Japan quake could compromise Moore's Law
The lenses used to focus silicon design masks are made to exacting standards.
Indeed Ars Technica currently reports that that the effects could extend further than just financial ramifications too; even Moore’s Law is under threat.
The cause for alarm is a Nomura Securities report, which details the current status of various hi-tech production facilities that were in or around the area affected by the disaster.
On this list are a number of production sites owned by camera and lens producer Nikon, which are currently listed as having operations suspended due to building damage.
Of these five sites, three produce the high-powered lithography lens systems that are used in semiconductor production, which could have a knock-on effect for chip makers.
At the top of the list of companies that could be affected is Intel, which uses Nikon-produced lenses in some of its 45nm fabs and all its 32nm facilities. This strong relationship between the two companies also suggests that Nikon would be producing the lenses for Intel’s forthcoming 22nm production lines, meaning any delay at its production facilities could affect the production of future Intel CPUs.
Intel has released a statement saying that it's 'continuing to monitor the situation in Japan,' but also notes that the majority of its key suppliers 'came through this event in reasonable shape.'
Do you think Intel is playing down its worries? Let us know your thoughts in the forums.
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Discuss in the forums ReplySo Intel's production lines won't be hit, it's just that their planned move from 45nm or 32nm to 22nm won't happen as quickly as they'd hoped - so it won't affect current processor lines, just new 22nm versions of existing chips or new processor models which we probably wouldn't be seeing for another 18months anyway.
We purchase a very large amount of video tape stock, and our daily operations are now threatened. Sony's professional video tape production facility was heavily damaged, and tape production has been suspended indefinitely. Although we don't use Sony tape, the effect is an increased demand for JVC and Maxell tape. Suppliers are already seeing the results.
As it stands, if we make some significant changes to our recording strategy we can cover supplies to mid-April. After that, we have to hope that the other tape manufacturers can keep up with the rest of the industry, and that the expected price hikes in video tape aren't prohibitively high.
I seriously suggest that anyone contemplating buying any new electronics whatsoever do so now. Don't wait a single minute. What is in stock now may not be replenished any time soon.
Then again, they might use Nikon lenses in their stepper-scanners.
There's a lot of different things going on that are going to influence semicon production quicker than non-avaiability of next-gen lenses however.
Wafer production is down (this will probably hit first).
25% decrease
Production of certain slurries and chemicals is down.
Production of PCB-materials is down (huh, I'd have thought this was in Chinese hands by now, but nope)
Fairly basic things like extremely-clean shipping boxes are largely in japanese hands.
From months to a year probably, they have to sort out damage to factories and the infrastructure (roads and public transport).
It also probably means prices will rise in the short term due to demand and lack of supply.