Scientists Developed a New, Faster, and More Powerful Microwave Chip

Researchers at Cornell University have created the first microchip that uses microwaves and is compatible with traditional digital circuits. This means a fully functional Microwave Neural Network (MNN) has been successfully integrated onto a chip.

This architecture makes the chip more energy-efficient and faster than conventional processors.

Architecture and Speed

The processor is built to use interconnected electromagnetic nodes to detect patterns and analyze data. This is how the MNN circuit processes signal components. Currently, the chip is capable of performing both simple and complex calculations and recognizing binary sequences.

The chip can perform simple logic operations and more complex calculations with an accuracy of 88%. It operates in the microwave analog range and is capable of processing data streams at a frequency of several tens of GHz, meaning approximately 20 billion operations per second. This exceeds the speed of most processors in user computers, which typically operate at a frequency of 2.5 to 4 GHz (up to 4 billion per second).

Improved Energy Efficiency

The chip's power consumption is less than 0.2 W, which contrasts sharply with the input power of most modern processors, which consume no less than 65 W. Such low power consumption opens up possibilities for integrating this technology into personal and compact devices.

The next steps in the chip's development will likely include simplifying the design and reducing its size.