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Spinoff story

Energy Saver

A real-world story of NASA technology finding a life beyond the mission.

About this technology

Overview

Harris Semiconductor Company used technology which they found in Tech Briefs as the basis for an integrated circuit to reduce onto one chip most of the circuitry of the motors, for example working machines, drill presses, etc. Harris produced an induction motor energy saver (IMES) centered upon a silicon chip. The chip computes the precise voltage and the IMES monitors the motor and provides the energy. An IMES equipped drill press uses only 79 watts of energy as compared to the usual 160 watts.