Using PCM in Next-generation Embedded Space Applications

Abstract--Dynamic RAM (DRAM) has been the best technology for main memory for over thirty years. In embedded space applications, radiation hardened DRAM is needed because gamma rays cause transient errors; such rad-hard memories are extremely expensive and power hungry, leading to lower life (or increased battery weight) for satellite and other devices operating in space. Despite these problems, DRAM has been the technology of choice because it has better performance and it scales well. New, more energy efficient, non-volatile, scalable, radiation resistant memory technologies are now available, namely phase-change memory (PCM), making the DRAM choice much less compelling. However, current approaches require changes to PCM device internal circuity, the operating system and/or the CPU cache-memory organization/interface. This paper presents a new, practical, detailed architecture, called PMMA, to effectively use PCM for main memory in next-generation embedded space systems. We designed ...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2010
• Where: RTAS
• Authors: Alexandre Peixoto Ferreira, Bruce R. Childers, Rami G. Melhem, Daniel Mossé, Mazin Yousif
• Keywords: DRAM, DRAM Main Memory, Embedded Systems, Main Memory, RTAS 2010