Is your semiconductor productivity perfect?

There is no further improvement in productivity. Perfect. Thorough. Don't you believe that? If so, think again. Improving chip aspect ratio and wafer placement can further increase productivity. You can do it. Because it is the only technology in the world that is provided only on this site. The effect increases as the number of chips per wafer decreases. For example, a remarkable effect can be expected when a CMOS sensor with a large chip size is manufactured or when a compound semiconductor such as SiC which is a small-diameter substrate is used.

Is it really enough if only the yield is good?

It is said that the semiconductor industry is a yield industry. Because a small amount of dust and dust significantly reduces the yield, a large amount of money is required for particle countermeasures. In fact, the number of good chips is of the essence, and it is clear that yield is important. However, the number of chips that can be cut from one wafer (the number of valid chips) is equally important.

Non-defective chips = Yield x valid chips

However, few people consider increasing the number of valid chips. The reasons are as follows.

① The number of valid chips was determined by the area, and I thought that it could not be increased or decreased later
② I did not know that a square was not always the best chip shape
③ Since my task is to improve yield, I am not interested in increasing the number of valid chips
④ Although the proposal for an increase in the number of valid chips was proposed, the permission of the supervisor could not be obtained

Still, do you miss the profit?

Our two arithmetic services provide information that maximizes the number of valid chips. Seeing is believing. Please take a look at it and try to calculate it.

① Chip aspect ratio optimization:
Indicates the relationship between chip aspect ratio and valid chip number → Try out
② Wafer placement optimization :
Indicates the wafer center position that maximizes the number of valid chips → Try out
Note) Usually move from the tag of the menu bar,（Chip aspect ratio optimization・Wafer placement optimization）.

If the number of valid chips is less than 100 and the layout design has not yet been performed, start with aspect ratio optimization. Average 4.0% productivity improvement can be expected.
If layout design is completed, optimize the layout in the exposure process. Average 2.5% productivity improvement can be expected.

Our computing service can be used.
Please make a great profit by using this site.
Do not overlook the opportunity to make more money.

Still, if you have any concerns about using it,
Please feel free to Contact us．
Then, the effect of using this service is explained on the next page.

 Click here for your opinion. Click here for questions. Feel free to help yourself.

（Oct 29, 2023 update）

History of development

At first, it was a stepper accessory software.
It was spring 2001. Mr. K of the Product Planning Department visited me and said, "I want to make software that realizes truly optimal wafer placement." He wanted to use the software to promote the sales of exposure equipment.
The value of technology was greater than the stepper market.
At first, I was going to refuse it because it was not related to the quality or performance of the exposure equipment. However, when I heard that the value created by problem solving is about 1 trillion yen per year, I changed my mind. "It's bigger than the worldwide sales of lithography equipment."
Technology development has advanced.
Although it was a difficult problem, I knew the "knack" peculiar to optimization, so I was confident that I could invent something much better than the conventional method. In fact, about six months later, I invented an algorithm to find the maximum value of the number of valid chips, created software, and applied for a patent in 2002. However, the present invention showed the maximum value of the number of valid chips and one arrangement to achieve it, but it was not an optimal arrangement that could maintain the maximum number even if the invalid area was reduced. Therefore, we proceeded with further research and completed a method to lead to the optimal arrangement, and applied for a patent in 2004.
The potential for use was closed.
However, Mr. K of the client has been transferred. The solution and software were completed, but they were not ready for practical use. When the business was in danger due to the failure of equipment development, it was decided to withdraw from the state-of-the-art immersion lithography equipment in 2009. In addition, the proprietary patent has been abandoned.
This time, the theme of aspect ratio optimization emerged.
However, one day in 2011, there was a call from Mr. O of the department that designs and develops semiconductor devices. He seemed to find my patent and wanted to use the software. We thought that we could contribute to the profit of the company even a little, and responded to Mr. O's request and asked the purpose of its use. According to Mr. O, he is investigating the best chip aspect ratio that maximizes the number of valid chips. However, Mr. O did not request for aspect ratio optimization, and he was working on model-based development of exposure equipment at this time, so he did nothing at the company, but after retirement, I wanted to work on it in earnest.
It became a challenge theme after retirement.
I have reached the retirement age of 60 in 27 years since joining the company. Immediately, I was immersed in the development of the chip aspect ratio optimization algorithm. Most of the ideas were mostly done. So I just had to actually program and check the operation. In June 2017, I applied for a patent on my own. In September 2018, I launched a free cloud computing service.