DuPont Photomasks, AMD, Micron Technology and Motorola Open Jointly Funded Reticle Technology Center.ROUND ROCK, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 12, 1997--DuPont Photomasks Inc. (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on : DPMI (DOS Protected Mode Interface) A Microsoft programming interface that allowed a DOS-extended program to run cooperatively under Windows 3.x. It was not compatible with VCPI, the first DOS extender standard. ), more commonly referred to as DPI (Dots Per Inch) The measurement of the resolution of display and printing systems. A typical CRT screen provides 96 dpi, which provides 9,216 dots per square inch (96x96). Flat panel displays from 110 to 200 dpi have also been developed. , is pleased to announce the opening of the DPI Reticle ret·i·cle n. A grid or pattern placed in the eyepiece of an optical instrument, used to establish scale or position. [Latin r Technology Center, a joint venture established by DPI, Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : AMD (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, www.amd.com) A major manufacturer of semiconductor devices including x86-compatible CPUs, embedded processors, flash memories, programmable logic devices and networking chips. ), Micron Technology Micron Technology ("Micron") NYSE: MU is a multinational company based in Boise, Idaho, USA, best known for producing many forms of semiconductor devices. This includes DRAM, SDRAM, flash memory, and CMOS image sensing chips. Inc. (NYSE: MU), and Motorola Inc. (NYSE: MOT). The Reticle Technology Center (RTC See real time clock. ), a free-standing technology development facility, will be used to establish the technical foundation and processes required to create photomasks intended to enable the production of new generations of deep sub-micron semiconductor devices. This is likely the first time the collaborative, multi-vendor development model that has been employed successfully in other areas of the semiconductor industry has been extended to photomask technology. Photomasks are high purity quartz plates that contain precision images of integrated circuits Integrated circuits Miniature electronic circuits produced within and upon a single semiconductor crystal, usually silicon. Integrated circuits range in complexity from simple logic circuits and amplifiers, about 1/20 in. (1. and are used to pattern the circuit images onto semiconductor wafers. As the feature sizes of semiconductor devices continue to shrink, photomask technology has come to play an increasingly critical role on the path of semiconductor development. Once a passive image transfer medium, the photomasks used to manufacture today's most advanced semiconductor devices must employ sophisticated phase shift and optical proximity correction Optical proximity correction (OPC) is a photolithography enhancement technique commonly used to compensate for image errors due to diffraction or process effects. The two most common applications for OPC are linewidth differences between features in regions of different density (e. technology to produce the level of precision required for the semiconductor fabrication fabrication (fab´rikā´sh  n),n the construction or making of a restoration. process. "The RTC is an important part of DPI's strategy to ensure that we can supply our customers with the photomasks they need to move from .35 to .18 micron design rules and beyond," said Paul Chipman, general manager of the RTC. "The center was designed from the ground up to be a state-of-the-art research facility and is equipped with some of the most advanced tools available in a clean room that exceeds Class 1 requirements." "The RTC brings together an industry-leading team of individuals from each of the participating companies to address the challenge of packing steadily increasing amounts of data onto a piece of silicon," observed J. Michael Hardinger, chairman and chief executive officer of DuPont Photomasks. "The collaborative approach we are taking with semiconductor manufacturers is unprecedented in the industry and will prove to be a real advantage in supplying the high end photomasks necessary to support our customers' aggressive development plans." Reticle Technology Center The Reticle Technology Center is a 17,000 square foot building that is located next to DPI's existing production facility in Round Rock. The RTC houses a 5,500 square foot clean room and will initially be staffed by approximately 40 employees. Representative equipment installed in the RTC includes an ALTA(R) 3000 laser writing tool, KLA-Tencor Starlight 351 inspection tool, MEBES(R) 4500 electron beam A stream of electrons, or electricity, that is directed towards a receiving object. See electron beam imaging and electron beam lithography. system, and a SEIKO SIR 3000 repair tool. The RTC will also serve as a beta site An organization or group that is beta testing hardware and/or software. See beta test. for a Plasma-Therm VersaLock(R) Mask Etcher that utilizes dry etching Dry etching refers to the removal of material, typically a masked pattern of semiconductor material, by exposing the material to a bombardment of ions (usually a plasma of nitrogen, chlorine and boron trichloride) that dislodge portions of the material from the exposed surface. technology. Joint Venture Participants "We expect that the innovative work being done in the RTC will result in significant savings in expenditures on capital equipment and other manufacturing costs," noted Dr. William T. Siegle, vice president and chief scientist at AMD. "We are also taking a very cost-efficient approach by spreading the funding for the development efforts across four independent companies." "The joint venture members are each contributing specialized expertise in addition to funding for the RTC," commented Mark Durcan, vice president of process research and development at Micron Technology. "Together, we have created a technology development environment that will allow our people to leverage each other's strengths to produce results that are much greater than just the sum of the pieces." "The pioneering work being done in the RTC will ensure that we stay on top of the increasingly rapid transition to progressively smaller semiconductor feature sizes," remarked Bill Walker, director of worldwide manufacturing at Motorola. "The collaborative approach embodied in the RTC will make our task a great deal easier by bringing together experts in different facets of semiconductor and photomask technology at one advanced development facility." About the Participants DuPont Photomasks Inc. is the world's leading supplier of photomasks, operating globally from nine strategically located facilities in North America, Europe and Asia. The company produces and supplies photomasks as well as photoblanks (photomask substrates) and pellicles (protective covers for photomasks). DPI is headquartered in Round Rock, and had worldwide sales in fiscal 1997 of over $260 million. AMD is a global supplier of integrated circuits for the personal and networked computer and communications markets. AMD produces processors, flash memories, programmable logic devices and products for communications and networking applications. Founded in 1969 and based in Sunnyvale, Calif., AMD had revenues of $2.0 billion in 1996. Micron Technology Inc. and its subsidiaries manufacture and market DRAMS, very fast SRAMS, FLASH, other semiconductor memory components, remote intelligent communications (RIC RIC Rhode Island College RIC Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago RIC Regulated Investment Company RIC Royal Irish Constabulary RIC Reuters Instrument Code RIC Roman Imperial Coinage RIC Resources Inventory Committee RIC Rapid Intervention Crew ) products, complex printed circuit board assemblies and personal computer systems. With worldwide sales of $7.9 billion, Motorola's Semiconductor Products Sector is the largest U.S.-based broad line supplier of semiconductor solutions. Motorola is one of the world's leading providers of wireless communications, semiconductors and advanced electronic systems, components and services. Major equipment businesses include cellular telephone, two-way radio, paging and data communications, personal communications, automotive, defense and space electronics and computers. Motorola produces semiconductor power devices, computers and millions of other products. Motorola's 1996 sales were $28 billion. -0- Note: This release includes forward-looking statements based on management's current plans and expectations. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties which cannot be predicted or quantified and which may cause future activities and results of operations to differ from those suggested. For additional information, please refer to the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. CONTACT: DPI Investor Relations Investor relations The process by which the corporation communicates with its investors. Dianne Schedler 512/310-6559 or Edelman Worldwide Barbara Holtz or John Satterfield 415/968-4033 |
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