By Paul Adams Posted 02.22.2011 at 1:54 pm 13 Comments

Millimeter-Scale Computer Greg Chen

Tiny-fingered researchers at the University of Michigan have created this computer, the world's first complete millimeter-scale computing system. It is a prototype designed to be implanted in a human eye, to monitor internal pressure there for signs of glaucoma.

The machine includes a teeny battery, a consolidated radio and antenna, a pressure sensor, memory, and a rather diminutive processor designed to consume extremely little power.

13 Comments

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suddenmischief
02/22/11 at 2:09 pm

Ow, my eye! I'm not supposed to get microprocessors in it!

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CodeZero
02/22/11 at 2:12 pm

Really, such an potentially amazing article and there isn't a single spec on the computer at all?

How much RAM? How much processing power? How big is it really? How long will the battery last before it needs to be replaced? I mean .. ANYTHING other than "hey look, it's tiny"

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-my name here-
02/22/11 at 2:33 pm

seriously. I could have written a better article, and I can guarantee I know less about it then them.

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RobWiki
02/22/11 at 3:04 pm

Not even a link to a source article so we can get real info on this thing? It must be Monday...

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nonethewiser
02/22/11 at 3:39 pm

The size is two inches by three inches. That's just a really big penny.

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riffmage
02/22/11 at 4:22 pm

But, can you play CoD on it?

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Thedicktator
02/22/11 at 4:40 pm

Here's the link for more info:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-02/uom-tct022111.php

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las3rjock
02/22/11 at 7:14 pm

Here's the abstract of the presentation on this system that was given at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) earlier today:

A 1mm3 intraocular pressure monitor (IOPM) is presented for optimal implantation to track glaucoma and prevent blindness. It achieves 0.5mmHg resolution with a MEMS sensor and a ΔΣ capacitance-to-digital converter. The user wirelessly activates the IOPM, which responds by transmitting data using 4.7nJ/b. The 5.3nW IOPM harvests solar energy to recharge its battery at 80.6nW.

(Source: page 48 of www.miracd.com/ISSCC2011/WebAP/pdf/AP_Full.pdf )

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inaka_rob
02/22/11 at 11:03 pm

yeah. a little short on info. I am curious. It has a tiny battery. will it last for 50 years???

thank you isa3rjock for basically tripling all the info popsci offered and cleared up my battery question.

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eerschr
02/23/11 at 2:09 pm

how are you supposed to type CTL+ALT+Delete when something crashes?

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kritik1
02/25/11 at 2:22 pm

This is great medical news.

I wish the government would encourage and fund more research for all kinds of eye problems. And I think that is the expertise of Mr.Obama, to foster the habit of new innovations.

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salamadra
07/24/11 at 9:41 pm

Soon we will see the similar devises to be implanted into the 21st finger, to implement a "hard on" tax.



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