Date: 08/05/2011

Intel to further raid the Moore's Law wave by adding vertical dimension to its chips

Intel Corporation said its going to use three-dimensional (3D) Tri-Gate transistors made using 22-nanometer (nm) node. Intel planing to use this tech in its future processsor chips named "Ivy Bridge." The idea behind this tech is to make transistor to conduct more current when they are 'on' and offer more resistance when they are 'off' compared to present 2 dimensionally made transistors/MOSFETs.

This symbols the addition of z axis to Moore's law to make the law valid for some more years. By nature any expansion, if is limited in two horizontal dimension (x, y), looks for growth in vertical direction (z).

The leading VLSI chip makers are going in a direction where the move from present lithgraphy based equipment to totally different nantechnology device creation in a step by step transition rather than sudden shift, this way they can ensure their billion dollar equipment does't get obsolete suddenly.

Instead of focusing more on semiconductor chip making technology, VLSI scientists and engineers can work more in desiging the advanced logic funcion semiconductor devices which works with less number of transistors, something like the processor IP vendor; ARM. The programmable silicon with less number of switches or any such electronics devices may be a better way out compared to cramping billions of MOSFETs and running them red hot all the time.