Researchers Invent Energy-Saving Computer Chip

10 Dec, 2004 at 2:31pm ET Article published in Tech

University of Alberta researchers have designed a computer chip that uses about 100 times less energy than current state-of-the-art digital chips.

The greatly reduced energy consumption of this novel technology offers promise for many small devices with relatively low power needs. This technology could one day eliminate the need to recharge cellphones, help introduce smaller, ultra-high-speed communications systems, and advance the use of implantable health care devices, such as drug delivery chips. Research and development is ongoing before this technology can be implemented in products.

The team at the iCORE High-Capacity Digital Communications Laboratory, including Dr. Vincent Gaudet, Dr. Christian Schlegel, and former graduate students Dave Nguyen and Chris Winstead, created the microchip while working in the University of Alberta Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The communications chip was designed by Nguyen, manufactured by CMC (the Canadian Microelectronics Corporation) and tested at the University of Alberta.

This new analog processing technology has been used by Winstead to build the largest analog decoder chip fabricated to date, also built at iCORE’s High-Capacity Digital Communications Laboratory at the University of Alberta. The iCORE HCDC Laboratory is a recognized world leader in this novel and promising technology.

Source: Science Daily

Comments

10 Dec 2004 ~ 3:38pm EMT Sounds neat
Good job Canada.
10 Dec 2004 ~ 6:22pm CyrixInstead How would it eliminate the need to recharge mobiles? You've got to power the antenna.

~Cyrix
10 Dec 2004 ~ 6:27pm Medlock

CyrixInstead wrote:

How would it eliminate the need to recharge mobiles? You've got to power the antenna.

And the backlight for the screen...
10 Dec 2004 ~ 7:34pm RWB Solar Power? Other renewable sources... it recharges itself faster than it uses that power?

I am sorta asking the same question.
10 Dec 2004 ~ 7:59pm Shivian I think they use the phrase "one day" fairly loosely here. Sounds like the old "we've almost built a quantum computer".
10 Dec 2004 ~ 9:11pm Komete THe probably mean like on one AAA batery it could run for a month so why get a regargable batery.
11 Dec 2004 ~ 12:09am deepsea I'd still rather have a rechargeable than be replacing batteries. Maybe make it like the citizen watches, powered by motion.