Microchip Saves Power by Never Turning Off

Microchip Saves Power by Never Turning Off
Aug-04-14
A new low-power microchip that never turns completely 'on' could provide an efficient source of power for the wireless sensors used to connect our devices to the 'Internet of Things.'

The new chip, developed by the startup PsiKick, takes advantage of the fact that transistors in circuits never actually turn completely off. Instead, a small amount of current is always flowing through most transistors, even when they are turned off. By designing "sub-threshold" microchips able to utilize this constant current, the team has created a chip that will use between 1 and 0.1 percent of the power of its counterparts. This low usage allows to the chip to function using scavenged power, with future power sources including body heat or ambient radio waves.

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[TECHNOLOGYREVIEW.COM]
[PSIKICK.COM]
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