Next-Generation Chip Fabs

PaulBu writes "As reported in EE Times, a new IBM $2.5B fab will be the first one to 'produce chips using all three of the sophisticated technologies on the industry's bleeding edge: low-k dielectrics, copper interconnect and silicon-on-insulator based transistors' on 300mm wafers. And it runs entirely on Linux! Quote from the article: 'The state of automation in Building 323 is such that 20,000 sensors are used to track wafer lots in front-opening unified pods that are transported from one tool to the next on rails using linear induction motors. The setup resembles an intricate monorail system tuned to millimeter-precision specs. A central control system monitors all stations and tracks wafer lots via 802.11 wireless communications.'"

Watch out for Starbucks

[havaloc]

For they will wreck havoc with your 802.11 control infrastructure.

Talk about a Beowulf cluster...

[ScoLgo]

"This is the first fab whose IT infrastructure is all Linux-based, controlled by some 1,700 1-GHz microprocessors able to access some 600 terabytes of data."

I need one of these setups in my garage ;-)

Only mm?

[gerf]

The setup resembles an intricate monorail system tuned to millimeter-precision specs

Um, just millimeter? You'd think where chips have components measured in nanometers, that you'd need just a bit more than millimeter precision. Oops, that transistor's off a bit again! i wonder why? :P

Since no one has said it yet

[emkman]

What about someone sitting in the parking lot with a laptop and an antenna, who hops onto the network and sends fake data to the control system, screwing up all the chips?

Millimeter

[handorf]

"tuned to millimeter-precision specs"

Umm... since when is a millimeter a big unit of measurement? My CAR DOOR is built to millimeter precision specs. The engine had bloody well better be .001mm specs.

Silly author... don't quote units when they're meaningless.

Re:confused about ibm's plans

[Fat Casper]

I thought ibm was implementing a new plan of getting out of anything hardware related and concentrating in proving "services" (ie the recent purchase of a major company, cant remember its name). Maybe im just confused.

No, they're doing MS one better. Software being a service is just so 90s. In the coming century, hardware itself will be a service.

IBM knew that they couldn't come up with this hardware plan alone, so they bought a phone company. Remember when you had to rent your phone and it was illegal to connect a phone that they didn't own to their lines? I mean, forget about activiating your OS. Can you see an automatic deduction from checking every time you boot up?

Wait, then why is IBM pushing Linux? If they were really going with a pay-per-boot plan, they'd be pushing MS. Either they didn't think this plan through all the way, or I'm reading it incorrectly.

Re:Watch out for Starbucks

[DonkeyJimmy]

Watch out for Starbucks?
This is the wrong thread for that.
We do not belong.

Little short on the creativity

[Ralph Wiggam]

They spent 2.5 BILLION bucks on this fab and the only thing they could think of naming it was "Building 323". That's so weak. How about SupaFab? Fab:TNG? Absolutely Fab-ulous? MegaFab2k2? It's not like this is a super secret government base like Area 51. Come on IBM, have some flair.

-B

If I love Lucy was around these days

[Anonymous Coward]

There'd be an episode about Lucy at the chip fab plant, and the conveyor belt would get out of control, and she'd ruin millions of dollars in chips. It'd be hilarious.

Already heard that one

[Foozy]

...20,000 sensors are used to track wafer lots in front-opening unified pods that are transported from one tool to the next on rails using linear induction motors. The setup resembles an intricate monorail system tuned to millimeter-precision specs. A central control system monitors all stations...

Anyone remember the Denver airport baggage handling system fiasco?

IBM != Flair

[doublem]

"IBM" and "Flair" are two words that just don't go together.

Oops. I was wrong Google says there are 12,100 hits. [google.com]

No way.

[Stoutlimb]

What are the odds that a chip manufacturing plant this big has converted their entire warehouse building into a giant faraday cage?

Hell, I would.

Re:Their reasoning for choosing Linux

[SirSlud]

Yeah, who on earth would make a decision based on whats better? Whats the engineering world coming to?

Re:Little short on the creativity

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Monorail?

[GuntherAEPi]

"The setup resembles an intricate monorail system tuned to millimeter-precision specs."

That's right, a monorail, just like the ones in Ogdenville, North Haverbrook and Brockway!

Imagine...

[Anonymous Coward]

John Kelly of IBM:"Today we can't even imagine the products that will be produced as a result of this new state-of-the-art fab.". Well, I can. Imagine a Beowulf cluster of these!

Re:Little short on the creativity

[Anonymous Coward]

Is the building in the shape of a cube perhaps?

We are IBM. Resistance is futile.