This is the processes technology based on MOSFET gate
length.
Let us consider a simple MOSFET,
In the above diagram L (length) represents the length of the
gate; And W (width) represents the width of the gate. The 180nm or 90nm or 45nm
or 16nm or 9nm represents this length. When we say the IC is designed with this
technology in the sense actually we are representing the gate length of the
transistor used in this IC. All the remaining transistors will also have the
same gate length. this also described as the smallest pattern which can be drawn on the surface of the silicon chip.
NOTE: Some of may think that 45nm is the actual IC size but
it is not correct it represents the transistor gate length. Even it will not
represent the entire transistor size.
