The 32 nanometer (32 nm) node is the step following the 45 nanometer process in CMOS semiconductor device fabrication. "32 nanometer" refers to the average half-pitch (i.e., half the distance between identical features) of a memory cell at this technology level. Intel and AMD both produced commercial microchips using the 32 nanometer process in the early 2010s. IBM and the Common Platform also developed a 32 nm high-k metal gate process.^[1] Intel began selling its 32 nm processors on January 7, 2010, as Core i3, Core i5, and the dual-core mobile Core i7. The 32 nm process was superseded by commercial 22 nm technology in 2012.^[2][3]

Technology demos[link]

Prototypes using 32 nm technology first emerged in the mid-2000s. In 2004, IBM demonstrated a 0.143 μm² SRAM cell with a poly gate pitch of 135 nm, produced using electron-beam lithography and photolithography on the same layer. It was observed that the cell's sensitivity to input voltage fluctuations degraded significantly at such a small scale.^[4] In October 2006, the Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (IMEC) demonstrated a 32 nm Flash patterning capability based on double patterning and immersion lithography.^[5] The necessity of introducing double patterning and hyper-NA tools to reduce memory cell area offset some of the cost advantages of moving to this node from the 45 nm node.^[6] TSMC similarly used double patterning combined with immersion lithography to produce a 32 nm node 0.183 μm² six-transistor SRAM cell in 2005.^[7]

Intel Corporation revealed its first 32 nm test chips to the public on 18 September 2007 at the Intel Developer Forum. The test chips had a cell size of 0.182 μm², used a second-generation high-k gate dielectric and metal gate, and contained almost two billion transistors. 193 nm immersion lithography was used for the critical layers, while 193 nm or 248 nm dry lithography was used on less critical layers. The critical pitch was 112.5 nm.^[8]

In January 2011, Samsung completed development of what it claimed was the industry's first DDR4 DRAM module using a process technology with a size between 30 nm and 39 nm. The module could reportedly achieve data transfer rates of 2.133 Gbit/s at 1.2V, compared to 1.35V and 1.5V DDR3 DRAM at an equivalent 30 nm-class process technology with speeds of up to 1.6 Gbit/s. The module used pseudo open drain (POD) technology, specially adapted to allow DDR4 DRAM to consume just half the current of DDR3 when reading and writing data.^[9]

Processors using 32 nm technology[link]

Intel's Core i3 and i5 processors, released in January 2010, were among the first mass-produced processors to use 32 nm technology.^[10] Intel's second-generation Core processors, codenamed Sandy Bridge, also used the 32 nm manufacturing process. Intel's 6-core processor, codenamed Gulftown and built on the Westmere architecture, was released on March 16, 2010 as the Core i7 980x Extreme Edition, retailing for approximately USD$1,000.^[11] Intel's lower-end 6-core, the i7-970, was released in late July 2010, priced at approximately USD$900.

AMD also released 32 nm SOI processors in the early 2010s. AMD's FX Series processors, codenamed Zambezi and based on AMD's Bulldozer architecture, were released in October 2011. The technology utilised a 32 nm SOI process, two CPU cores per module, and up to four modules, ranging from a quad-core design costing approximately USD$130 to a $280 eight-core design.

In September 2011, Ambarella Inc. announced the availability of the 32 nm-based A7L system-on-a-chip circuit for digital still cameras, providing 1080p60 high-definition video capabilities.^[12]

Successor node[link]

The successor to 32 nm technology is the 22 nm node, per the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors. Intel began mass production of 22 nm semiconductors in late 2011,^[13] and announced the release of its first commercial 22 nm devices in April 2012.^[2][14]

References[link]

1. ^ Intel (Architecture & Silicon) Gate Dielectric Scaling for CMOS: from SiO2/PolySi to High-K/Metal-Gate. White Paper, Intel.com.
2. ^ ^{a b} "Report: Intel Scheduling 22 nm Ivy Bridge for April 2012". Tom's Hardware, 26 November 2011. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
3. ^ "Intel's Ivy Bridge chips launch using '3D transistors'". BBC, 23 April 2012.
4. ^ D. M. Fried et al., IEDM 2004.
5. ^ "IMEC demonstrates feasibility of double patterning immersion litho for 32nm node". Physorg.com, 18 October 2006. Retrieved 2011-12-17.
6. ^ Mark LaPedus (February 23, 2007). "IBM sees immersion at 22nm, pushes out EUV". EE Times. http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4069824/IBM-sees-immersion-at-22nm-pushes-out-EUV/. Retrieved November 11, 2011. 
7. ^ H-Y. Chen et al., Symp. on VLSI Tech. 2005.
8. ^ F. T. Chen, Proc. SPIE, Vol. 4889, 1313 (2002).
9. ^ Peter Clarke (January 4, 2011). "Samsung trials DDR4 DRAM module". EE Times. http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4211854/Samsung-trials-DDR4-DRAM-module/. Retrieved November 11, 2011. 
10. ^ "Intel Debuts 32-NM Westmere Desktop Processors". InformationWeek, 7 January 2010. Retrieved 2011-12-17.
11. ^ Sal Cangeloso (February 4, 2010). "Intel’s 6-core 32nm processors arriving soon". Geek.com. http://www.geek.com/articles/chips/intels-6-core-32nm-processors-arriving-soon-2010024/. Retrieved November 11, 2011. 
12. ^ "Ambarella A7L Enables the Next Generation of Digital Still Cameras with 1080p60 Fluid Motion Video". News release. September 26, 2011. http://www.ambarella.com/news/26/74/Ambarella-A7L-Enables-the-Next-Generation-of-Digital-Still-Cameras-with-1080p60-Fluid-Motion-Video.html. Retrieved November 11, 2011. 
13. ^ "Intel's CEO Discusses Q3 2011 Results - Earnings Call Transcript". Seeking Alpha, 18 October 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
14. ^ "Intel beats analysts' first quarter forecasts". BBC News, 17 April 2012.

Further reading[link]

• S. Steen et al., Microelec. Eng., vol. 83, pp. 754–761 (2006).

External links[link]

• Chipmakers gear up for manufacturing hurdles
• Sony, IBM, and Toshiba partnering on semiconductor research
• IBM and AMD partnering on semiconductor research
• Slashdot discussion
• Intel press release
• Intel 32 nm process
• Intel 32 nm SRAM demonstration at IDF 2007
• Samsung self-aligned double patterning technology