IBM and partner Samsung announced a breakthrough this week, one that could essentially touch every piece of technology ranging from consumer electronics to spacecrafts. Detailed in a video posted to YouTube, a new design for semiconductors would allow chip makers to stack transistors vertically versus the norm of arranging them flat on a semiconductor’s surface.
The current design for this process is called FinFET (Fin Field Effect Transistor), while IBM and Samsung’s new process is called VTFET (Vertical Transport Field Effect Transistors). In plain terms of how this design could affect everyday computing, IBM says that VTFET chips could offer a 2x improvement in performance or an 85% reduction in energy use.
New VTFET Design vs. Old FinFET
Benefits of VTFET
- Potential device architecture that enables semiconductor device scaling to continue beyond nanosheet
- Cell phone batteries that could go over a week without being charged, instead of days
- Energy intensive processes, such as cryptomining operations and data encryption, could require significantly less energy and have a smaller carbon footprint
- Continued expansion of Internet of Things (IoT) and edge devices with lower energy needs, allowing them to operate in more diverse environments like ocean buoys, autonomous vehicles, and spacecraft
For us here at Droid Life, the idea of finally seeing smartphones that can last over a week instead of only a day or two is titillating. Naturally, with this announcement only being made this week, we have a ways to go before we see VTFET implemented into buyable everyday goods for, let alone powering our rocket boots and spaceships. At least we now know what we’re working towards.
For a more detailed look at what’s happening with VTFET, watch the video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OF3Zwfu6Ngc&ab_channel=IBMNews
// The Verge
I will never understand why battery tech hasn’t innovated nearly as fast as pretty much every other tech component. Still an indirect path to a possible week-long battery life is a great, as you say Tim, goal to work toward!
They building these chips out of Graphene??? ^_^
Aren’t displays the biggest drain on batteries though?
… and Samsung will say, “Great! We can use a battery 1/10 as large!” and we’ll still have 5 to 6hrs of SOT.
Well, honestly I am happy that technology keeps advancing. I remember from the OG Droid days that I would have to change out (remember removable batteries?) or recharge my phones battery at least once in the middle of my day. My phones have been lasting longer each new generation through the day before needing to be charged. And my current phone, Samsung S21+, lasts through the day from the time I pick it up off the bedside wireless charger until I put it back at night. It does get a boost by charging in the phone mount on my way to work and then heading home. I am certainly happy that battery life is improving.
So….Tensor 4 maybe?
My Motorola E815 could do that in 2005, so yay for progress I guess?
Sounds great, if true. Though I doubt we’ll see anything using this tech soon.
I’ll believe it when I see it. Until then I will file this away until 4 years from now Kellen sources the link to this article and reminds us that we are still 2 years from this happening in 2027.
Couldn’t agree more!