Evolution of microprocessor manufacturing processes

In 1997, IBM rocked the technology industry when it announced chips with copper interconnects that could make microprocessors faster, smaller and less expensive than chips made with aluminum interconnects—the industry standard at the time. One Japanese newspaper headline on the announcement called it “The IBM Shock!” The San Jose Mercury News reported that IBM’s announcement “puts it as far as three years ahead of its competitors.”

Developed by a dedicated, cross-discipline US research and technology team from Yorktown Heights and East Fishkill, NY, and with members from the Burlington, Vermont microelectronics group, the work was performed in a low-profile manner and furthered through an alliance with Motorola, which was pursuing development of the same technology.

Many in the industry didn’t believe in copper’s promise. Yet the limitations of aluminum in microprocessors were obvious.