Chapter 61: Lithography Machine Upgrade And Renovation Success
South Island Country, San Xin Headquarters Materials Laboratory.
A group of materials scientists, highly paid by San Xin Group, were intensely discussing in the office.
Each of them held a thick stack of documents and materials, arguing about something while occasionally lowering their heads to check the contents.
Jin Ze sat quietly listening on the side, his face gradually brightening from initial expressionlessness, even his signature gentle smile appearing on his lips.
The scientists’ points of debate had gradually become clear; this technical data stolen from Xinghai Materials Laboratory should be correct.
After a while, the arguing voices quieted down.
A man with slightly gray hair sitting at the front walked over; he was the chief scientist of this laboratory, Cui Zhixun.
“General Manager Jin, after our reasoning, the preparation method described here should be feasible.”
A trace of admiration appeared on his face as he sincerely said, “I have to say, the person who came up with this idea is simply a genius. This method of preparing carbon tubes with graphene is no longer something that can be understood through simple trial and error; it combines a certain theoretical foundation with imaginative ideas to achieve this result.”
Hearing this, Jin Ze did not refute and smiled as he stood up.
“Since that’s the case, the subsequent R&D work is handed over to you. Organize the technical data as soon as possible and put it into production at the fastest speed.”
Cui Zhixun confidently replied, “Yes, General Manager Jin, as long as the R&D funds are guaranteed without issues, what we need to do here is very simple!”
As the chief scientist of San Xin Materials Laboratory, he would not care where this technical data came from; he only needed to follow the company’s instructions. Issues like infringement would be handled by the lawyers the company paid a lot to maintain.
Jin Ze nodded, ignored the scientists present, and walked straight out.
Without even resting, he hurried to the nearby chip laboratory for an inspection, then ordered four three-nanometer lithography machines from As Company in the name of San Xin.
After arranging all this, Jin Ze finally returned to Jin Zhiyong’s residence at home and informed him of everything he had done these days.
Looking at his grandson’s face, which no longer had the initial immaturity, Jin Zhiyong remained silent for a long time after hearing this.
If it were him, he would never acquire Xinghai’s nanotube technology in this way.
Xinghai held all the technology patents for carbon tubes; if San Xin did this, once future chips used this material, Xinghai would never let it go.
He knew that semiconductor chip companies had extremely high status in China.
Jin Zhiyong actually did not take Xinghai Technology seriously alone. But if China was behind it, was it a wise choice for San Xin to rush out and challenge them?
Was he not worried about settling scores later?
At this moment, he hesitated and wavered.
A trace of emotion flashed in Jin Ze’s heart: the once wise and decisive grandfather had truly grown old; otherwise, how could he hesitate so much on such a crucial technology choice?
In the future, once San Xin mastered graphene chips, as a close partner of the Baiyue Alliance, the patent ownership issue would have the Baiyue Alliance step forward to endorse San Xin.
He knew what grandfather was worried about, but in his view, there was no need to worry about these at all.
After a long time, Jin Zhiyong did not give any opinion; he just waved his hand tiredly.
“I’m old; from now on, it’s yours young people’s. I hope you won’t disappoint me.”
Jin Zhiyong’s aged voice fell into Jin Ze’s ears, sounding somewhat desolate like a hero in his twilight years.
Time flew by; three months later.
China Kyoto, Optical Instrument Research Institute.
Today was the acceptance day after the completion of the five-nanometer lithography machine upgrade and renovation project.
In this lithography machine factory that had shrunk by half in volume compared to before, a group of acceptance personnel wearing sealed dust-proof suits were chatting idly through the built-in microphones in their clothes.
The original lithography machine before the renovation was much larger in volume than As Company’s similar products due to outdated technology.
After the high-voltage radio technology renovation, it was much smaller than As Company’s five-nanometer lithography machine.
Fan Ren stood at the back of the crowd; he was very satisfied with the upgrade and renovation result of this machine.
Although it was acceptance today, there had already been test results earlier.
Today was actually just going through the motions.
At that moment, someone patted him on the back; Fan Ren turned around puzzled.
Ke Fengyun’s face appeared through the dust-proof suit; he turned on the microphone and said lowly, “Master is calling you over; it’s fine with me here.”
Fan Ren nodded and was about to leave when his voice came again in his ear.
“Brother Fan, thank you for your strong support.”
Fan Ren paused his steps, waved nonchalantly to the back, and headed to Yan Wentai’s office.
After taking off the dust-proof suit, he quickly arrived at the office door.
Seeing the office door half-open, Fan Ren gently pushed it open and said inside, “Director Yan, you were looking for me?”
“Yes, that’s right; come sit.”
Seeing the visitor, Yan Wentai put down his work, got up and sat on the sofa with Fan Ren, then habitually took out the cigarette pack; each took one and lit it.
He did not smoke much in front of his disciple Ke Fengyun, or he would be nagged to death.
“It’s like this; thank you very much, General Manager Fan, for your support of our work during this time. Your chip laboratory still doesn’t have a lithography machine, right?”
Yan Wentai had always spoken directly; Fan Ren was used to his rhythm and nodded repeatedly upon hearing this, “Yes, that’s right. Originally I planned to purchase a 14-nanometer lithography machine, but now that our five-nanometer lithography machine has successfully been upgraded, it’s better to wait a bit longer.
However, for now, I want to start our laboratory’s R&D in small steps; by then, I’ll probably have to trouble you to make some accommodations and let me use the lithography machine here. Rest assured, Xinghai will settle all expenses and costs promptly.”
He was also helpless; now that the five-nanometer lithography machine had been upgraded, its precision was no less than As Company’s similar products.
Moreover, it had great advantages in energy consumption and cost.
With all these gaps combined, he no longer looked at the previous 14-nanometer lithography machine at all.
After all, now he had a choice, unlike before when there was no choice and he had to use the 14-nanometer lithography machine.
Hearing this, Yan Wentai shook his head with a smile, “This one can’t be given to you; this is the first domestic prototype machine, as you know, generally not used for production.”
Hearing this, Fan Ren’s face immediately fell a bit.
After thinking, he tentatively asked again, “Director Yan, if convenient, when can our results be put into production, and what’s the approximate production cycle? If not, I’ll have to settle for second best and use 14nm.”
After saying that, he sighed. He knew the symbolic significance of the first prototype machine outweighed its practical value; Yan Wentai was also helpless about this.
But this way, the graphene chips produced would be outdated process products, although their performance would absolutely lead far ahead compared to silicon-based chips of the same process level.
Still, it made him feel somewhat imperfect.
Seeing Fan Ren, who had always been confident, now looking dejected, Yan Wentai couldn’t help laughing.
“Director Yan, don’t tease me.”
Fan Ren rubbed his head, extremely troubled.
“Alright, alright, not teasing you anymore. It’s like this: our institute has another five-nanometer lithography machine that is not yet completed. Previously, because the first prototype’s various indicators were not ideal, after consultation, we urgently stopped this one that was still in production.
Before Yan Wentai finished speaking, Fan Ren’s eyes had already lit up.
“Director Yan, you mean!”
Yan Wentai took a puff of smoke, not minding Fan Ren’s shining eyes, and continued, “My meaning is, Xinghai funds it to complete this lithography machine that’s 90% done, and at the same time, you bring the institute’s researchers to redo the previous upgrade project, trying to see if there are optimization spots.
After completion, this five-nanometer lithography machine will be directly delivered to Xinghai for use in the form of Xinghai Technology’s investment. What do you think?”
Fan Ren’s whole face lit up with joy after hearing this.
A five-nanometer lithography machine has a market price of around 1.5 to 2 billion.
But the infuriating part is that Baiyue simply won’t sell it to you.
Now with this unfinished semi-finished product, Xinghai could solve the lithography machine problem that had troubled them for a long time at an extremely low cost.
And after this, Xinghai graphene chip R&D work could finally continue to start.
