Thyristor
A thyristor () is a solid-state semiconductor device with four layers of alternating P- and N-type materials used for high-power applications. It acts exclusively as a bistable switch (or a latch), conducting when the gate receives a current t ...
RAM (T-RAM) is a type of
random-access memory
Random-access memory (RAM; ) is a form of computer memory that can be read and changed in any order, typically used to store working data and machine code. A random-access memory device allows data items to be read or written in almost t ...
dating from 2009 invented and developed by
T-RAM Semiconductor, which departs from the usual designs of
memory cells, combining the strengths of the
DRAM
Dynamic random-access memory (dynamic RAM or DRAM) is a type of random-access semiconductor memory that stores each bit of data in a memory cell, usually consisting of a tiny capacitor and a transistor, both typically based on metal-oxi ...
and
SRAM: high density and high speed. This technology, which exploits the electrical property known as
negative differential resistance
In electronics, negative resistance (NR) is a property of some electrical circuits and devices in which an increase in voltage across the device's terminals results in a decrease in electric current through it.
This is in contrast to an ordina ...
and is called thin capacitively-coupled thyristor,
[ Description of the technology] is used to create memory cells capable of very high packing densities. Due to this, the memory is highly scalable, and already has a storage density that is several times higher than found in conventional
6T SRAM. It was expected that the next generation of T-RAM memory will have the same density as DRAM.
This technology exploits the electrical property known as negative differential resistor and is characterized by the way in which its memory cells are built, combining DRAM efficiency in terms of space with that of SRAM in terms of speed. Very similar to the current 6T-SRAM, or SRAM memories with 6 cell transistors, is substantially different because the SRAM latch CMOS, consisting of 4 of the 6 transistors of each cell, is replaced by a bipolar latch PNP -NPN of a single Thyristor. The result is to significantly reduce the area occupied by each cell, thus obtaining a highly scalable memory that has already reached storage density several times higher than the current SRAM.
The Thyristor-RAM provides the best density / performance ratio available between the various integrated memories, matching the performance of an SRAM memory, but allowing 2-3 times greater storage density and lower power consumption. It is expected that the new generation of T-RAM memory will have the same storage density as DRAMs.
Related items
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Computer memory
In computing, memory is a device or system that is used to store information for immediate use in a computer or related computer hardware and digital electronic devices. The term ''memory'' is often synonymous with the term '' primary storage ...
*
RAM
Ram, ram, or RAM may refer to:
Animals
* A male sheep
* Ram cichlid, a freshwater tropical fish
People
* Ram (given name)
* Ram (surname)
* Ram (director) (Ramsubramaniam), an Indian Tamil film director
* RAM (musician) (born 1974), Dutch
...
*
DRAM
Dynamic random-access memory (dynamic RAM or DRAM) is a type of random-access semiconductor memory that stores each bit of data in a memory cell, usually consisting of a tiny capacitor and a transistor, both typically based on metal-oxi ...
*
SDRAM
Synchronous dynamic random-access memory (synchronous dynamic RAM or SDRAM) is any DRAM where the operation of its external pin interface is coordinated by an externally supplied clock signal.
DRAM integrated circuits (ICs) produced from the ...
*
Volatile memory
Volatile memory, in contrast to non-volatile memory, is computer memory that requires power to maintain the stored information; it retains its contents while powered on but when the power is interrupted, the stored data is quickly lost.
Volatile ...
*
Z-RAM
Z-RAM is a tradename of a now-obsolete dynamic random-access memory technology that did not require a capacitor to maintain its state. Z-RAM was developed between 2002 and 2010 by a now-defunct company named Innovative Silicon.
Z-RAM relies on t ...
References
External links
T-RAM Semiconductor** Farid Nemati (T-RAM Semiconductor)
Thyristor RAM (T-RAM): A High-Speed High-Density Embedded Memory. Technology for Nano-scale CMOS/ 2007 Hot Chips Conference, August 21, 2007
EE Times: GlobalFoundries to apply thyristor-RAM at 32-nm nodeSemiconductor International: GlobalFoundries Outlines 22 nm Roadmap
Types of RAM
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