Tech Hammer

"Change the subject?"

Ning Wei's words made the other two students in the car look puzzled, except for the driver whose expression remained unchanged in the front seat.

Somewhat sudden.

As a leader in the fields of mathematics, artificial intelligence, intelligent algorithms, and semiconductors in China, and even the undisputed No. 1, why do we have to change the subject?

Is it because the previous research was too successful?

"Director Ning, what subject should I change? Are you not going to do chips and artificial intelligence?" Zhou Zhenghao couldn't help but ask.

"No, after I train you, I plan to do research on condensed matter, quantum, field theory, standard model, etc." Ning Wei glanced at Zhou Zhenghao and said.

"Director Ning, are you planning to enter physics?" Meng Runze was stunned and asked subconsciously.

"Well! I have been under pressure in the past two years. Except for Ningban, I have not recruited any more students. I just want to spare some time to study first, but there are still too many things, and none of you can make people worry. Also. We can’t let go of the chip either. Once our first batch of CPUs are made, this task will be officially entrusted to you. In the future, Ningban will have children who want to develop in this direction. You senior brothers should be more proactive and help me. Take them with you. Help me make more time."

Ning Wei told his two proud disciples very seriously about his plan.

"No, Director Ning, don't be like this. According to the previous plan, we should be able to stay with you for two more years." Meng Runze argued.

Ning Wei shook his head and said: "That's what I think. It will definitely be too late next year. If your thesis is ready in March of the following year, we will do an internal defense. Don't worry, in our direction, other examiners will also be invited. I'm here to watch the ceremony. I said you can graduate, but no one dares to say that you can't. If you really are not ready in March next year, just go to Ningsi to intern and continue to prepare your thesis while doing practice. At the end of October of the following year, we will take the doctoral graduation examination again. So, you all should work hard quickly."

Contradictions change. There are always people who wish to graduate early. After all, the age pressure of studying for a PhD is there. But here, with the most ideal teacher-student relationship for students, I really don’t want to graduate.

"Okay, Director Ning. But aren't you taking this topic too far?" Although Meng Runze agreed, he still couldn't help but ask.

After hearing this, Ning Wei smiled slightly and explained patiently: "Is it big? Mathematics and physics are inseparable. Especially for your future research on chips, it is easy to say that there will be a breakthrough in three-dimensional silicon through silicon in the future. In the 1nm process, don’t you have to deal with physics? We won’t say it’s complicated anymore. Let’s just say that the chip projects you have followed me for the past two years should be very close to the working logic of the transistors inside the CPU. There are more transistors, and the distance that electrons move is shortened accordingly. Internal electrons spontaneously flow from the negative electrode to the positive electrode through the silicon bottom plate of the transistor channel, causing leakage."

"These leaked currents will cause additional power consumption. As the CPU process is upgraded, this problem will become more and more serious. Our bottom board and high board combined are only more than ten atoms thick. If there is too much leakage, the insulation layer will Thinner, how do you plan to solve these problems in the future? Intel is using high dielectric films and metal gate integrated circuits to solve this problem, and IBM is burying a layer of ferroelectric film on the source and drain to solve the leakage problem, but these are all Technology in a two-dimensional environment.”

"You must know that under a three-dimensional path, the chip will be more sensitive to power consumption. In particular, the heat generated inside a single tube is doubled. You should remember the previous tests. Adding more heat dissipation leads will reduce the proportion of the number of transistors passing through the inner wall. Right? This is because our current process is not too advanced. I have done calculations. When we upgrade to the 14nm manufacturing process in the future, the current heat dissipation structure will not be able to adapt and new technologies will be needed to dissipate heat."

"This requires new materials, new processes, and new technical means to solve these problems. It requires you to use broader thinking to solve a series of problems. By that time, many problems are no longer purely mathematical problems, but also physical problems. . Right? So, a real scientist must not only have depth of knowledge, but also breadth. You must always remember this."

"Although you know that I have been keeping a low profile these years, some people in the academic world still think that I am a brand, and some people even proposed the term Ning's School. Don't laugh, these are the last time you, Dean Yao, had dinner He told me this when he was a kid. I was still a little uncomfortable listening to it before, but these days I have figured it out. No matter how low-key some people are, their dazzling light can never be covered up. So just learn to be a valve, but there are One thing, since you have all been labeled as academics, you must at least be worthy of this title in terms of knowledge."

"Finally, let me tell you that what you are doing now is of great significance, no matter how the market responds in the future, and it is of extraordinary significance. The significance is that in the future, we will have more choices between surviving on our knees or changing careers and getting out. The choice to stand up in the industry. I don’t care what others do, but as you are my students, you must always remember that since we are called academics by others, we must have the consciousness and pride of academics, no matter which one we focus on in the future In this industry, you not only have to stand up and make money, but you also have to straighten your chest, do you understand?"

Probably because he was on the bus back to school, Ning Wei was not afraid of wasting time, instilling more different thoughts into his two disciples, and rarely spoke at length about his mental journey over the years.

Of course there are reservations.

For example, the pursuit of physics knowledge actually has little to do with the CPU industry. It is entirely because the inequality that has been confusing him recently has been circulating in his mind more and more frequently. If he had to make an analogy, it would probably be the purest desire for knowledge, which made him want to spare more time to do these things.

But for Ningwei's students, this is easy to understand.

Although Ning Wei is a mentor, he is not much older than them in terms of age, that is, he is only one or two years old. Ning Wei is only 28 years old this year. At this age, it is normal for him to study for a doctorate and not graduate yet. Calculated according to the normal study age, if you graduate from college at the age of 22, if everything goes well with your graduate studies, you will have to be 25 to get your master's degree. Of course, in China, whether it is a professional master's degree or a master's degree, generally speaking, you can graduate on time. It is a small probability event.

But if you choose to continue studying for a Ph.D., the situation will be reversed. Basically, only a small number of lucky people graduate on time, and the majority are delayed. In other words, I have only been studying for a Ph.D. for three years at the age of 28, and I am still struggling with the thesis stage. Ning Wei is 28 years old and has been a doctoral supervisor for more than three years. It is not a big deal to change his direction at this time.

After all, Director Ning only spent two years studying for his master's degree and Ph.D., and he basically skipped the master's degree stage. For a student who has solved two world-wide mathematical problems as an undergraduate, there is definitely no embarrassment in giving proofs.

Therefore, Director Ning put forward higher requirements for them. If he thought about it carefully, there seemed to be nothing wrong with it. He couldn't think of any reason to object.

"Director Ning... we will definitely work hard."

"Well, that's good. Don't be idle during the filming period after you return to school. Go and have a good chat with a few fellow students, such as Xiao Li, Xiao Zhuo, oh, by the way, especially with Zhang Ding. Xita exchanged ideas, and his project has made great progress. I saw the latest laboratory report he sent yesterday, and the accompanying video, which is really good. Pick a time to go to their laboratory and have a look. For the future It will be helpful when you design the CPU."

"Uh? Brother Zhang also has a breakthrough?"

"Haha, you will know when you go and take a look." Ning Wei smiled easily. After these people were brought out, he could indeed relax a lot.

…

"Brother Zhang, Director Ning specifically told us that we want to learn from you this time, saying that your research project has made breakthrough progress. No, the first thing Lao Meng and I did after we came back was to treat you to dinner. You You can't hide your secrets from us." At the dinner table, Zhou Zhenghao said to Zhang Dingxi with a smile on his face.

However, Zhang Dingxi obviously didn't appreciate it very much. He glared at Zhou Zhenghao and scolded directly: "Gungun, don't do this with me. You are the two worst thieves in our group. You can choose a project that can be fooled by Director Ning." , being able to be mentored by Director Ning every day is indeed better than ours, but treating me to a meal and showing off is too much, right?"

"What's going on? Brother Zhang, if you want to say that, we have to talk about it. Yes, we worked with Director Ning on the CPU, and we did spend more time together. But brother, what do you say about the laboratory? In order for you to have A good research environment. Director Ning directly spent hundreds of millions to build a laboratory. You have high requirements for materials. Director Ning wishes that the Institute of New Materials would cooperate with you in conducting experiments and help you select materials. The funds for side projects all start with tens of millions of dollars. We haven’t said that Director Ning is partial, but you still have the nerve to say that we are showing off?” Seeing that he was being criticized for talking nicely, Zhou Zhenghao immediately responded.

Although Zhang Dingxi is the oldest among the ten people, everyone calls him Brother Zhang to show respect. But if you really want to talk about it, after all, we all entered school in the same year, and they are all about the same age, and they are both arrogant and arrogant, so there is nothing to worry about when they quarrel.

Zhang Dingxi straightened his chest, rolled his eyes, and said in a low voice: "Bah, why didn't you say you can still go to the research center over there? Stop showing off in front of me. I've been getting angry these past two days! You guys? What are you going to see in the laboratory? Are you kidding me! Director Ning has provided me with such good resources, and I have made the project what it is now, and I almost want to die!"

Meng Runze, who had been sitting silently next to him, understood the content of the argument between the two and said calmly: "Brother Zhang, isn't it? Mr. Ning was on his way back just now and seriously praised you for doing a good job now. Come on. The original words are that your project has made great progress and you have done really well. Let us definitely go to your laboratory to have a look and understand your research progress."

This sentence finally made Zhang Dingxi stop acting like a hedgehog and asked suspiciously: "Does Director Ning really say that?"

"Nonsense! Otherwise, why do you think Runze and I invited you to dinner the first thing we did when we came to school?" Zhou Zhenghao said angrily.

"I just heard you say that, and I really thought you two were going to show off your power in front of me! Use my failure to illustrate that your recent CPU project can be tape-out smoothly!" Zhang Dingxi said immediately.

"Are we that boring? No, Brother Zhang, you have very high standards for yourself now! Director Ning thinks you are making good progress, but you still feel unsatisfied? Do you want to eat a big fat man in one go?"

"Forget it, I'm too lazy to tell you. In this case, let's stop drinking and go to the laboratory in the afternoon. I'll show it to you. When the various materials were made separately before, they were all perfect, and the finished product tested out I'm almost worried to death because of the problem. Director Ning probably wants to encourage me through your mouth, right?"

"Okay, okay, let's have something to eat and go to the laboratory first. We'll treat Brother Zhang to a hotel for a good meal in the evening!"

"If you go there and give me some advice to improve the product, I don't want you to invite me. I'll treat you to a state banquet!"

…

"Okay, Lao Zhang, are you still not satisfied with the finished product? Do you still want to make something perfect in one go? Our first taping failed!"

"go away!"

"To be more serious, Brother Zhang, I took a look and found that your gesture recognition is mainly based on the optical flow information method and the skeleton model. You can consider support vector machine and random decision forest. Especially for the recognition algorithm, there should be tracking The weighted option, especially under complex light backgrounds, filters out the adverse effects of non-targets on tracking targets.”

"Well, this can be considered. My initial idea is to install two infrared-compatible sensing modules at the two T-points. After all, if you just blindly add the neural network and extract the target features to train the classifier, The robustness is high, and the effect should be good, but the requirements on computing resources, especially the GPU, are too high.”

"I understand why Director Ning asked us to take a look at your research. Brother Zhang, don't be afraid. Our chip will make up for this. It can be left to a specialized module, especially in the three-dimensional mode."

"What's going on? I'm led by the cluster!"

"Who is making trouble with you! What's wrong with the cluster? You have to consider daily applications and supporting software support. In the early stage, if you really make 3D high-resolution, it will still be stuck no matter what GPU you use! I'm right ! And haven’t you ever thought that it is because you have always considered the issue of 3D display clarity that the positioning during gesture recognition is inaccurate? You have to eat one bite at a time, give up the 3D high resolution, and make the spatial positioning accurate first is enough. ”

"I also think so. If you really need clarity in three-dimensional compositions, you can achieve it through special methods. Partial filling is achieved through algorithms. Let the CPU intelligent module take on part of it, and we must maximize our advantages! Anyway, we don’t want to use your 3D display for internal chip composition now, and EDA doesn’t support it now! But then again, in the future, when this technology matures and the software supports it, this display technology can really save a lot of money. Things. The most important thing is that this can reduce the unit price! Consider the cost-effectiveness, Brother Zhang!"

"I also think, Brother Zhang, you need to work harder. Listen to us, the first generation of products does not actually need to be too mature. If you make a monitor that is ahead of its time, it will be useless without software support. Think about it. The picture quality of VR when it first came out was so impressive. Is there a market for it? Not to mention that you can also do naked-eye VR. It is already an advancement of the times. Using this kind of display to watch videos shot by 360-degree cameras is no better than Is it better to bring one of those things?"

"Well, let's call Junior Sister Jingwen later to get some news out, and let Hongmeng System first come up with a few players and games that are suitable for this 3D version of the display, and then match it with our CPU to make a proper domestically produced one. Light, Brother Zhang!”

"Nima, that's enough for you. Is it really okay to lower the final parameter requirements of the product like this?"

"The world's first similar product, let alone the national standard. There is no standard in the world. Of course you can set the standard yourself. Director Ning said so. Why are you demanding so much? The first batch of products has done a miracle. Come on, do you still need room for improvement in the future? Director Ning didn’t say that he would go to 7nm from the beginning when he was making CPUs, right? We are all still working on 60nm, and you’re the only one who wants to stand out?”

"I……"

"Don't talk about it, Brother Zhang. I also think Lao Zhou is right. Lower the standards, produce a finished product first, and then slowly upgrade the standards. I suggest that you can call Xiao Chen over later and let Ningshe adjust the new display Model, make more software with better adaptability. Brother Zhang, you can’t always rely on Director Ning to give you money to do projects, right? Let’s first see if there is a market, explore the way, and be accepted by the market. Sometimes if you don’t want to upgrade, there will be people lining up to throw money at you to beg you to upgrade.”

Zhang Dingxi, who has always adhered to the concept of perfectionism, was finally broken by Meng Runze's words.

Director Ning is indeed rich, but he has been investing in this project. Every time he doesn't have enough money, he can only bite the bullet and file a report to ask for money. Every time, the money is approved very promptly.

Although Ning Wei has never talked to Zhang Dingxi about burning money, Zhang Dingxi is really embarrassed. Now every year when Ning Wei invites him to dinner, he is embarrassed to sit next to his tutor...

For people with normal views, if the instructor is too good, isn’t it a different kind of pressure?

"Okay, stop talking, just do it! If this is the case, you can also remove a few light sources and add sensors. This way the layout will be easier to design, the yield rate will be higher during production, and the finished product will be reduced. About thirty percent.”

"That's right. And the same products must be divided into low-end and high-end. In the future, we can take the high-end route of resolution. Scientific research level, work level, and consumer level can all be done separately. Although we only do technology, we can We also need to add some market thinking. Xiao Meng, is this what Director Ning said?"

"Lao Zhou, I'm sure Director Ning has never said this in front of me!"

"Ahem...Brother Zhang, don't pay attention to these details. Maybe I remembered it wrong. Xiao Meng was not here when Director Ning said this. Anyway, I tell you, this decision is definitely the right one!"