Magnetic Random Access Memory

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Magnetic Random Access Memory

• Jonathan Rennie, Darren Smith

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Applications

• Replace computer memory
• Instant boot devices
• No memory loss due to power loss
• Extended battery life

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Benefits
fast speed cheap dense non-volatile consume low power no need to refresh
fast speed cheap dense non-volatile consume low power no need to refresh
fast speed cheap dense non-volatile consume low power no need to refresh
FLASH       v   v
SRAM v           v
DRAM   v v    
MRAM v v v v v v
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Funding

• Government
• Military
• IBM RD
• Multiple universities

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Magnetic Tunneling Junction

• Principles of operation

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MRAM 1MTJ Cell
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MRAM 1MTJ Cell
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Other MRAM Configurations

• Square device is unstable, other geometries
  considered rectangle, hexagon, disk, ellipse

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Constructing MRAM

• Tunneling layer integrity and thickness
• Resistance of MTJ increases as dimensions decrease

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QUESTIONS

• Are you still awake?