Published in collaboration with NCMS
Digital Manufacturing Report

News & information about the fast-moving world
of digital manufacturing, modeling & simulation

Language Flags

Phase-Change Memory to Supercharge Portable Devices


Our portable smartphones, tablets, and laptops store data in flash memory instead of bulky, physical hard drives. But flash memory has a limited life span of a few thousand re-write cycles and requires additional components to manage storage degradation, adding cost and slowing down performance.

Researchers are developing next generation data storage technology based on phase-change materials (PCM). Memory chips using PCM can handle over 10 million re-write cycles and are a 100 times faster than current flash memory.  Additional advantages include greater storage density and lower power consumption.

Phase change memory chips stores data by heating glass-like chemicals in each cell with pulses of electrical energy.  The strength of the pulse determines whether the chemicals crystalize into orderly structures while cooling or a more random state. These correspond to the “1” or “0” needed for binary storage. Rewritable CD-RW and DVD-RW discs use a similar process.

Chips using PCM technology will transform the performance and storage of portable devices. With their increased performance and reduced energy requirements the technology may soon find its way into desktop and server computers as well.


Full story at The Economist

RSS Feeds

Subscribe to All Content

Most Recent Blogs


Feature Articles

Top Predictions from the American Chemical Manufacturing Summit

Tuesday marked the opening day of the 2013 American Chemical Manufacturing Summit, bringing players from the agrochemical sector to pharmaceuticals to discuss the state of the industry. And while many of the keynotes, panels and workshops catered to unique challenges faced by chemical manufacturers, a number of key delegates voiced predictions that will affect the whole of the manufacturing industry...
Read more...

GE Turns to Makers to Bring 3D Printing to Aerospace

At 30,000 feet, equipment failure is simply not an option, which is part of why additive manufacturing has been a bit slow to catch on in the aerospace industry. But according to Michael Idelchik, vice president of GE’s advanced technologies research, GE Aviation is still looking for more ways that additive manufacturing can help to create a better airplane...
Read more...

Is Automation to Blame for Our Economic Woes?

Despite reassurances of automation professionals throughout the industry, some experts simply aren't convinced that technological advancements in robotics and automation aren't negatively impacting U.S. employment rates, which is what Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee of the MIT Sloan School of Management have been arguing over the past year and a half.
Read more...

Short Takes

Robots Take the Keys at Ford’s New Test Track

Jun 18, 2013 | When it comes to testing a new line of trucks, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that automakers such as Ford aren’t afraid to be tough on their latest models. But separating the pounding the trucks can take from the test driver can get a bit tricky, which is why Ford has recently handed the keys over to robots instead of flesh-and-blood drivers.
Read more...

3D Printer Section Appears on Amazon

Jun 14, 2013 | Last month’s news of 3D printers entering brick-and-mortar Staples stores may have represented a major step in mainstream commercialization of additive manufacturing tools, but in what is perhaps an even bigger step, online retail giant Amazon recently added a dedicated section of its site to 3D printers and supplies.
Read more...

Experts Chime in on the Future of Global Manufacturing

Jun 12, 2013 | In the wake of the economic downturn, reshoring efforts and increased emphasis on STEM, there’s plenty of uncertainty about where global manufacturing is headed in the next several years. Helping to give us a better sense of this trajectory is a group of thought leaders who have come together to try and answer the most pertinent questions about the future.
Read more...

Are Bachelor's Degrees All They're Cracked Up to Be?

Jun 11, 2013 | As the U.S. manufacturing sector fights to stay competitive on a global scale, the issue of improving STEM education has been key. But in a recent study measuring how workers in STEM fields are putting their educations to use it was found that half didn't need a bachelor's degree.
Read more...

Chevy Looks to Rapid Prototyping for the 2014 Malibu

Jun 10, 2013 | Chevrolet has added digital manufacturing technology to its arsenal. Abandoning clay for their latest Malibu, the automaker has turned to two types of additive manufacturing to meet their rapid prototyping needs.
Read more...

Sponsored Whitepapers

Big Data and Big Analytics for Product and Process Quality

03/20/2013 | SAS | This white paper examines how an enterprise-wide quality platform can turn existing data into substantial and sustainable revenue growth and cost savings for global manufacturers. The paper is based on the findings of the IW/SAS Enterprise Quality Survey completed by more than 400 manufacturing executives. The objectives of the survey were to determine concerns about quality among manufacturers; investigate the tools used to measure quality; and examine how using enterprise-wide analysis on quality data improves performance.

TATA Steel Automotive Engineering Depends on Univa

07/19/2011 | Univa | TATA Steel Automotive Engineering’s concern grew when open source Grid Engine support and development was discontinued by Oracle. Grid Engine is a business critical application in their environment. They recognized the likelihood that product enhancements and innovations would cease. Read how TATA Steel Automotive Engineering moved from a self-support solution to Univa Grid Engine. You can get more out of your environment and your budget with Univa Grid Engine.

Intel Conferences and Events

Featured Events






  • November 17, 2013 - November 22, 2013
    SC'13
    Denver, CO
    United States

Copyright © 2011-2013 Tabor Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Digital Manufacturing Report is a registered trademark of Tabor Communications, Inc. Use of this site is governed by our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Tabor Communications Inc. is prohibited.
Powered by Xtenit.