Emerging memory taxonomy according to ITRS 2013

For all of you working on emerging memory technologies such as ReRAM, FeRAM, PCM, MRAM etc. this classification scheme in the latest ITRS roadmap should be very useful. Please check out the  ERD - Emerging Research Devices Chapter.

"Figure ERD3 [inserted below] provides a simple visual method of categorizing memory technologies. At the highest level, memory technologies are separated by the ability to retain data without power. Nonvolatile memory offers essential use advantages, and the degree to which non-volatility exists is measured in terms of the length of time that data can be expected to be retained. Volatile memories also have a characteristic retention time that can vary from milliseconds to (for practical purposes) the length of time that power remains on. Nonvolatile memory technologies are further categorized by their maturity. Flash memory is considered the baseline nonvolatile memory because it is highly mature, well optimized, and has a significant commercial presence. Flash memory is the benchmark against which prototypical and emerging nonvolatile memory technologies are measured. Prototypical memory technologies are at a point of maturity where they are commercially available (generally for niche applications), and have a large scientific, technological, and systematic knowledge base available in the literature. These prototypical technologies are covered in Table ERD2 and in the PIDS Chapter. The focus of this section is Emerging Memory Technologies. These are the least mature memory technologies in Fig. ERD4, but have been shown to offer significant potential benefits if various scientific and technological hurdles can be overcome. This section provides an overview of these emerging technologies, their potential benefits, and the key research challenges that will allow them to become viable commercial technologies."

 

Figure ERD3, from the ERD Chapter 2013 - Emerging memory taxonomy (ITRS 2013, Chapter ERD) 

 

If you continue to read from page 8 on you will find a short description of all emerging memory technologies that are being considered by he ITRS. If you´re saturated on resistive technologies you can fast forward to page 12 and read about the new contender FeFET :-)