IBM claims fastest semiconductor circuit

IBM has announced that is has created what it believes is the fastest semiconductor circuit, operating at speeds of more than 110GHz and processing an electrical signal in 4.3 trillionths of a second.

IBM built the circuit using its latest silicon germanium (SiGe) technology, called SiGe 8HP, which the company has made available to top-tier communications equipment manufacturers. The first chip produced using SiGe 8HP is expected to in late 2002, IBM said.

IBM has also announced that it has broadened its current SiGe technology offerings with the introduction of two new variants, SiGe 5PA and SiGe 5DM, which the company has tailored for wireless communication chip applications.

Bernard Meyerson, IBM fellow, said: "Many chip-makers are just starting to show they can build SiGe transistors, while we are into our fourth generation of the technology," Meyerson said in a statement.

"We are translating SiGe's benefits into real customer applications. With multiple SiGe technologies, a full suite of design tools, and a significantly expanded research and development operation, we have the resources to help anticipate and meet our customers communications requirements."