Hewlett-Packard Co. announced a new specialized type of computer chip that could lead to the creation of field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) up to eight times denser, while using less energy. The company said Tuesday such chip could be built using the same size transistors as those used in today’s FPGA design, meaning they could be built in current fabrication facilities with only minor modifications .FPGAs are integrated circuits with programmable logic components and interconnects that can be adapted by end-users for specific applications. They are used in a wide range of industries, including communications, automotive and consumer electronics.
The technology calls for a nanoscale crossbar switch structure to be layered on top of conventional CMOS (complementary metal oxide silicon), using an architecture HP Labs researchers have named “field programmable nanowire interconnect (FPNI)” – a variation on the well-established FPGA technology.