IMEC puts 10-nm interconnects in true perspective At last week's tech fest at the IMEC research facility in Belgium, we were given an update on the technologies, processes and design techniques that will get us to 10-nm interconnects. But one slide hits hard and shows just what 10 nm really means.	Patrick Mannion Editor in Chief, TechOnline
From low-k dielectrics and airgaps, to advances in barrier/seed technology and mitigation of electromigration through better interface control, it's clear that IMEC's ambitions are big, and well matched to its capabilities (download full PDF of presentation here). However, it struck me just how many of us take this progression to 10 nm for granted. It's almost assumed that we'll get there, sooner rather than later, without too much thought as to the true realities of that achievement. But how do you put it in perspective? For example, to say 10 nm is small, really small, just doesn't cut it. I could augment small with more hyperbolic adjectives like infinitesimally small, microscopic, miniscule, minute. But let's face it, they fall flat. Thankfully, help was at hand. In his opening remarks for the event, IMEC's president and CEO Luc Van den hove provided the solution, in graphical form. Here it is below (click on it to enlarge it). Enuff said! Click on image to enlarge. Posted by Patrick Mannion on Oct 12, 2009 02:40 PM in DesignScape

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