What does "0.18um" mean in 0.18um CMOS technology?

[tran]

Hi all,
I am a beginer in IC design and I meet some problem.
I see many people say '0.5 um technology, 0.18um technology ...' I don't understand What it mean. Do '0.5 um technology' mean the smallest length
of transistor is 0.5um Or Lambda (in layout) is 0.5um and the transistor' length is greater that many times ? Can you give me some explanation about this?
Thank you very much,

 

[Mistico_Pereyra]

Re: cmos technology

feature size is the name of the technology (0.18µm,90nm, ...) is not the lambda!! Freature is about 2λ!!

Chips are generally categorized by their "minimum feature size" -- the dimension of the smallest feature actually constructed in the manufacturing process. This size is continually getting smaller, as chipmakers seek to pack more circuitry into the same space

Look at this url:

https://www.facsnet.org/tools/sci_tech/tech/fundaments/scale2.php3

**broken link removed**