6 μm process

The 6 μm process (6 micrometers) is the level of semiconductor process technology that was reached around 1974^[1][2] by companies such as Intel.

The 6 μm process refers to the minimum size that could be reliably produced. The smallest transistors and other circuit elements on a chip made with this process were around 6 micrometers wide.

Products featuring 6 μm manufacturing process

• Intel 8080 CPU launched in 1974 was manufactured using this process.^[3]
• Zilog Z80 launched in 1976 was manufactured in 4 μm.^[4][5]
• Intel 2116 and Mostek 4116 16K DRAMs were introduced in 1975 and 1976, respectively. ^[6]

References

1. Mueller, S (21 July 2006). "Microprocessors from 1971 to the Present". informIT. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
2. Myslewski, R (15 November 2011). "Happy 40th birthday, Intel 4004!". TheRegister.
3. "List: History of the Intel Microprocessor". Archived from the original on 27 April 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2015. 6,000 transistors, 8008 ran at 2 MHz, 8-bit processor (limited 16-bit abilities), minimum feature size of 6 um
4. "MICROPROCESSORS EVOLUTION timeline". Timetoast timelines. Archived from the original on 14 April 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
5. "A History of Microprocessor Transistor Count" (PDF). wagnercg.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 April 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
6. "The Chip Collection - STATE OF THE ART - Smithsonian Institution". smithsonianchips.si.edu. Retrieved 12 December 2022.

External links

• Brief timeline of microprocessor development

Preceded by 10 μm process

Semiconductor device fabrication processes

Succeeded by 3 μm process