IBM, Infineon, Macronix Launch Research Initiative on Phase Change Memory

IBM, Infineon and Macronix announced a joint research initiative to explore the potential of a new form of memory technology, called phase-change memory (PCM).



PCM is a relatively new technology that stores data by changing the state of a special material from an amorphous to a crystalline structure, rather than storing data as an electrical charge. While in its early stages, the technology retains data even when power is turned off, shows potential for high speed, high density storage of data and -- with a higher write time of 50 nanoseconds on the slow end and higher-potential endurance -- is considered a future competitor to flash.



"Flash is slow to write and erase, so it's not a memory you want to use in operating mode where you write all the time, and flash has limited endurance of about 10 to the fifth time," noted Bill Gallagher, senior manager of exploratory non-volatile memory at IBM. "Phase change, it seems, will be better in those regards and it's a memory that works well in very small devices. It isn't completely proven, but the hope is that when flash runs into difficulties continuing to scale, phase change memory may be a good option to go to."



Notably, the partnership brings together IBM and Infineon, a long-time partner to Big Blue and a company with an extensive memory background in high-volume manufacturing, research and development. The agreement also brings in Macronix’s experience in nonvolatile memory technologies, a space where IBM is less than well pronounced.



"IBM has a limited sort of product sets," Gallagher said. "We mostly make embedded memories close to processors. Currently, we don't have any non-volatile memory in that category because they are usually a fast memory closer to process. So we'll look at phase change as a memory that is both fast and non-volatile and that would add something to the memory we put on chip close to processors embedded."



Late to the Party?



The trio joins a growing list of companies involved in PCM, including Philips; Elpida Memory; and STMicroelectronics, which claimed it made significant progress toward PCM in June of 2004.



Article continues belowBut Gallagher says IBM, Infineon and Macronix aren't late to start, they are just taking a different approach.



"We're on the research side; others may go to product quicker, but I think we'll exploit the full potential," he said. "Hopefully what will come out of this alliance is us really probing the unknown, the new materials, and pushing it further than others might."



IBM estimates PCM will begin to enter the market in three to five years and could have as large of a presence as flash 10 to 15 years after that.



The team's research work will be conducted at IBM’s TJ Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights, N.Y., and the IBM Almaden Research Lab in San Jose. Approximately 20 to 25 employees from across the three companies will be dedicated to this project. Gallagher would give no indication of monetary investment from the three parties.