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Politics : Formerly About Applied Materials -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Proud_Infidel who wrote (47161)	5/23/2001 12:46:11 PM
From: Charles Tutt	Respond to of 70976

"The three-year research agreement has two phases. The first phase, expected to take one year, will address transferring the details of ORNL's patented crystalline oxide on silicon process to Motorola Labs and PNNL." Statements like that make me wonder whether the patent description is enabling. JMHO, and not a legal opinion. Charles Tutt (TM)

To: Proud_Infidel who wrote (47161)	5/23/2001 3:47:42 PM
From: Sun Tzu	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 70976

Unfortunately, once the thickness is reduced to 20 angstroms or less (anticipated later next year), the silicon dioxide is no longer able to provide effective insulation from the effects of quantum tunnelling currents and the devices will fail to work properly. In other words, unless someone succeeds in creating a suitable dielectric within the next two years, SemiCap companies may face the biggest threat of their life. Or am I missing something? Incidently, back in 1991 I was discussing the quantum effect with my VLSI Prof. The discussion went nowhere and he finally said not to worry about it as it will be at least another 10 years before we need to face it and by then someone has solved the issue...well, he was right about the time span, let's hope he's right about the cure too. Sun Tzu