Challenges toward gigabit-scale spin-transfer torque random access memory and beyond for normally off, green information technology infrastructure (Invited)

If spin-transfer torque RAM (SPRAM) technology is used as a true nonvolatile RAM, it will be able to provide normally “off” and instant “on” functions. This would drastically reduce the power consumption of information technology (IT) equipment and its infrastructure while preserving high performance, thus leading to a green IT infrastructure. This paper describes the design issues and solutions for creating a Gb-scale SPRAM; scaling in memory cell current (∝F, F: feature size) and the tunneling magnetoresistive (TMR) device’s write current (∝F2), the maximum voltage applicable to a TMR device (TMR ratio and resistance area product are considered); and the thermal stability of the TMR device (depending on the operation mode and density). Moreover, the cell and array configurations and an indispensable disruptive reading operation are shown for 4F2DDRx compatible operations. SPRAM can cover a system composed of a DRAM region. Finally, the potential of a multibit memory structure that covers the area of a not-and flash memory is discussed.