posted on Jul, 31 2004 @ 10:58 AM
IBM has recently announced that they have developed a new chip morphing technology that allows semiconductors to repair themselves without human
intervention. The new technology is called eFUSE and will revolutionize the way the microprocessors work in harsh environments. The technology works
off of the principle of electromigration, which in the past has been considered detremental to chip design.
www.reed-electronics.com
Challenging laser fuse techniques, IBM today announced a chip morphing technology based on electromigration it says can allow a new class of
semiconductor products that monitor and adjust their functions without human intervention.
Called eFUSE, the technology is part of a built-in self-repair system that constantly monitors a chip�s functionality. eFUSE works by combining
software algorithms and microscopic electrical fuses, opposed to laser fuses, to produce chips that can regulate and adapt their own actions in
response to changing conditions and system demands, according to IBM.
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
eFUSE works kind of like the traffic controller for a system of roads. If problems are detected the technology will close old, defective, circuit
paths and open new, working ones.
Imagine the Mars rover breaking down and then automatically healing itself. Imagine computers injected into the human body to monitor vital body
functions that malfunction and then repairing themselves.
While this technology is only applied to processors it is almost too easy to speculate that soon similar technology will be produced for hard disk
drives and other crucial computer components.
[edit on 31-7-2004 by Nerdling]