DynaPulse provides extendibility and leading-edge capabilities to the ArF immersion installed base to further maximize chipmakers' investment
San Jose, California, February 23, 2015 - Cymer, an ASML company, an industry leader in developing lithography light sources used by chipmakers to pattern advanced semiconductor chips, today announced the shipment of its first XLR® 700ix light source. Enabling higher scanner throughput and process stability for 14nm chip manufacturing and beyond, the XLR 700ix provides improvements in bandwidth, wavelength and energy stability to reduce process variability and increase yield through improvements in wafer critical dimension (CD) uniformity; software enhancements to increase light source predictability and availability; and reduction in helium and power consumption to decrease operating costs.
Cymer also introduced DynaPulse(TM) as a product upgrade option for OnPulse® customers. DynaPulse enables chipmakers to extend their capital investment and achieve the same performance improvements standard in the XLR 700ix to their ArF immersion installed base. Essentially eliminating bandwidth as a source of variation to improve on-wafer critical dimension (CD) uniformity, the XLR 700ix and DynaPulse utilize the same patented technology to tightly control bandwidth specifications (300+5fm) and achieve stable on-wafer performance.
"Customers have recognized the new performance, process stability and sustainability improvements of the XLR 700ix to enable higher system efficiency for leading-edge manufacturing applications, and are eager to realize the same benefits within their installed base," said Ed Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Cymer Light Source. "DynaPulse now makes it easier for chipmakers to achieve a high level of performance and productivity across their entire ArF immersion light source fleet."
From enhanced service to product upgrade options, such as SmartPulse(TM) and DynaPulse, OnPulse customers experience reduced cost of operation, enhanced productivity and predictable costs that scale directly with wafer production. For example, the SmartPulse data capture and analysis tool enables chipmakers to better monitor key light source parameters in real-time, with field-to-field resolution, prevent excursions and make adjustments to achieve a high level of performance, and ultimately increase wafer output per tool. SmartPulse enables chipmakers to better monitor and keep light sources within tighter bandwidth control achieved with DynaPulse.
As the newest additions to the family, XLR 700ix and DynaPulse demonstrate Cymer's continued investment in research and development to support DUV technology extensions for 14nm chip manufacturing and beyond.
About Cymer
Cymer, an ASML company, is an industry leader in developing lithography light sources, used by chipmakers worldwide to pattern advanced semiconductor chips. Cymer's light sources, and ongoing innovations, are available to all semiconductor and semiconductor equipment companies to enable advanced device manufacturing today and into the future. Cymer is pioneering the industry's transition to EUV light source technology, the next viable step on the technology roadmap for the creation of smaller, faster and more energy-efficient chips. The company is headquartered in San Diego, California. www.cymer.com
About ASML
ASML makes possible affordable microelectronics that improve the quality of life. ASML invents and develops complex technology for high-tech lithography machines for the semiconductor industry. ASML's guiding principle is continuing Moore's Law towards ever smaller, cheaper, more powerful and energy-efficient semiconductors. Our success is based on three pillars: technology leadership combined with customer and supplier intimacy, highly efficient processes and entrepreneurial people. We are a multinational company with over 70 locations in 16 countries, headquartered in Veldhoven, the Netherlands. We employ more than 14,000 people on payroll and flexible contracts (expressed in full time equivalents). Our company is an inspiring place where employees work, meet, learn and share. ASML is traded on Euronext Amsterdam and NASDAQ under the symbol ASML. More information about ASML, our products and technology, and career opportunities is available on: www.asml.com
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
"This document contains statements that are forward-looking, including statements with respect to Cymer's XLR 700ix DUV light source, including expected benefits to our customers, expected benefits of Cymer's XLR 700ix DUV light source, including reducing process variability and increase yield through improvements in wafer critical dimension (CD) uniformity, expected improvements in bandwidth, wavelength and energy stability and expected improvements in scanner throughput and process stability, statements with respect to bandwidth control and expected benefits therefrom, including reduction in process incursions and stable and repeatable performance, statements with respect to sustainable use of natural resources, including use of less helium and reduced energy requirements, and resulting reduced operating costs for customers, statements with respect to software updates that enhance light source predictability and availability and statements with respect to Cymer's DynaPulse, including expected benefits to our customers and expected performance improvements to and extended lifespan of ArF immersion installed bases.
You can generally identify these statements by the use of words like "may", "will", "could", "should", "project", "believe", "anticipate", "expect", "plan", "estimate", "forecast", "potential", "intend", "continue" and variations of these words or comparable words. These statements are not historical facts, but rather are based on current expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections about the business and our future financial results and readers should not place undue reliance on them. Forward-looking statements do not guarantee future performance and involve risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include risks associated with Cymer's XLR 700ix DUV light source, including the risks that the light source does not deliver expected results or benefits to our customers, risks associated with Cymer's DynaPulse, including the risks that the product upgrade option does not deliver expected results or benefits to our customers and other risks indicated in the risk factors included in ASML's Annual Report on Form 20-F and other filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this document. We do not undertake to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.