zs04+@andrew.cmu.edu (Zachary T. Smith) (06/06/89)
Hi, I have a question about a form of EEPROM/RAM that I heard about going on one year ago, called some- thing like Ferromagnetic RAM; I don't remember exactly. What I want to know is: Do these parts exist?? What kind of r/w access times can I expect on them, and where can I get them? Are they pin compatible with std. SRAM I.C.s? Thanks in advance, Zach Smith (zs04@andrew.cmu.edu)
jwatts@hpihoah.HP.COM (Jon Watts) (06/10/89)
The term is Ferro-electric RAM. The concept has been around for quite awhile, I first heard obout them when I was in school (circa 1982). At that time a startup company in northern Wisc. was claiming the world for them (cheaper, higher density than DRAM; access times < 10nS). As far as I know they're claims were never fulfilled. However I do remember reading in EE Times 1 - 1 1/2 yrs. ago that a company was actually shipping a FERAM product. My memory is sketchy on the details but I seem to remember something like this: Speed: comparable to inexpensive SRAM (~60 - 100 nS) Size: small (~2Kx8) Cost: high (~$80 for commercial grade parts, military parts (the market they were mostly targeting) much higher) They were expecting to make rapid inprovements on all front (speed, cost, density) since the part family was new at that time. If anyone has newer information (or a better memory) I certainly like to here about it. - Jon Watts