Intel has redesigned the transistor, this time in 3D
The three-dimensional transistors used to fabricate 22-nanometer bandwidth chips provide an unprecedented combination of reduced power consumption and increased power.
Intel today announced a major breakthrough in the development of transistors, which are the building blocks of modern microelectronics. Since the invention of silicon-based transistors 50 years ago, transistors with a three-dimensional structure were the first to be commercially manufactured. Intel will be the first to use so-called Tri-Gate, or three-gate transistors, in its 22-nanometer semiconductor technology to produce processors codenamed Ivy Bridge. Three-dimensional Tri-Gate transistors represent a fundamental shift from the two-dimensional plane transistors on which all microelectronic chips to date have been built.
"Intel's scientists and engineers have reinvented the transistor, this time taking advantage of the third dimension," said Paul Otellini, Intel's CEO. Scientists have long recognized the utility of 3D structure in maintaining the pace dictated by Moore's Law even after miniaturization becomes difficult at the atomic-level limits of the physical world. Intel first published its research results on three-gate transistors in 2002, and the essence of today's breakthrough is that Intel made the novel solution applicable in mass production. This opened a new era for Moore's law, enabling a whole series of innovative developments. Moore's Law is the expectation that the number of transistors integrated on a single silicon chip will roughly double every two years, thanks to advances in semiconductor technology. This pace has defined the last four decades of the semiconductor industry.
The old 3D version is shown on the left and the new XNUMXD version on the right
Unprecedented consumption reduction and performance increase
3D Tri-Gate transistors allow the chips to operate at lower voltage levels, which can drastically increase performance without increasing power consumption or achieving a specific power level with much lower power consumption. This gives chip design engineers the freedom to decide whether to aim for higher performance or lower power consumption, depending on the area. The 22-nanometer three-gate transistors exhibit up to 37 percent more power at low voltages than Intel’s 32-nanometer plane transistors. This huge advancement makes the technology ideal for smartphones, as a huge jump in performance can be achieved without an increase in consumption. The new technology achieves a given level of performance with roughly half the consumption.
“The rate of increase in performance and decrease in power consumption achieved with Intel’s unique 3D Tri-Gate transistors is unmatched,” said Mark Bohr, Intel engineer. “This milestone is about more than upholding Moore’s Law. The benefits of reduced voltage and consumption go far beyond what we typically experience from a generation step. We believe this breakthrough will further increase Intel's advantage over other players in the semiconductor industry. "
Thanks to the outstanding, ultra-thin plane of the transistor, they can be integrated tightly together, solving the most pressing problem of miniaturization, the physical limitations of continuous shrinkage of flat structures - two-dimensional transistors are becoming thinner in all respects to increase density and power. By stretching the plane vertically, the power can be increased without compromising the density of the transistors.
32 nm (left) and 22 nm (right)
The world's first demonstration of 22-nanometer 3D transistors
The three-dimensional Tri-Gate transistors will be unveiled with Intel’s next generation of 22-nanometer manufacturing technology, which the company will introduce to mass production in the second half of the year, the first in the world. To prove the technology’s maturity, Intel today also unveiled specimens of the world’s first 22-nanometer processor, codenamed Ivy Bridge, and available in laptops, desktops, and servers alike. In addition to the Ivy Bridge, the Intel Atom family will also benefit from 22-nanometer manufacturing technology, further enhancing the integration of Atom processors. The 22-nanometer Atom chips will provide higher performance and functionality while meeting the power, cost and size requirements of mobile devices.
