In context: Producers are attempting to develop novel chip substrate applied sciences to avoid wasting Moore’s legislation and hold crunching the Megahertz charges up. Glass is probably the most promising materials for next-gen substrates Producers ought to begin utilizing them sooner than anticipated – if Samsung can succeed at its ramped-up R&D effort.
In keeping with rumors from unnamed trade insiders, Samsung has determined to speculate closely within the analysis and growth of glass substrates for chip manufacturing. The corporate plans to carry merchandise to clients by 2026, making a “coalition” of subsidiary organizations to hurry up know-how growth.
The leakers say that three divisions throughout the Korean conglomerate – Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Samsung Electronics, and Samsung Show – will develop the brand new glass-based chip substrates. Samsung Electronics will work on integrating semiconductor elements with the brand new substrates, whereas Samsung Show and Electro-Mechanics concentrate on the glass processing half.
The insiders mentioned that Samsung will attempt to leverage a synergic strategy amongst its subsidiaries, leveraging their experience of their respective fields. Through the Shopper Electronics Present 2024, Samsung Electro-Mechanics introduced plans to construct mass-production capabilities for glass substrates by 2026.
Glass substrates can theoretically carry important enhancements to the chip manufacturing course of. In comparison with conventional natural substrates, glass exhibits an enhanced flatness that improves the depth of focus for lithographic processes. The fabric additionally has larger dimensional stability for interconnects and offers larger thermal and mechanical power.
The fabric might stand up to larger temperatures and stress ranges, making chips extra sturdy and resilient even in “harsh” knowledge heart circumstances. The know-how can be splendid for multi-chiplet, system-in-package (SiP) functions, that are set to grow to be one of many trade’s hottest chip designs. Intel has been growing a glass substrate resolution for years, and the corporate lately introduced its plans to launch novel business merchandise by 2030.
Samsung and Intel aren’t the one corporations engaged on the subsequent era of substrate know-how. Japanese producer Ibiden has additionally joined the R&D effort for glass-based designs, whereas South Korean firm SKC has opened a brand new subsidiary (Absolics) to develop new mass manufacturing capabilities. Absolics has already partnered with AMD and different main semiconductor corporations.
