Deep Space Research Discovers Boon for Chip Makers

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Aug. 13 -- An extremely sensitive and accurate infrared detector, which can ferret out a misfiring transistor from the billions on today's Pentium and PowerPC chips, has been developed and patented by researchers at the University of Rochester. The new device can detect single photons, making it sensitive enough to meet the demands of new chip makers who need to test billions of transistors on each chip as quickly and efficiently as possible.