Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

New Products

Toshiba and NEC Develop Worlds Fastest, Highest Density MRAM

196147.gif

16-megabit Memory also Realizes Low Voltage Operation for Mobile Application

Toshiba Corporation and NEC Corporation today announced that they have developed a magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) that combines the highest density with the fastest read and write speed yet achieved. The new MRAM achieves a 16-megabit density and a read and write speed of 200-megabytes a second, and also secures low voltage operation of 1.8V.

A major challenge of MRAM development to date has been the acceleration of read speeds: the current drive circuit used to generate the magnetic field for writing degrades read operation from memory cells. The new MRAM has an improved circuit design that divides the current paths for reading and writing, realizing a faster read speed. It also reduces equivalent resistance in wiring by approximately 38% by forking the write current. These innovations together achieve a read and write speed of 200-megabytes a second and a cycle time of 34 nanoseconds — both the world’s best performance for MRAM. This performance is underlined by a low operating voltage of only 1.8V, the ideal voltage for mobile digital products.

Alongside advances in performance, the new MRAM achieves advances in chip size. Toshiba and NEC have introduced the above mentioned technologies and optimized overall circuit design, achieving a chip that, at 78.7mm2, is approximately 30% smaller than its equivalent without the new circuit design. The new MRAM is the world’s smallest in the 16-megabit era.

MRAM is expected to be a next-generation non-volatile memory that retains data when powered off and that achieves fast random access speeds and unlimited endurance in operation.

Development of these new MRAM technologies was supported by grants from Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

Full details of the new technology were presented on February 6 at ISSCC (International Solid-State Circuits Conference) 2006 in San Francisco, USA.

Main specifications:

Process: 130-nanometer CMOS, 240-nanometer MRAM
Density: 16 megabits
Cell size: 1.872um2
Cycle time: 34 nanoseconds
Read/Write speed (band width): 200 megabytes/second
Power supply voltage: 1.8V

Reference:
Mechanism of reduced electrical resistance in wiring for writing:
The resistance per wiring was reduced by 38% by adopting new wiring method which forks writing current.

*R/2+R/2/4=5/8R=0.625R: R= resistance of current method.

About Toshiba Corporation
Toshiba Corporation is a leader in the development and manufacture of electronic devices and components, information and communication systems, digital consumer products and power systems. The company’s ability to integrate wide-ranging capabilities, from hardware to software and services, assure its position as an innovator in diverse fields and many businesses. In semiconductors, Toshiba continues to promote its leadership in the fast growing system LSI market and to build on its world-class position in NAND flash memories, analog devices and discrete devices. Visit Toshiba’s website at www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

About NEC Corporation
NEC Corporation (NASDAQ: NIPNY) is one of the world’s leading providers of Internet, broadband network and enterprise business solutions dedicated to meeting the specialized needs of its diverse and global base of customers. NEC delivers tailored solutions in the key fields of computer, networking and electron devices, by integrating its technical strengths in IT and Networks, and by providing advanced semiconductor solutions through NEC Electronics Corporation. The NEC Group employs more than 140,000 people worldwide and had net sales of 4,855 billion yen (approx. $45.4 billion) in the fiscal year ended March 2005.

For additional information, please visit the NEC home page at: http://www.nec.com
* Newsroom: http://www.nec.co.jp/press/en/newsroom/index.html

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement

Latest Products

2025 Sony CS Series Home Theater Speaker System

Floorstanding Speakers

Sony’s new CS Series loudspeakers deliver solid home theater and music performance without breaking the bank. Perfect for budget setups and secondary rooms.

Schiit Audio Asgard X Class A Headphone Amp/DAC Silver Angle Schiit Audio Asgard X Class A Headphone Amp/DAC Silver Angle

Headphone Amps

Schiit Asgard X headphone amp/DAC brings flagship Mjolnir tech, new Continuity A output, and Mesh DAC with Forkbeard app for under $550.

JBL Bar 1000 MK2 Soundbar System LIfestyle JBL Bar 1000 MK2 Soundbar System LIfestyle

New Products

JBL's Bar 1000 MK2 upgrades its Dolby Atmos soundbar with 960W power, wireless rears, and a 10-inch sub—true surround without the clutter.

FiiO M21 DAP Front Lifestyle FiiO M21 DAP Front Lifestyle

DAPs

Discover the FiiO M21, an affordable Android music player with quad DAC, balanced output, and desktop mode—delivering high-res sound and versatile streaming for just...

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) - Lifestyle Man Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) - Lifestyle Man

Earbuds & In-Ear Headphones

Bose updates its QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds with better ANC, wireless charging, and smarter voice pickup—ready to challenge Sony and Apple in 2025.

Bose SoundLink Plus and Micro portable Bluetooth Speakers 2025 Bose SoundLink Plus and Micro portable Bluetooth Speakers 2025

New Products

Bose expands its portable speaker lineup with the new SoundLink Plus and 2nd Gen Micro—Bluetooth 5.4, better battery life, improved sound, and rugged designs...

Gift Ideas?

Father's Day Gift Guide 2024 Best Tech and HiFi Gifts

Gift Guides

Upgrade Dad's digital lifestyle with gifts he'll enjoy all year and beyond this Father's Day. New Hi-Fi, Headphones, Home Theater and more!

You May Also Like

Advertisement

ecoustics is a hi-fi and music magazine offering product reviews, podcasts, news and advice for aspiring audiophiles, home theater enthusiasts and headphone hipsters. Read more

Copyright © 1999-2024 ecoustics | Disclaimer: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.



SVS Bluesound PSB Speakers NAD Cambridge Audio Q Acoustics Denon Marantz Focal Naim Audio RSL Speakers