IBM dips into "system-on-a-chip" technology

IBM has unveiled a major advance in its semiconductor technology that will allow complete electronic systems to be built on a single silicon chip.

Capitalizing on its copper technology, the company claims it can efficiently place both logic and memory circuits on a single piece of silicon.

This "system-on-a-chip" technology could significantly enhance the performance of many electronic products, from personal computers to cell phones to video games, while reducing the number of chips inside and making products smaller and less expensive.

IBM claims it can pack 24 million "gates," or circuits on a single chip - that's up to eight times the processing and four times the memory found on a typical PC.

IBM plans to start designing custom chips with this capability in April of this year.

IBM Microelectronics has posted details on its Web site at http://www.chips.ibm.com .