"Everyone, this lithography machine can not only use blank chips but also recycle used chips for over-engraving."
Upon hearing the capability of the lithography machine, the experts and professors present fell into a frenzy.
Chips, as the brains of industry, while not high in cost individually, were used in an immense number of applications.
Putting aside large industrial equipment, in the daily lives of ordinary people, there are chips in mobile phones, computers, air conditioners, and cars. Even if you don't use these, smart electricity meters also contain chips.
Each might not have many chips, but the cumulative quantity becomes an astronomically terrifying number.
Due to the special nature of chips, when these household appliances are updated, their chips can only be discarded, becoming environmentally polluting industrial waste.
"Chief Engineer Xuan," Professor Yun Jingchu from Longke University spoke again, "I'm not doubting you, but this function is simply too astonishing. Although I don't specialize in chip research, I've never heard of chips that have already been engraved being utilized a second time."
Xuan Mingliang surveyed the crowd, seeing the doubt on everyone's faces. He chuckled softly and waved his hand, "I didn't believe it at first either, but facts speak louder than words. Little He, bring over those discarded chips."
He Yongwen, who had been waiting nearby, quickly ran over, holding a box of used chips.
Xuan Mingliang casually picked up a chip and handed it to Yun Jingchu, who had just asked the question. "Professor Yun, please examine this chip and see if it has been used before. Others are welcome to check as well."
Yun Jingchu took the chip and inspected it carefully.
"Based on the patterns on the chip, this should be a common 200-nanometer precision chip used in integrated circuits. If I'm not mistaken, this was removed from a refrigerator."
"Professor Yun, sharp eyes!" Xuan Mingliang gave Yun Jingchu a thumbs-up. "This batch of chips was indeed salvaged from a lot of scrapped refrigerators."
While Xuan Mingliang and Yun Jingchu were conversing, the others also finished their inspections and returned the used chips to the box.
He Yongwen carried the box to the lithography machine's input port and, under everyone's watchful eyes, poured all the chips from the box inside.
"Whirr!"
With a rhythmic humming sound, the lithography machine started again. Five minutes later, under the tense gaze of the crowd, a batch of still-warm chips was ejected by the machine.
Disregarding the heat, people grabbed the freshly produced chips and inserted them into testing instruments, then eagerly pressed their eyes to the observation windows.
"Two nanometers, it's really two nanometers!"
"This lithography machine can truly perform secondary engraving! Turning obsolete old chips into high-precision modern chips."
Some thought further ahead, "We can acquire old chips on a large scale, or even directly remove chips from machines, remelt and rebuild them, and then reinstall them."
"Without attracting the attention of foreign powers, we can achieve the upgrade of our country's industrial chips at an extremely low cost."
The individuals present were all top-tier experts and professors from Longguo. Unlike the sensationalizing clowns on television, after the initial elation, they quickly calmed down.
"Chief Engineer Xuan, this lithography machine is indeed remarkable, but to complete the nationwide chip upgrade, this single unit is far from enough. We must mass-produce it."
"What is the production cost of this machine? Can it be replicated? Laboratory prototype machines don't need to consider costs, but for mass production, the cost must be reduced..."
Facing a barrage of questions from the professors, Xuan Mingliang raised his hands to signal for quiet.
"I'm not very clear about the things you're asking. This machine was not designed by me, but by another master. The master's name is classified, so please don't ask further."
"However, we can dismantle it for research and strive to complete its replication as quickly as possible."
Xuan Mingliang was unsure if Jing Mingqiu was willing to join the research institute. To ensure his safety, he decisively concealed Jing Mingqiu's name and used the pseudonym "master."
The inability to know the master's name caused some frustration, but upon hearing that it could be dismantled for research, the professors' eyes lit up instantly.
They were immensely curious about what precious materials and profound techniques were used to produce chips with one-nanometer precision at such low energy consumption, and to be able to remelt and rebuild used chips.
Wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers.
Many professors personally went to the lithography machine and began dismantling it at a rapid pace, instantly immersed in an intense research atmosphere.
As the dismantling progressed, exclamations of surprise arose from these seasoned professors.
"The gears bite each other, the main shafts interlock, what an incredible assembly method, it's simply divine!"
"Good heavens! How did I not realize that besides ultraviolet light, light from other wavelengths could also be used as a light source for a lithography machine? The interplay of over twenty light sources is a veritable miracle!"
"The strongest is likely this energy conversion system; the conversion of electrical energy to light of various frequencies is almost one hundred percent efficient..."
As the dismantling continued, their astonishment grew louder. To understand how they achieved such astonishing functions, they were not content with merely removing the outer casing and began to meticulously disassemble the internal components.
Fang Haosi, witnessing this, felt a pang of concern and walked over to Xuan Mingliang.
"Chief Engineer Xuan, is it really alright to let them dismantle it like this? What if they can't put it back together?"
Xuan Mingliang was unfazed and pointed to He Yongwen and his team standing behind. "This lithography machine was assembled by them. We can just have them reassemble it later."
"That's true. I asked Yongwen earlier, and when Jing Mingqiu modified it, he did it in front of them without any concealment."
With that thought, Fang Haosi's worries subsided.
The dismantling and research continued late into the night. The professors, unable to bear it any longer, with their stomachs rumbling, finally stopped reluctantly.
The group gathered, eating their meals while loudly discussing their findings.
The lithography machine had provided them with too many surprises; the designs, which defied conventional understanding, offered them considerable gains and sparked new research ideas.
After a late-night meal, the professors politely declined invitations to rest and returned to the workshop to continue the dismantling.
By dawn, the large lithography machine modified by Jing Mingqiu had been completely taken apart, its components scattered across the floor...
"Chief Engineer Xuan, I can't go on. I'm going to rest for a bit. Please arrange for someone to reassemble this lithography machine. I have some new research ideas that require a complete lithography machine."
With those words, Yun Jingchu, unable to hold on any longer, slumped backward and fell asleep on the spot.
The other experts and professors didn't last much longer and soon drifted off to sleep.
After arranging for the professors to be taken to their rooms to rest, Xuan Mingliang called He Yongwen and instructed him to quickly lead his team in reassembling the lithography machine.
He Yongwen didn't waste any words. He immediately picked up a wrench and screwdriver, leading his men into the pile of parts to begin assembly.
However, as time ticked by, his expression grew increasingly grim...