New Super-Efficient Chip Could Run on Body Heat

Wired: New Super-Efficient Chip Could Run on Body Heat

A new chip uses so little power, it could enable sensors, communication devices and other gadgets that run on body heat and movement alone.

The chip uses 70 percent less voltage than current chip technologies. It could lead to an order-of-magnitude increase in energy efficiency for electronics in the next five years, said the MIT researchers who developed the new technology.

"It will extend the battery lifetime of portable devices in areas like medical electronics," said Anantha Chandrakasan, a professor of electrical engineering at MIT. "When you look at the digital processor, the fact is that we may be able to reduce the energy needed by 10 times." …