Semiconductor Memory Technologies and Applications
ECE59500
Credit Hours:
3This course introduces students to the field of semiconductor memory technologies, which plays an increasingly important role in modern applications. It provides detailed insights into device and circuit fundamentals for SRAM, DRAM (planar DRAM, eDRAM, 3D HBM), Flash (NAND/NOR, 3D V-NAND), and emerging non-volatile memories (RRAM, PCM, MRAM, FeRAM/FeFET). The course will cover technology and scaling trends, along with a wide spectrum of case studies on modern applications such as edge computing, machine learning acceleration, HPC scientific computing, datacenter applications, hardware security, brain-inspired computing, and space electronics.
Required Text(s):
None.
Recommended Text(s):
None.
Lecture Outline:
| Week | Major Topics |
|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction, memory technology landscape, course project formation |
| 2 | SRAM: cell operations, design & fabrication considerations |
| 3 | SRAM: variability and reliability, scaling trends |
| 4 | DRAM: device technologies, operation basics |
| 5 | DRAM circuit and memory banks |
| 6 | Embedded DRAM (eDRAM) and 3D high-bandwidth memory (HBM) |
| 7 | Flash: physical mechanisms, operations |
| 8 | Flash: NAND/NOR types, reliability |
| 9 | Flash scaling trends, 3D Vertical NAND. Midterm exam. |
| 10 | Intro to emerging non-volatile memories (NVMs), Phase change memory (PCM) |
| 11 | Resistive RAM (RRAM), selector devices, array architectures |
| 12 | Conductive-bridge RAM (CBRAM), Magnetic RAM (MRAM) |
| 13 | Ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM) and Ferroelectric FETs (FeFET) |
| 14 | In-memory computing |
| 15 | Modern/exploratory applications (case studies), project presentations |
Assessment Method:
Homework, presentations, projects, exams