IBM announced what it says is innovative new chip-making technology for power-management semiconductors – the company’s first foray into a segment seen as critical to the development of alternative energy sources, smart buildings and new consumer devices.
IBM’s process integrates wireless communications into a single power-management chip, a first that can cut production costs (about 20%) to allow chip designers and manufacturers to create a new class of semiconductors – ultra-small and affordable chips that control power usage while they communicate in real-time with systems used to monitor “smart” buildings, energy grids and transportation systems.