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- Semiconductor developer 4DS Memory (4DS) says it has fixed technical issues with the production of its memory cell technology
- 4DS and imec have been working closely to address the etch residue problem, which saw a partial failure of the second platform lot
- The device needs to undergo electrical testing, which can only be performed on the third platform lot
- 4DS expects to reach the etch step in the next few weeks
- 4DS shares climb 22.1 per cent to 8.3 cents
Semiconductor developer 4DS Memory (4DS) shares jumped after the company announced it had fixed technical issues with the production of its memory cell technology.
The company said over the first quarter of 2022 it worked closely with imec to address the technical issues.
4DS said the pair undertook a memory stack etch mask change and further performed etch process optimisation to resolve the etch residue problem that resulted in the partial failure of the second platform lot.
Third platform lot memory stack etch mask modification and further optimisation of the etch process using the new mask demonstrated the “successful elimination” of the etch residues that caused electrical shorting of the memory devices in the second platform lot, according to the company.
Final verification of the process improvements needs electrical testing, which can only be performed on the third platform lot.
4DS said the mask change and process improvements “dramatically increased the likelihood that the third platform lot will be successfully processed”.
“As a result, the company and imec jointly decided to implement these improvements and continue to process the third platform lot, which was put on hold prior to reaching the etch process,” the company said.
Following the completion of the technical work, the manufacturing of the third platform lot
incorporating imec’s megabit memory platform with transistors will resume.
4DS said the lot was expected to reach the etch step in the next few weeks, while the third platform lot’s out-of-fab date remained July 2022.
4DS shares were trading 22.1 per cent higher at 8.3 cents at 10:58 am AEST.
