17545195. GLOBAL HEATER FOR PHASE CHANGE MEMORY simplified abstract (INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION)

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GLOBAL HEATER FOR PHASE CHANGE MEMORY

Organization Name

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION

Inventor(s)

Nanbo Gong of White Plains NY (US)

Takashi Ando of Eastchester NY (US)

Alexander Reznicek of Troy NY (US)

Bahman Hekmatshoartabari of White Plains NY (US)

GLOBAL HEATER FOR PHASE CHANGE MEMORY - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 17545195 titled 'GLOBAL HEATER FOR PHASE CHANGE MEMORY

Simplified Explanation

The abstract describes a phase change memory (PCM) array, which consists of multiple PCM cells. Each PCM cell includes a top electrode, a resistive element, and a bottom electrode. The PCM array also includes a global heater that surrounds the PCM cells and is made of a thermally conductive material. The global heater can be activated by an electric signal to simultaneously heat all the PCM cells.

  • The patent describes a phase change memory (PCM) array.
  • The PCM array consists of multiple PCM cells.
  • Each PCM cell includes a top electrode, a resistive element, and a bottom electrode.
  • The PCM array includes a global heater made of a thermally conductive material.
  • The global heater can be activated by an electric signal.
  • The global heater heats all the PCM cells simultaneously.

Potential Applications

This technology has potential applications in various fields, including:

  • Data storage devices: The PCM array can be used in solid-state drives (SSDs) and other data storage devices to provide high-speed and non-volatile memory.
  • Artificial intelligence: The fast and reliable operation of PCM arrays can enhance the performance of AI systems, such as neural networks and machine learning algorithms.
  • Internet of Things (IoT): PCM arrays can be integrated into IoT devices to enable efficient and secure data storage and processing.

Problems Solved

The technology addresses several problems in the field of memory storage and processing, including:

  • Speed and latency: The simultaneous heating of PCM cells by the global heater allows for faster read and write operations, reducing latency in data access.
  • Non-volatility: PCM cells retain their stored data even when power is disconnected, providing non-volatile memory storage.
  • Scalability: The PCM array can be easily scaled up to accommodate larger amounts of data without significant performance degradation.

Benefits

The patent offers several benefits over existing memory technologies:

  • Faster data access: The simultaneous heating of PCM cells enables faster read and write operations, improving overall system performance.
  • Non-volatile memory: PCM cells retain data even without power, ensuring data persistence and reliability.
  • Scalability: The PCM array can be easily scaled up to meet the growing demands of data storage and processing.
  • Energy efficiency: The global heater consumes less power compared to individual heating elements for each PCM cell, resulting in energy savings.


Original Abstract Submitted

Embodiments of the present invention include a phase change memory (PCM) array. The PCM array may include a plurality of PCM cells. Each PCM cell in the plurality of PCM cells may include a top electrode, a resistive element, and a bottom electrode. The PCM array may also include a global heater surrounding the plurality of PCM cells having a thermally conductive material contacting each of the plurality of PCM cells. The global heater may be configured to receive an electric signal to heat the plurality of PCM cells simultaneously.