As he spoke, Tang Zhiye raised his glass which was already filled with wine and gestured for Chen Ming to clink glasses.
Chen Ming did not dare to delay. He quickly held the cup with both hands, clinked it with his glass, and then drank it all in one gulp.
Fortunately, this is a cup specially used for drinking white wine, and there is not much in a cup.
After putting down the wine glass, Tang Zhiye continued: "Take the world's top lithography machine company, ASML of the Netherlands, for example. They have strong 07 core technologies, such as EUV lithography technology and so on."
"But in addition to technology, the main reason why it can manufacture high-end lithography machines is that it relies on the global industrial chain."
"That is to say, every time it produces a lithography machine, it is the result of the joint efforts of more than a dozen countries around the world."
"You know, a high-end lithography machine has more than 100,000 high-end parts and components. But how many can the Netherlands produce on its own? Less than 10%! Nearly 90% of the parts and components are imported!"
"For example, light sources from the United States, bearings from Switzerland, valves from Gaul, optical equipment from Sakura, and so on."
"It is too difficult to produce these high-precision parts independently. Just one part needs more than ten years of research to reach the production standard suitable for lithography machines. It is too difficult for a country to independently develop all the parts."
Having said that, Tang Zhiye couldn't help but raise his glass and took a sip, feeling a little depressed.
Although he is engaged in chip research and development, chips are closely related to lithography machines. As a researcher related to this field, he naturally knows how difficult it is to develop lithography machines.
Finally, he said angrily: "But the most annoying thing is that many countries are unwilling to export these high-precision spare parts to our country. In addition, we do not have the core technology of lithography. The lithography machine alone has completely blocked us!"
Listening to Tang Zhiye's constant complaints about how difficult chip manufacturing is, Chen Ming smiled slightly.
Of course he knew that Longguo's chip development was difficult, and the most difficult part was the lithography machine.
A photolithography machine cannot be produced with just a design drawing; each of its components requires extreme precision.
Longguo’s current production technology is simply not capable of producing these parts with ridiculously high standards.
Not to mention Dragon Country, no country in the world can produce a high-end lithography machine on its own without the external help of any other country.
The parts of the lithography machine have to be imported from various countries. It is a brilliant crystal that is condensed from the strengths of many companies.
Moreover, even if there are spare parts, with Longguo's current strength, it still cannot meet the requirements for manufacturing high-end lithography machines.
Some countries, led by the United States, have been keeping a close eye on the development of China's lithography technology.
A few years ago, a company in Dragon Kingdom’s Magic City announced that it had developed 90-nanometer lithography technology.
After the United States learned about this, it immediately used coercion and inducement to ban some countries that produce parts from exporting high-end parts to China.
This has made the situation in the field of lithography machines, which is already lagging behind the world, even worse.
To date, 90-nanometer lithography machines cannot be mass-produced.
According to Chen Ming's memory from his previous life, it would take several more years before this 90-nanometer lithography technology could be successfully used to build a production line.
What is even more worrying is that the gap between Longguo and the world's leading countries is really too big.
You know, the Netherlands' lithography technology can already produce 14-nanometer lithography machines.
And it is still moving towards 7 nanometers.
Such a huge gap really makes scholars like Tang Zhiye, who are engaged in research in this field, feel exhausted and desperate.
If the technology of lithography machines cannot be improved, it will be difficult for chip technology to make any major breakthroughs.
Many high-end equipment and instruments are closely related to chip technology.
This becomes a closed loop that is difficult to break.
The photolithography machine determines the research progress of high-end chips. If the photolithography machine technology cannot be improved, the chip technology cannot develop further.
Without high-end chips, the country’s scientific and technological instruments in many technical fields cannot be created, and some important research breakthroughs cannot be made.
Without breakthroughs in important research, the development of Dragon Country’s national strength will become relatively slow.
If a country’s national strength fails to develop, it will not be able to deter other countries.
Without deterrence, other countries can continue to block the import and export of Longguo's precision instruments without any worries.
The double blockade of technology and components has also prevented lithography machines from making a qualitative leap.
This closed loop can be said to be linked together, tightly holding Longguo, leaving it no chance to breathe.
Chen Ming was naturally aware of this, and he also knew that breaking this closed loop was actually very simple.
If one part of the closed loop is broken, all parts will be broken, and the problem of closed loop blockade will be solved.
And now he has the most advanced chip technology. Chen Ming believes that he has the ability to break this closed loop!
He looked at Tang Zhiye and said slowly: "Uncle, have you ever thought that we can bypass the high-end lithography machine and directly produce chips!"
Since the research and development of lithography machines has been blocked, why not just skip the lithography machines and focus on directly developing chips
Chip technology does not necessarily require high-end lithography machines to be successfully developed.
Of course, this statement may be difficult for most people to accept.
After all, considering the current global technological strength, it is still a fantasy to achieve this goal.
Tang Zhiye was stunned and looked at Chen Ming in surprise, not understanding what Chen Ming meant.
I couldn't help but wonder, have you really studied chip technology
You know, chips are extremely small, often at the nanometer level, and at the very least at the micrometer level.
What kind of carving knife can produce such fine results
The manufacture of a high-end chip is no less than carving a big city with orderly streets, tall buildings, and even a drainage system on a strand of hair!
How is this possible without a lithography machine
Chen Ming's words sounded to Tang Zhiye like what a certain incompetent ruler said, "The people have no rice to eat, so why don't they eat meat?"
Without a lithography machine, how can you make chips with a hammer
Chen Ming looked at Tang Zhiye's expression and guessed what he was thinking.
However, manufacturing chips without a lithography machine may seem inconceivable to others.
But in his eyes, this is an extremely bright and sunny avenue!
After all, he himself had indeed mastered the technique.
Chen Ming continued: "We are bound by traditional concepts and have always wanted to catch up with Western countries on the same track, but have never thought about changing the track."
Since one direction doesn't work, try changing the route. As long as the final result is good, there is no need to stick to the fact that this track is different from others.
After hearing his words, Tang Zhiye couldn't help but frown.
Change direction, where to
Now the whole world is racing in the lithography machine track, where else can they switch to
There is no track available anywhere!
Seeing his future father-in-law frowning and obviously not believing him, Chen Ming smiled and continued:
"We can try to jump out of the field of silicon-based chips and move towards the field of quantum chips to achieve overtaking. Quantum chips do not require such high-end lithography machines, but only solid enough theories and technologies."
Quantum chip
When Tang Zhiye heard this term, he couldn't help but frown.
He was not unfamiliar with this term. The concept of quantum chip had been proposed before, but not many people paid attention to it.
Although quantum chips are feasible in theory, it is only in theory. The gap between theory and reality is not small.
With the current capabilities of countries around the world, it is almost impossible to produce a quantum chip.
Thinking about this, Tang Zhiye sighed and said, "Xiao Ming, you should watch less science fiction movies in the future. The things in them are all lies."
Quantum chip, do you know what quantum is? How dare you say it
Is quantum something that a 19-year-old like you can get involved in? !
Don't think that you have studied the subject just because you have read a few novels or watched a few movies.
The water is very deep!
Chen Ming was stunned when he heard this.
I'm talking to you about science, but you think I'm talking about movies
Tang Zhiye explained to Chen Ming earnestly: "Xiao Ming, the most cutting-edge scientific community is still in the stage of exploration and research on the concept of quantum. Quantum theory is not yet mature, let alone direct practical application."
Quantum involves microscopic physics, and it is also a difficult challenge to overcome in the world of physics.
The world's top physicists are still working tirelessly to research and explore the mysteries of quantum.
Even professional physicists haven't thoroughly studied quantum technology. Do you expect a group of chip researchers and technicians to use it to manufacture chips
This is just a joke!
This is even more difficult than producing a lithography machine!
When he heard Chen Ming talking about quantum just now, he knew that this kid must have watched too many TV shows and movies.
Thinking about it, Tang Zhiye couldn't help but sigh. He felt a sense of loss as if he had thought you must have some profound ideas, but in the end you just talked nonsense to me.
Chen Ming was speechless. Although his story sounded incredible, it was indeed feasible!
But forced excuses are always filled with a sense of powerlessness.
Thinking about this, Chen Ming immediately shouted to Li Ruping: "Aunt, do you have a pen and draft paper at home?"