Lin Lixin's skill set just happens to lack the skill of using LCD screens.
And coincidentally, there is no field called materials science.
However, with the support of hardware, learning it actually won't be too slow.
Most importantly----
Lin Lixin has a cheat code.
Adhering to the idea that "it's not worth it if you don't do it," Lin Lixin decisively plunged into the vast sea of archives and patent documents.
How much can you get done in one night?
Lin Lixin could not give a definite answer.
However, if you just want to understand the core technical principles of TFT-LCD, one night is enough.
Facing the rising sun, Lin Lixin stretched and looked out the window.
The interior design at MicroNova is different from that at the GAMENOVA headquarters; there aren't as many large floor-to-ceiling curtain walls.
However, the California sunshine was strong enough to make the room bright.
Vivian drank two double doses of espresso but still couldn't stay awake; she had already fallen into a deep sleep.
But Lin Lixin didn't have time to care how soundly she was sleeping; he immediately grabbed his keys and left.
I have a lot of people to meet today.
California, Fremont.
Two of California's most notorious and ruthless men with the surname Lin had an epic meeting today.
David K. Lam is the founder of Lam Research.
The manufacturer of the most advanced etching equipment in the United States.
"Mr. Lin, I've long wanted to meet you. Seeing is believing; you truly are a man of great talent."
"Mr. Lin, you too—never mind, I'll just call you Lam, it's a bit confusing."
Actually, it doesn't matter much; "Lam" is just a name for "Lam in the Vibrant Greater Bay Area ".
Lin Lixin paused for a moment. Like the other person, he had also long wanted to meet this formidable man.
However, Micron had always followed the model of purchasing existing production lines, so the two parties had never had any interaction.
Lam Research remained an important partner of semiconductor manufacturers such as TSMC and Micron well into the millennium.
Thin film deposition, plasma etching, wafer cleaning----
It can be said that almost all the equipment needed for semiconductor production can be found at Lam Research, providing a one-stop solution.
And it's the most powerful solution in the world.
David K. Lam himself is a chemical engineering PhD from MIT, so his professional expertise is beyond reproach.
"I heard that Mr. Lam recently developed the ConceptOne PECVD system?"
Lin Lixin's visit this time was not only to select some top-quality products for Micron, but also to secure the equipment needed for LCD screens.
The multi-station single-wafer deposition system that Lam Research developed, with its very high-end name, is a perfect fit.
"Mr. Lin is really well-informed."
David K. Lam smiled and readily agreed, "That's right. This is Lam Research Corporation's attempt to enter the PECVD field. Right now, I'm still struggling to find a benchmark customer to validate our products."
"Hey, what a coincidence! We at MicroNova are also having trouble finding suitable CVD and etching equipment."
"Mr. Lin wants to expand his business? What kind of business?"
"Hey-hey----"
Lin Lixin chuckled, "TFT-LCD screen."
David K. Lam paused immediately, thinking he had misheard.
"TFT— Sharp has almost completely monopolized it."
"Yes, but their yield rate is only 8%, which is a complete waste of our Westinghouse Electric's patents."
Upon hearing this, David K. Lam was even more bewildered.
Judging from Lin Lixin's words, it seems he really intends to stubbornly stick to Sharp's patent restrictions and build his own production line?
"Don't misunderstand, I only discovered after acquiring Westinghouse Electric's consumer electronics division that they had actually developed mature products several years ago, but they hadn't had the opportunity to officially launch them due to business contraction."
If what came before could be considered human language, then this is utter nonsense.
David K. Lam was well aware of Westinghouse Electric's current situation.
If Westinghouse truly possessed that ability, they wouldn't have fallen to this point, selling themselves off piece by piece.
Ultimately, they have no other core business besides nuclear power.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to get so thoroughly beaten by General Electric.
"It's true, you might not believe it."
Lin Lixin smiled happily.
Even if it's not true, it has to be true.
"Let's put that aside for now. In short, MicroNova needs Lam Research's Rainbow Etcher and the latest PECVD..."
equipment."
After a night of study, Lin Lixin not only mastered the basic technology of TFT-LCD.
Among the pile of patents, he also made an unexpected discovery.
Invent first or apply for a patent first?
Clearly, the United States today follows the former approach.
This is true even with the restrictions imposed by the Paris Convention.
As long as he can find a way to prove that they invented the TFT-LCD patents first, even if Sharp applies for patents now, it won't help.
To prove who came first, RCA, the birthplace of LCD, and Westinghouse Electric are clearly the most suitable candidates.
It takes a year for Sharp's patents to enter the United States market from Japan.
A year is enough time for him to do a lot.
" Reagan still has two years before retirement, so it would be a disservice to me, as the leader of America's semiconductor industry, if I didn't make the most of it."
Lin Lixin was delighted and immediately began drafting a lawsuit.
In the semiconductor industry, the US president has certainly given him a lot of benefits.
Whether it's last year's Semiconductor Agreement or this year's 100% tariffs, they are both blatant attempts to suppress Japan's semiconductor and consumer electronics industries.
Without a doubt, Reagan was a staunch protectionist.
Faced with the rapidly rising and serious threat of Japan, he wouldn't hesitate to use some underhanded tactics.
It would be even better if this method could be made more respectable.
Very darkly humorous.
A week after Independence Day, several companies across the United States suddenly joined together to issue a statement.
The statement was drafted by GAMENOVA, with participation from Lam Research, Motorola, LCD glass supplier Corning, and PC giant IBM.
A host of Silicon Valley companies, including Apple, SGI, and Dell, are involved.
Even Atari, which has always been at odds with GAMENOVA, made a rare appearance on this list.
The document's content is very simple.
Through rescue-style archaeological work, Lin Lixin successfully found a TFT LCD panel developed by Westinghouse Electric many years ago in the Westinghouse Electronics heritage site.
From a technical perspective, they not only achieved this earlier, but their yield rate is even higher than Sharp's.
In this respect, they are far ahead of Sharp in every aspect.
Therefore, after obtaining evidence from multiple parties, GAMENOVA decisively submitted a large number of TFT-related patents.
Meanwhile, LCD manufacturers such as Corning petitioned the highest authorities, hoping for further sanctions against imported LCD screens from Japan and the initiation of investigations into the alleged misappropriation of LCD technology patents by several Japan companies.
Thus, after several changes of ownership, the patent pool eventually ended up in the hands of MicroNova and Corning, following Westinghouse's patent pool.
Several TFT-LCD panel production lines with a yield rate as high as 17%, supported by Lam Research, were immediately set up in full swing.
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