With regard to digital integrated circuits, process technology refers to the particular method used to make silicon chips. The driving force behind the manufacture of integrated circuits is miniaturization, and process technology boils down to the size of the finished transistor and other components. The smaller the transistors, the more transistors in the same area, the faster they switch, the less energy they require and the cooler the chip runs (given equal numbers of transistors).
Measured in Nanometers
The size of the features (the elements that make up the structures on a chip) used to be measured in micrometers. A 3 µm process technology, also called a "technology node" and "process node," referred to a silicon chip with features three micrometers in size. Today, features are measured in nanometers. A 45 nm process technology refers to features 45 nm or 0.45 µm in size.
Elements Measured
Historically, the process technology referred to the length of the silicon channel between the source and drain terminals in field effect transistors (FETs). The sizes of other features are generally derived as a ratio of the channel length, where some may be larger than the channel size and some may be smaller. For example, in a 90 nm process, the length of the channel may be 90 nm, but the width of the gate terminal may be only 50 nm.
An Example of Progress
Consider that the process technology of the first 486 chip in 1989 was one micron (1,000 nanometers). By 2003, the state-of-the-art decreased to 90 nm ("90 nano"). In 15 years, feature sizes were reduced by slightly less than one millionth of a meter. What may seem like a minuscule, microscopic change to the casual observer took thousands of man years and billions of dollars worth of research and development. Note the huge variance in semiconductor feature sizes starting in the 1950s (see chart below).
The Future: Nanotechnology
Intel introduced 45 nm processors in 2008. To understand how tiny 45 nanometers is, it would take two thousand 45 nm objects laid side by side to equal the thickness of one human hair.
A 32 nm feature size is expected in 2009, and that should shrivel to 22 nm by 2011. For some time, the technology node of chips has been in the realm of nanotechnology, which refers to elements 100 nanometers and smaller. See half-node.
Half a Micron
In a span of five years, the size of the features on these AMD chips were reduced from .8 to .35 microns. Half a micron might seem insignificant, but in the microminiature world of semiconductor manufacturing, it is an enormous achievement. As the features get smaller, the chip runs cooler and faster. (Image courtesy of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
Measured in Nanometers
The size of the features (the elements that make up the structures on a chip) used to be measured in micrometers. A 3 µm process technology, also called a "technology node" and "process node," referred to a silicon chip with features three micrometers in size. Today, features are measured in nanometers. A 45 nm process technology refers to features 45 nm or 0.45 µm in size.
Elements Measured
Historically, the process technology referred to the length of the silicon channel between the source and drain terminals in field effect transistors (FETs). The sizes of other features are generally derived as a ratio of the channel length, where some may be larger than the channel size and some may be smaller. For example, in a 90 nm process, the length of the channel may be 90 nm, but the width of the gate terminal may be only 50 nm.
An Example of Progress
Consider that the process technology of the first 486 chip in 1989 was one micron (1,000 nanometers). By 2003, the state-of-the-art decreased to 90 nm ("90 nano"). In 15 years, feature sizes were reduced by slightly less than one millionth of a meter. What may seem like a minuscule, microscopic change to the casual observer took thousands of man years and billions of dollars worth of research and development. Note the huge variance in semiconductor feature sizes starting in the 1950s (see chart below).
The Future: Nanotechnology
Intel introduced 45 nm processors in 2008. To understand how tiny 45 nanometers is, it would take two thousand 45 nm objects laid side by side to equal the thickness of one human hair.
A 32 nm feature size is expected in 2009, and that should shrivel to 22 nm by 2011. For some time, the technology node of chips has been in the realm of nanotechnology, which refers to elements 100 nanometers and smaller. See half-node.
Half a Micron
In a span of five years, the size of the features on these AMD chips were reduced from .8 to .35 microns. Half a micron might seem insignificant, but in the microminiature world of semiconductor manufacturing, it is an enormous achievement. As the features get smaller, the chip runs cooler and faster. (Image courtesy of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
Semiconductor Feature Sizes
(this is an approximation for all vendors)
Nanometers Micrometers
Year (nm) (µm)
1957 120,000 120.0
1963 30,000 30.0
1971 10,000 10.0
1974 6,000 6.0
1976 3,000 3.0
1982 1,500 1.5
1985 1,300 1.3
1989 1,000 1.0
1993 600 0.6
1996 350 0.35
1998 250 0.25
1999 180 0.18
2001 130 0.13
2003 90 0.09
2005 65 0.065
2008 45 0.045
2009 32 0.032 (estimated)
2011 22 0.022 (estimated)
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- Research paints ugly IT employment picture: Almost 2 million jobs gone in 14 years
- Depressing...So much innovation happened in America in the 90's. Alot of what we have now was accomplished by American engineers, and now we are not being included anymore because of what? Arbitrage. Sad, Sad, Sad....Of courseBecause all these CEOs and wannabe businesspeople think quality doesn't matter so...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-20
- Accord CD Ripper Professional 6.1.6 (Windows)
- Rip audio CD tracks to WAV, MP3, WMA, OGG, APE, FLAC, MP2, VQF, AIFF, AIFC, AIF, 3GP, AAC, M4A, M4B, MP4, MPC, MP+, MPP, WV. Incredibly fast cd ripping. Fully optimized for SSE/Hyper thread technology and get extra speed boost on multiprocessor systems. Flexible output mode: rip audio CDs to...
- Software downloads 2009-11-20
- FCC wants public comment on digital democracy - voting online
- Online Voting - Destroying the integrity and fabric of democracy.On-line voting without safe guards against vote selling and guarantee that each vote was registered in private invalidates the intent and meaning of "one person, one vote."It's bad enough that this hole currently exists with the current mail-in voting process.RE: FCC...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-19
- Process Lasso x64 Edition 3.70.4 (Windows)
- Process Lasso is a unique new technology that will, amongst other things, improve your PC's responsiveness and stability. Windows, by design, allows programs to monopolize your CPU without restraint - leading to freezes and hangs. Process Lasso's ProBalance Process Balance technology intelligently adjusts the priority of running programs so that...
- Software downloads 2009-11-19
- Salesforce kicks off Dreamforce, announces Chatter
- Salesforce.com, Microsoft Dynamics or ACTall three are greatposted October 21, 2009 ?Karleton Helfer was consistently one of our top producers. Karleton received numerous production and achievement awards, and frequently led the business unit in total sales. Karleton took a very strategic approach to the sales process, always researching technology developments,...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-18
- Netbook/notebook reliability study shows that technology breaks ...
- Cheaply made partsWell, look at the parts they all are stampedwith 'Made in CHINA'...Quantity over Quality.People are now geared towards a Wal_Mart mentality they do not want to pay for quality and they do NOT care where it is made.Therefore, you will see a lower standard of living because the...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-18
- SoftDocket 2006 1.6 (Windows)
- SoftDocket is the next generation of legal docketing software for the legal professional. SoftDocket is a merger of traditional and modern legal methodology. SoftDocket was designed to fit the process of the modern law practice, to prevent duplication of work and above all save time. Built on Firebird database technology,...
- Software downloads 2009-11-18
- Next year is THE year for cloud computing
- Here is what Indu Kodukula, CTO of SunGard Availability Services thinks how cloud computing is likely to transform the computing industry landscape in 2010. Commentary - Yogi Berra had it right - it?s difficult to make predictions, especially about the future. It?s especially difficult...
- News items 2009-11-17
- Apple's app approval revolt: Will it matter? Maybe
- Once somebody matches the ease of the App store,Create a desktop application which makes it brain-dead simple to buy, install, arrange, and sync software and multimedia content with the Droid and it will take off like crazy. That's about the only thing the iPhone has over the Droid at this...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-17
- Apple's "force fed ads" patent more likely related to content, not hardware
- Perhaps neitherHopefully you are right and they'll use this process to allow customers to earn free content. Unfortunatley I see this as being a way for Apple to increase its warchest by forcing its followers to view ads. Perhaps it'll be a blend - view enough ads to put $10...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-17
- Internet continues to lose its founding network partners
- I would like to see...I would like to see more competition on the hardware side. I completely understand that costs are a huge factor limiting competition but companies that own monopolies on the actual network infrastructure have little incentive to upgrade or enhance user experience with out major competition. Ideally...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-16
- How we think, and perhaps lie, about the oil supply
- Oil is naturally occurring...Scientist do not understand why oil wells that we'pumped dry' are now full of oil.So in other words, it has been proven to manyscientist oil is naturally occurring substance.It is all about greed and money, if people had commonsense and used their brain instead oflistening to politicians...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-16
- GOOG could lose more than Murdoch
- Thanks, this was insightfulWhat if Murdoch and minions stroke a deal with a more desperate Google competitor - and blocked Google. That would be a very real threat. If users suddenly finds that Google returns fewer quality results than competitors, Google could lose search share, fast. That would strike directly...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-16
- Altova StyleVision Enterprise Edition 2010 (Windows)
- Altova StyleVision 2010 Enterprise Edition is a powerful visual stylesheet designer for transforming XML, XBRL, and database data into HTML, RTF, PDF, and OOXML/Word 2007 output, and creating e-Forms. It is standards-compliant and supports XSLT 1.0, XSLT 2.0, XSL:FO, CSS, JavaScript, and all major databases. StyleVision is optimized for single...
- Software downloads 2009-11-16
- Accord CD Ripper Xtreme 6.1.6 (Windows)
- Rip audio CD tracks to WAV, MP3, WMA, OGG, APE, FLAC, MP2, VQF, AIFF, AIFC, AIF, 3GP, AAC, M4A, M4B, MP4, MPC, MP+, MPP, WV, AU, SND, RAW, GSM, VOX, PCM, ADPCM, G721, G723, FAP, PAF, SVX, 8SVX, IFF, NIST, IRCAM, SF, VOC, W64, MAT, MAT4, MAT5, PVF, XI, HTK,...
- Software downloads 2009-11-16
- An interesting exchange on politics and IT
- Was just thinking about thisExcept I was thinking about what I've heard Linux advocates say in the past, that most consumers make dumb technology choices, and whether this squares with advocating for free markets? Yes, I think it does. People will buy products that they can relate to and feel...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-14
- ReelSmart Motion Blur 3.3.8 (Mac)
- After Effects Plug-in that applies more natural-looking motion blur to a video sequence by automatically tracking every pixel. RE:Visions tracking technology is at the heart of ReelSmart Motion Blur, so there is no handwork involved. Users can add as little or as much blurring as is needed. For 3D animation...
- Software downloads 2009-11-13
- End-to-end encryption is the key to protecting data and reputations
- In order to avoid the financial and brand damage associated with data breaches, businesses need to consider deploying end-to-end encryption as a tamper proof way of securing data. Commentary - Media outlets around the globe highlight new data breaches at an alarmingly regular rate. Forrester estimates that the cost...
- News items 2009-11-11
- SuperAntiSpyware Free Edition 4.30.1004 (Windows)
- SuperAntiSpyware, a next generation product, with its Multi-Dimensional Scanning and Process Interrogation Technology will detect spyware and remove over 1,000,000 pests such as Vundo, ZLob, SmitFraud, WinFixer, VirusRay, and VirusHeat. Repair broken Internet connections, desktops, registry editing, and task manager. The program provides complete and custom scanning of hard drives,...
- Software downloads 2009-11-11
- SuperAntiSpyware Professional 4.30.1004 (Windows)
- SUPERAntiSpyware is the most thorough scanner on the market. Our Multi-Dimensional Scanning and Process Interrogation Technology will detect spyware that other products miss! SUPERAntiSpyware will remove ALL the Spyware, NOT just the easy ones. Quick, Complete and Custom Scanning of Hard Drives, Removable Drives, Memory, Registry, Individual Folders and More....
- Software downloads 2009-11-11
Neighboring Terms
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
- Keep Up With The Latest In Document Management with The DocuMentor.
-
Doc delivers the scoop on today's enterprise content management, printer maintenance, and all other issues related to document management. It's the DocuMentor Blog.
- Learn more >>
- The best support in the Linux business
-
If Linux is going to power your mission-critical applications, you'd better have the best support known to business. Novell was rated the top provider of Linux technical support.
- Learn more >>
- Reduce risk. Reduce complexity. Increase reliability.
-
A simplified IT environment isn't just less complex. It's also more reliable. Standardize on a single Linux platform with SUSE Linux Enterprise from Novell, and get the world's most interoperable Linux
- Learn more >>
- The more you simplify, the more you save
-
When you transition from your existing Red Hat environment to SUSE Linux Enterprise from Novell, you can recognize dramatic cost savings, perhaps as much 50%
- Learn more >>
SmartPlanet
- Thought-provoking progressive ideas on diverse topics that intersect with technology, business, and life, and matter to the world at large. Visit SmartPlanet
- More from IBM
-
- Can your business work smarter? Learn more about Lotus Symphony
- Learn how to work smarter and optimize cost using the IBM Smart SOA approach Download the eBook
- Smarter ways to make smarter products Read the brief from IBM
