At IEDM 2008, the focus of the process technology session was the industry-wide transition to 32nm. There were five different papers on 32nm processes and every one relied on high-k dielectrics and metal gates to increase control over the channel and decrease leakage.
The transition to high-k/metal gates was quite challenging for the industry and accelerated the consolidation of digital logic manufacturers. The 45nm process was a turning point for several former stalwarts that ultimately chose to cease internal development of new process technologies.
Process technologies compared
Posted on Saturday, August 08 2009 @ 15:07 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck
Real World Technologies takes a look at the current state of the process technologies used by semiconductor industry, you can read it over here.