Trends that are increasing the demand for
photomasks and the photomask industry's importance in the semiconductor
manufacturing process:
CUSTOMIZATION OF SEMICONDUCTOR DESIGNS. Growing demand for
semiconductors, including application specific integrated circuits (ASICs),
application specific standard products (ASSPs), embedded microcontrollers
and a growing variety of memory products, has generated increasing demand
for photomasks as each new type of semiconductor device requires additional
new and often more advanced photomasks.
INCREASING DEVICE COMPLEXITY. As the complexity of semiconductor
devices has increased in response to continued efforts to improve the
performance and functionality of these devices through greater transistor
densities and smaller feature sizes, the number of successive layers of
patterns required to manufacture an integrated circuit has increased,
resulting in an increase in the number of photomasks used to manufacture
that circuit. For example, the number of photomasks typically required for
the manufacture of microprocessors in 1991 was 14 as compared to 25
photomasks now required for the most advanced generation of microprocessors.
DECREASING SIZE OF SEMICONDUCTOR DESIGNS. The semiconductor industry's
growth is driven by its ability to produce smaller and more powerful
semiconductor chips at lower costs. As semiconductor line widths become as
small as the wavelength of the illumination sources in optical lithography,
the semiconductor manufacturing process becomes increasingly dependent upon
high precision photomasks to deliver process results to more demanding
specifications and tolerances. Future generations of wafer lithography
equipment are expected to increase the need for high precision photomasks,
thereby further increasing demand for advanced photomasks with tighter
specifications. Development of increasingly small design features is likely
to generate increased demand for advanced photomasks that can accurately and
reliably replicate intricate design features.
PROLIFERATION OF SEMICONDUCTOR APPLICATIONS. Semiconductor devices of
all types are continuing to proliferate into new products, including
cellular telephones, pagers, automobiles, medical products, household
appliances and other consumer electronic products. In addition, the demand
for semiconductor devices from traditional markets such as personal
computers is growing significantly as semiconductor content in electronic
systems increases and as personal computers expand further into homes and
other new market segments. The Company believes that the proliferation of
semiconductor applications will lead to an increase in semiconductor design
activity and resulting demand for photomasks.
The Company believes that all of these changes in the semiconductor industry
are increasing the demand for, and the already important role of, photomasks,
and driving the need for the continuing development of advanced photomasks.
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A nice synopsis from SEC filling S-3 5/12/98 pg 22. |
