future processors," he said.

Based on the results from this joint development, Dai Nippon Printing plans to make the 0.13-micron process photomask technology commercially available for the semiconductor companies other than Intel.

A photomask is a transparent plate with very fine lines etched into an opaque film on the plate's surface. The photomask serves a similar purpose to a "negative" in making a photograph. In semiconductor chip production, the photomask pattern is used for projecting circuit design patterns on silicon wafers during the manufacturing process. In today's state-of-the-art silicon CMOS technologies, over 20 photomasks are used to manufacture any given product. The ability to pattern even finer lines on photomasks is a requirement for continuing advances in silicon technology.

Dai Nippon Printing (DNP) is the world's largest comprehensive printing company and the top vendor of high-tech photomasks, produced by applying fundamental printing techniques and technologies. DNP has 33,000 employees and its net sales in fiscal 1999 were over U.S.$10 billion.

Intel is a leading semiconductor manufacturer and is one of the largest captive producers of photomasks for the company's use in its advanced silicon processes.

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