October 2010

Elpida Memory and Sharp announced that they will co-develop ReRAM memory, which will be commercialized in 2013. ReRAM (resistive random access memory) uses less power and can write data 10,000 faster than NAND flash. When on standby mode, it uses almost no power at all.

This collaboration will also include other Japanese companies and institutes, including the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology and the University of Tokyo.

NVE was granted a new patent (number 7,813,165) titled “Magnetic Memory Layers Thermal Pulse Transitions,” relating to Magnetothermal MRAM.

NVE explains that Magnetothermal MRAM is an MRAM design that uses a combination of magnetic fields and ultra-fast heating from electrical current pulses to reduce the energy required to write data.

Crocus announced that they have successfully integrated their Thermally Assisted Switching (TAS)-based MRAM technology into TowerJazz’s 0.13-micron CMOS process. Crocus hopes to get samples manufactured in the "very near future", with mass production starting in 2H 2011. The first chips will probably offer 1-Mbit of storage. TowerJazz and Crocus have been working towards TAS-MRAM production since June 2009.

To achieve this milestone, a number of critical technological problems were solved, particularly in the areas of deep submicron lithography of magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) stacks and the selection of materials for high device reliability. The newly developed technology adds only four masks to conventional CMOS manufacturing flows and is suitable for both standalone and embedded memory applications. The integration into TowerJazz’s copper-based 130nm CMOS logic process sets the stage for the market introduction of leading edge single chip memory products and embedded MRAM IP blocks to be used in complex Systems-On-Chip (SOC) for microcontroller, automotive and communications applications.

Singulus Technologies announced that they sold a TIMARIS sputtering system to Data Storage Institute (DSI) in Singapore. This TIMARIS system consists of two specialized deposition modules with 10 sputter cathodes each and one novel module for PVD and simultaneous ion treatment. DSI plans to use this tool to develop Non-volatile Memories - MRAM and PCRAM in particular.

In connection with this installation, Singulus and DSI are planning to collaborate on the joint development of leading edge process technologies for these applications.