Phase Change MemoryPhase Change MemoryNathan Bazyk, Casey Jo Burnett, Giezi Nathan Bazyk, Casey Jo Burnett, Giezi NunezNunez

Phase Change Memory: Phase Change Memory: What is it?What is it?

Phase change memory is a storage technique Phase change memory is a storage technique that can double the memory capacity of that can double the memory capacity of current electronic devices. current electronic devices. By the double layering of GST, a type of glass By the double layering of GST, a type of glass that has physical responsiveness to heat, we that has physical responsiveness to heat, we are able to change the memory cell into four are able to change the memory cell into four different states as opposed to two, as in different states as opposed to two, as in floating gate memory. floating gate memory.

How does it work?How does it work?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9XoxmPF93chttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9XoxmPF93cPhase change memory works by heating GST to a particular temperature in order for data to be recorded as a 1 or a 0. First, in order to reset the material to the 0 state a constant temperature is applied, for a short amount of time, to the GST which then reverts back to its 0 state. Then, if we want to write over this 0 and create a 1 we quickly raise the temperature of the material past a certain point..

What is it replacing?What is it replacing?Phase change memory is replacing floating Phase change memory is replacing floating gate technology. gate technology. Floating gate technology is the memory Floating gate technology is the memory currently used on a wide basis of various currently used on a wide basis of various electronics, such as cell phones and electronics, such as cell phones and computers. computers. Floating gate has been the only memory option Floating gate has been the only memory option since 1969.since 1969.

Floating Gate Analogy:Floating Gate Analogy:Floating Gate technology traps electrons much Floating Gate technology traps electrons much like when a glass jar is full of marbles. When like when a glass jar is full of marbles. When this jar is full of marbles it represents a “0” in this jar is full of marbles it represents a “0” in traditional binary code. On the other hand when traditional binary code. On the other hand when it is empty it is considered a “1”.it is empty it is considered a “1”.As electronic devices get smaller the need for As electronic devices get smaller the need for smaller memory chips is needed, but as in the smaller memory chips is needed, but as in the example above as a glass jar gets smaller it example above as a glass jar gets smaller it can’t hold as many marbles thus making it can’t hold as many marbles thus making it difficult to have a large memory capacity when difficult to have a large memory capacity when needed most. needed most.

An An easyeasy explanation: explanation:

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Phase Change: Phase Change: PhasesPhases??

Each phase represents a different binary Each phase represents a different binary combination.combination.Phase 1- Completely Solid, 1-1, Phase 1- Completely Solid, 1-1, Ice CubeIce Cube..Phase 2- Less Solid, 1-0, Phase 2- Less Solid, 1-0, SlushSlush..Phase 3- Slightly Amorphous, 0-1, Phase 3- Slightly Amorphous, 0-1, WaterWater..Phase 4- Fully Amorphous, 0-0, Phase 4- Fully Amorphous, 0-0, VaporVapor..

Phase Change: Phase Change: ProsPros

Phase change memory is cheaper to produce Phase change memory is cheaper to produce because as it gets smaller it requires less because as it gets smaller it requires less energy to operate. energy to operate. It has a faster recording/response time.It has a faster recording/response time.Phase change holds twice the amount of data Phase change holds twice the amount of data because of it’s ability to alter the physical because of it’s ability to alter the physical composition of GST.composition of GST.

How it’s going to How it’s going to change the change the worldworld??

Since Phase Change memory is up to ten times Since Phase Change memory is up to ten times faster than Floating Gate memory all electronic faster than Floating Gate memory all electronic devices using Phase Change memory will in devices using Phase Change memory will in turn be ten times faster. turn be ten times faster. Because Phase Change memory is cheaper Because Phase Change memory is cheaper than Floating Gate Memory, we will in turn be than Floating Gate Memory, we will in turn be able to have more memory at a more able to have more memory at a more affordable price.affordable price.

Conclusively:Conclusively:

This technology will improve the storage This technology will improve the storage capacity of all current memory based devices. capacity of all current memory based devices. The idea of PCM has been around for over forty The idea of PCM has been around for over forty years but the technology to produce has only years but the technology to produce has only been recently created. been recently created. PCM is revolutionary in many aspects that PCM is revolutionary in many aspects that opens doors for other evolving technology. opens doors for other evolving technology.

References: References: Greene, K. (2008) A Memory Breakthrough. Retrieved October 1, 2008, from HYPERLINK "http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/20148/" http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/20148/

Phase Change Memory. (2008) Wikipedia. Retrieved October 1, 2008 Phase Change Memory. (2008) Wikipedia. Retrieved October 1, 2008 from HYPERLINK "from HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase_change_memoryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase_change_memory" " http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase_change_memoryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase_change_memory

Phase Change Memory. (2008) Phase Change Memory. Retrieved Phase Change Memory. (2008) Phase Change Memory. Retrieved October 1, 2008 from HYPERLINK "October 1, 2008 from HYPERLINK "http://www.numonyx.com/en-US/MemoryProducts/PCM/Pages/PCM.aspxhttp://www.numonyx.com/en-US/MemoryProducts/PCM/Pages/PCM.aspx" " http://www.numonyx.com/en-US/MemoryProducts/PCM/Pages/PCM.aspxhttp://www.numonyx.com/en-US/MemoryProducts/PCM/Pages/PCM.aspx

Phase Change Memory. (2008) Phase Change Memory. Retrieved Phase Change Memory. (2008) Phase Change Memory. Retrieved October 1, 2008 from HYPERLINK "October 1, 2008 from HYPERLINK "http://mx.youtube.com/watch?v=n9XoxmPF93chttp://mx.youtube.com/watch?v=n9XoxmPF93c" " http://mx.youtube.com/watch?v=n9XoxmPF93chttp://mx.youtube.com/watch?v=n9XoxmPF93c