Tech giants start by disassembling systems

Chapter 177 Signal

On the evening of December 3, 2020.

Su Chen sat in the lab until eight o'clock.

He exported the raw data from the white light interferometer and made three backups—one on the lab's server, one on an encrypted USB drive, and one sent to Lin Wei via the intranet.

Then he sent a message to Zhou Zhiyuan:

"Data backup complete. You can begin preparing your thesis."

Zhou Zhiyuan replied with a single word: "Okay."

Three seconds later, he replied: "I'll start outlining tonight. 'A Third-Order Thermodynamic Correction Model for Deep Reactive Ion Etching in Large-Size MEMS—Theoretical Framework and 300mm Experimental Verification.' What do you think of this topic?"

Su Chen glanced at it: "It's too long."

"Academic paper titles are meant to be long," Zhou Zhiyuan replied with a helpless emoji. "Why don't you come up with one?"

Su Chen thought for five seconds: "Third-order extension of the equivalent thermoelastic approximation method: theoretical prediction and experimental verification of 300mm MEMS-DRIE."

"...Isn't this even longer?" Zhou Zhiyuan replied.

Su Chen did not reply.

He turned off the lab lights and went back to his dorm.

He bought a bottle of Coke on the way. Not to celebrate—he was just thirsty.

Back in his dorm, he sat on the edge of his bed, finished his Coke, and then took out his phone to check his messages.

He had read Lin Wei's reply—"Okay. The schedule for the technical sharing meeting on December 5th has been adjusted. Come to my office tomorrow; there are some details we need to confirm."

There is no further news.

The outside world is still debating whether Hungyuan Flying Bird has a competitive advantage. They're still questioning whether it can produce 300mm wafers. Former Bosch employees and semiconductor industry observers are still analyzing Hungyuan Flying Bird's supply chain crisis.

But in this dormitory room, in the hands of this person who had just completed the world's first 300mm high-precision MEMS etching, there was only an empty bottle of cola and an empty can.

Su Chen threw the empty can into the trash can and went to bed.

He was still sleeping soundly. He was still not dreaming.

……

April 12st morning.

Lin Wei's office.

Su Chen sat opposite her. On the table lay a printed report of a white light interferometer—12.07 degrees, ±0.018 degrees, Ra 2.3nm.

"The accuracy is better than you expected," Lin Wei said.

"It's 0.012 degrees higher than expected," Su Chen said. "The third-order correction model actually has higher fitting accuracy on large scales. This shows that the physical meaning of the third-order term is correct—it's not a numerical fit, but a real physical effect."

"In terms that ordinary people can understand?"

Su Chen thought for a moment: "The larger the size, the more accurate our theory will be."

Lin Wei raised an eyebrow slightly: "What about 400mm?"

"Theoretically, it should be more accurate. But the experimental conditions aren't right yet—there isn't a 400mm DRIE device available."

"There will be some in the future," Lin Wei said.

She glanced at the files on the table and said, "The technical sharing session is on December 5th. You'll be presenting the results of the 300mm project."

Su Chen frowned slightly: "I'm not good at giving reports."

"I understand. So the report will be divided into two parts. Zhou Lin will do the first part—introducing the engineering application methodology of the 250mm equivalent thermoelastic approximation method. You will do the second part—presenting the experimental verification results for 300mm. You only need to present the data."

"Just talking about data?"

"Just present the data. Project the white light interferometer report onto the screen. Then tell them—12.07 degrees, ±0.018 degrees, one etching attempt completed. That's all."

Su Chen thought for a moment: "Okay."

"But there's one thing," Lin Wei said, "The information about 300mm is currently only being released internally within the alliance. It's not being made public. All participating companies are required to sign a confidentiality agreement."

Why?

"Give us some time." Lin Wei didn't explain in detail. "You don't need to worry about that. You just need to explain the data clearly by the 5th."

Su Chen nodded. He was indeed neither good at nor interested in these kinds of business strategies.

"There's one more thing," Lin Wei said. "I've prepared Zhou Zhiyuan's letter of appointment as technical consultant. I'd like to hold a brief appointment ceremony after the technical sharing session on December 5th. Can he come?"

"Let me ask." Su Chen took out his phone and sent a message.

Thirty seconds later, Zhou Zhiyuan replied, "Okay. I'll buy the plane ticket myself."

"He's coming," Su Chen said.

"Okay." Lin Wei smiled. "Then December 5th will be a very important day."

Su Chen stood up, preparing to leave. He stopped at the door, but didn't turn back.

"Lin Wei."

"Um?"

Have you read those articles outside—the ones saying we don't have a moat—?

Lin Wei was taken aback. She hadn't expected Su Chen to bring up this topic. Yesterday, she thought Su Chen was completely unaware of what was going on outside.

"I saw it," she said.

"12.07 degrees is the response." Su Chen finished speaking, pushed open the door and left.

Lin Wei watched his departing figure and smiled.

Yes. 12.07 degrees is the best response.

No public relations needed. No rebuttal needed. No online arguments needed.

One experimental data point is worth more than ten thousand articles.

……

On the same day. Stuttgart. Bosch headquarters.

A stack of papers was piled on Stein's desk.

For the past two weeks, he has been studying all of Su Chen's publicly published academic materials—from his undergraduate course papers to his core paper on the equivalent thermoelastic approximation method. He has made detailed annotations on each one.

Two professors from the Technical University of Munich—Friedrich Albrecht and Hans Günther—have officially joined Bosch's special task force. They will travel to Stuttgart next Monday for their first in-person technical seminar.

Stein is preparing materials for the seminar.

On the whiteboard in front of him was a technology roadmap. At the top was written "Equivalent Thermoelastic Approximation Method," which branched into three sub-branches: "Mathematical Foundations," "Physical Models," and "Engineering Applications." Each sub-branch had even more detailed nodes.

This is an attempt by Stein to reconstruct Su Chen's theoretical framework.

But he discovered a problem.

He could find clues in the open-source literature for "mathematical foundations" and "engineering applications." But for the branch of "physical models"—especially the methods for handling third-order nonlinear effects—there was almost no open-source information.

Su Chen has not published any papers in this field.

This means that either Su Chen has not yet solved the third-order problem, or he has solved it but has chosen not to disclose it.

Stein prefers the latter.

As Lin Wei stated at the press conference, "300mm is not currently included in the permitted range."

"Not open for the time being" means that results have already been achieved.

If the 300mm method has already been achieved, then the third-order problem must have been solved—because the 300mm method cannot bypass the third-order nonlinear effects.

Stein drew a question mark next to the node of the "physical model" on the whiteboard, then drew a circle and wrote: Su Chen's core barrier. This cannot be inferred from publicly available literature at present. Independent exploration is required.

He leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples.

Independent exploration. Easier said than done.

The equivalent thermoelastic approximation method is already a groundbreaking achievement. Building upon this, third-order nonlinear problems have been solved, and experimental verification over 300 mm has likely been completed—meaning Su Chen's theoretical framework is more complete than anyone anticipated.

Bosch's dedicated team has only just begun researching 250mm.

If Su Chen has already reached 300mm—

The gap isn't just half a generation; it's a whole generation.

Stein picked up his phone and sent an email to Muller. The subject was: "Recommendations for the Competitor's Technology Assessment".

The email contained only three sentences:

Mr. Muller:

Based on my comprehensive analysis of Su Chen's publicly released materials, I have ample reason to believe that Hongyuan Feiniao has completed the construction of its theoretical framework on the 300mm scale and may conduct experimental verification in the near future. If the verification is successful, the technological gap between Bosch and Hongyuan Feiniao will not be half a generation as previously assessed, but at least one generation.

It is recommended that the research focus of the special task force be adjusted from 'catching up' to 'differentiated development'.

After sending the email, Stein turned around and continued studying Su Chen's paper.

He knew Muller wouldn't like the email.

But scientists' job is to tell the truth, not to say what the boss wants to hear.

……

December 4th, afternoon. Shenzhen.

In a WeChat group.

Flyer Lao Chen posted a message: "Hey everyone, anyone going to the Flying Bird Alliance technical sharing session on December 5th?"

Xiao Wang from Shenzhen: "I wanted to go, but it seems I can't participate unless I'm a member of the alliance."

Old Chen, the Flyer: "That's true. They say it's only open to companies that are members of the alliance."

The calm analyst remained silent for a long time before posting a message:

"Tomorrow's sharing session will be very interesting."

Pilot Chen: "Why?"

The calm analyst, the company's director, said, "Because I noticed something yesterday. Yesterday afternoon—that is, the afternoon of December 3rd—Hongyuan Feiniao's official website quietly updated the agenda for the technical sharing session."

Shenzhen Xiao Wang: "What's new?"

Calmly, the chief analyst said: "The original agenda only had one part - 'Introduction to the methodology of the 250mm engineering application of the equivalent thermoelastic approximation method'."

After yesterday afternoon's update, the agenda has been changed to two parts. The first part remains unchanged. The second part is—'Launch of Hongyuan Feiniao's Latest MEMS Technology Achievements'.

Pilot Lao Chen: "Latest results?"

Calm Analyst Chief: "Yes. 'Latest findings.' Not 'Research progress.' Not 'Future directions.' It's 'Results Release.'"

'Results' means that a definite outcome has been achieved.

'Release' means preparing to make it public.

Based on my previous assessment—that Su Chen was preparing a 300mm trial etching in early December—"

Shenzhen Xiao Wang: "You mean...?"

The calmly analyzing head of the company said, "The 300mm verification has been successful."

The group was silent for ten seconds.

Pilot Chen: "Are you sure?!"

Calmly, the chief analyst said, "I'm not sure. But if the 'latest results' announced at tomorrow's sharing session aren't verification data for 300mm—I can't think of anything else."

The 250mm specification has already been publicly disclosed. The licensing details for the Flying Bird Alliance have also been released. The investment by Hongyuan Precision has also been announced.

Currently, the only thing that Hongyuan Feiniao has not publicly disclosed that can be called its 'latest achievement' is only 300mm.

Therefore, I tend to believe that Su Chen has completed the 300mm trial etching and succeeded.

Otherwise, Lin Wei wouldn't have changed the agenda at this time.

Flyer Lao Chen: "My God... if it really succeeds, then all those articles that questioned it before..."

The calm analyst said, "It's all become worthless paper."

Does the 'open equivalent thermoelastic approximation method' mean there's no moat? -- 300mm is the moat.

'A lead of only half a generation'? -- 300mm turns a lead of a whole generation into a lead of a whole generation.

'The supply chain is the real crisis'? — That's true, but with the technological advantage of 300mm, supply chain problems become much easier to solve. More partners will proactively seek you out.

So I say—everything depends on 300mm.

Now, if I'm not mistaken—the 300mm is complete.

Shenzhen resident Xiao Wang: "What will those who wrote the critical articles think when they find out...?"

The calm analyst said, "They'll find out soon enough."

Although the technical sharing session was only open to alliance member companies, this kind of news can't be kept secret for long. I estimate that within a week, the news of the successful 300mm verification will spread throughout the industry.

At that time, public opinion will shift again.

The 12.03 degree Celsius silenced everyone for once.

12.07 degrees—if the result is 12.07 degrees—will shut everyone up a second time.

And this time, the silence will last even longer.

Because while a 250mm shot could be attributed to 'perhaps just good luck,' a successful 300mm shot wouldn't be luck—it's theory, it's a system, and it's about Su Chen himself.

You can question an experiment.

You cannot question a theoretical framework.

Pilot Chen: "So what you said before—noise is always noise, only a signal is a signal."

Calm Analyst Chief: "Yes."

12.07 degrees – if it really is 12.07 degrees – that's a signal.

All those articles questioning the company, the posts by the 'former Bosch employee,' and the analyses from 'Semiconductor Industry Observer'—they're all just noise.

The signal has appeared.

Next, we'll see how far this signal can travel.

……

On the same evening.

Tokyo.

Akira Ishikawa sat in his research lab at the University of Tokyo, staring at his computer screen.

The screen displayed the webpage of 36Kr, a Chinese tech media outlet. His Chinese reading ability had improved considerably over the past few months because he had been closely following developments in China's MEMS industry.

He saw the updated agenda notification for the Hongyuan Flying Bird Technology Sharing Session.

"The latest achievements in MEMS technology have been released." He read these words softly.

He stared at those words for a long time.

Then he opened his phone's contacts and found a name—Su Chen.

He obtained this number three months ago through the organizing committee of an academic conference. He has never dialed it.

The last time he came across this number—just a week ago—he told himself, "It's not the right time yet."

What now?

Akira Ishikawa's thumb hovered above the dial key.

He hesitated for thirty seconds.

Then he put down his phone.

But this time, he didn't close his contacts. He moved Su Chen's name from regular contacts to his favorites.

"It'll be soon," he told himself.

Outside the window is a December winter night in Tokyo. Cold and clear.

Akira Ishikawa knew—something was happening. And he didn't want to miss it.