Low-power Intel chip runs off a stamp-sized solar cell or a potato

Chip maker giant Intel has shown off a super energy-efficient processor codenamed Claremont that needs just 10 millivolts to work. The Intel super low power chip that works on “near-threshold voltage” or NTV technology can be fired up by a small solar cell, kinetic power and even by a potato, Intel says. The invention will energize Intel’s efforts to combat ARM in mobile chip domination. The new energy efficient small chips from Intel will be powering up our phones and tablets in future.

Low power Intel chip

Brainchild

Intel engineers have been working on this project to develop thin and light chips that can run small devices. The microprocessor is proficient enough to operate on the less amount of power available. Even a stamp-sized solar cell and kinetic energy can run the innovative chip from Intel. The company, in its press release, notes that even a potato can operate the chip. Chips normally work on 1V or more. But the new Intel chip just requires 10 millivolts to function. It means Intel’s groundbreaking less energy microprocessor is to revolutionize the technology scenes.

Cost involved

Intel has not disclosed the cost involved in the project.

The making

Intel research wing has produced the chip. The project is part of the company’s efforts to penetrate into the mobile chip market, currently dominated by ARM. Mobile phones and other handsets require lightweight, high-performing and energy efficient chips. The research chip is made in a way that it will work fast when needed and drops power to blow 10 milliwatts as the chip has less work. This way, power management takes place quite wonderfully.

What’s new

Energy efficient products and technologies are gaining impetus across the world. As the world is seeking for more power efficient chips and technologies, these kinds of innovative chips will do appreciable jobs. The entire device with the chip will consume less power. As a result, battery life of smartphones and tablets will go up. It will be with such a goal Intel is working to produce chips that consume less power but offer high performance.

The Intel chip will certainly boost the world’s endeavors for less power technologies and products. In the wake of growing energy crisis, technologists are working hard to find out better ways to cope up with the rise in energy consumption. Certainly, innovations like the new Intel chip will augment such efforts and will realize more and more power-efficient products.

What’s refreshing

The Intel project is its infancy stage, however. Intel says that the chip is not ready for commercial use at this point of time. Of course, in coming years, we will be having handsets with the inventive chips from Intel. The devices will provide more battery life longevity thanks to the new chip. As the microprocessor can even work on solar energy, we can expect more solar powered smartphones too in future. As of now, technologists stay away from using solar panels on smartphones and other devices in fear that the amount of power needed for the devices will not be met by solar cells. So as if we have more less-power chips and other components, our dream of more solar powered gadgets will come alive.

Applications

Intel has just shown off the prototype of the Claremont CPU. The company is yet to roll out the chip for commercial purposes. Engineers of the company are still working to perfect the chips. Of course, sooner than later we will be seeing the new Intel chip appearing on phones, tablets and music players from various manufacturers. This way, Intel will be able to lift stiff challenge to ARM, the leader in production of small and lightweight chips for mobile devices.

Quotes

Just read on what Intel says of the chip in its press release,

The results of this research could lead to the integration of scalable near-threshold voltage circuits across a wide range of future products, reducing power consumption by 5-fold or more and extending always-on capability to a wider range of computing devices.