Without This ASML Machine Technology Would Collapse
ASML is a Dutch company that is adamantly independent. Although it is partnered with SAMSUNG, Intel, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company also known as TSMC, it maintains its independence because all three compete for the right to buy ASML machines for making the world’s most advanced microchips.
ASML holds an utter monopoly on Extreme Ultraviolet aka EUV lithography, and there are no competitors to their expertise. They developed a proprietary technology for producing this tiny EUV wavelength, which is the only way to produce modern microchips —and it cost them decades and billions upon billions of dollars to create—which they obtained by partnering with those big three: SAMSUNG, Intel, and TSMC.
People have thought to buy them, current market value is on the order of more thank $193,000,000,000. ASML holds a unique position in the marketplace as the sole proprietor of the machines that can make the most advanced microchips in the world. Each unit is $200,000,000 contains 100,000 parts, and requires three 747 aircrafts to transport it—and again, these are the only machines capable of producing the world’s most advanced microchips.
Making a microchip is an intense process using lithography. A silicon wafer is built up with a layer of multi-millions of transistors. Then another layer is added—and this layering repeats as many as 100 times. Each ultra-advanced and tiny chip is made to nanometer precision, making virtually every sophisticated electronic thing on the planet possible.
Chips went from hundreds of nanometers in the 1990s down to the very best we have today—single-digit size. Competition between manufacturers like SAMSUNG, Intel, and TSMC called for new creations like 7nm (Seven Nanometer) chips, and now just 5nm, with a possibility of 3nm soon.
ASML decided to explore a more complex path to making chips, using ultraviolet light. The shorter wavelength allowed them to place thousands of transistors on a single, smaller chip. Eventually it became millions, and ultimately billions. It took a lot of time, and unimaginable amounts of money, but they are so far in the lead now that no company can catch up in less than 10 years.
Ultraviolet light is not difficult to produce in the part of the light spectrum we’re familiar with on a day-to-day basis. A more cutting-edge form, Deep Ultraviolet also known as DUV was used for the technological advance which made 7nm chips possible. It took the super short wave Extreme Ultraviolet, completely invisibly to the human eye, to make 5nm chips.
Join us as we explore what makes this Extreme Ultraviolet lithography machine special, how it is built and how it works. We will also look into Zeiss The German optical company that make Mirrors that are used in ASML machines
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:54 ASML Amazing Tech
3:28 How They Do It
5:06 Why Are Microchips Important
6:47 Export Restrictions
8:29 Fate of The World
9:14 Chips Acts
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