Publication

RRAM-VAC: A Variability-Aware Controller for RRAM-based Memory Architectures

Abstract

The growing need for connected, smart and energy efficient devices requires them to provide both ultra-low standby power and relatively high computing capabilities when awoken. In this context, emerging resistive memory technologies (RRAM) appear as a promising solution as they enable cheap fine grain technology co-integration with CMOS, fast switching and non-volatile storage. However, RRAM technologies suffer from fundamental flaws such as a strong device-to-device and cycle-to-cycle variability which is worsened by aging, forcing the designers to consider worst case design conditions. In this work, we propose, for the first time, a circuit that can take advantage of recently published Write Termination (WT) circuits from both the energy and performances point of view. The proposed RRAM Variability Aware Controller (RRAM-VAC) stores and then coalesces the write requests from the processor before triggering the actual write process. By doing so, it averages the RRAM variability and enables the system to run at the memory programming time distribution mean rather than the worst case tail. We explore the design space of the proposed solution for various RRAM variability specifications, benchmark the effect of the proposed memory controller with real application memory traces and show (for the considered RRAM technology specifications) 44 to 50% performances improvement and from 10% to 85% energy gains depending on the application memory access patterns.

About this result
This page is automatically generated and may contain information that is not correct, complete, up-to-date, or relevant to your search query. The same applies to every other page on this website. Please make sure to verify the information with EPFL's official sources.
Related concepts (34)
Flash memory
Flash memory is an electronic non-volatile computer memory storage medium that can be electrically erased and reprogrammed. The two main types of flash memory, NOR flash and NAND flash, are named for the NOR and NAND logic gates. Both use the same cell design, consisting of floating gate MOSFETs. They differ at the circuit level depending on whether the state of the bit line or word lines is pulled high or low: in NAND flash, the relationship between the bit line and the word lines resembles a NAND gate; in NOR flash, it resembles a NOR gate.
Energy transition
An energy transition (or energy system transformation) is a significant structural change in an energy system regarding supply and consumption. Currently, a transition to sustainable energy (mostly renewable energy) is underway to limit climate change. It is also called renewable energy transition. The current transition is driven by a recognition that global greenhouse-gas emissions must be drastically reduced. This process involves phasing-down fossil fuels and re-developing whole systems to operate on low carbon electricity.
Non-volatile memory
Non-volatile memory (NVM) or non-volatile storage is a type of computer memory that can retain stored information even after power is removed. In contrast, volatile memory needs constant power in order to retain data. Non-volatile memory typically refers to storage in semiconductor memory chips, which store data in floating-gate memory cells consisting of floating-gate MOSFETs (metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors), including flash memory storage such as NAND flash and solid-state drives (SSD).
Show more
Related publications (51)

Leveraging industrial biorefineries for the energy transition

François Maréchal, Julia Granacher

Biorefineries hold the potential to provide products and energy carriers at reduced environmental impact compared to their fossil-based counterparts. Thus, they can contribute to the decarbonization of sectors in which electrification of demands is challen ...
London2023

Renewable Energy Integration and Waste Heat Recovery for the Production of Sustainable Jet Fuel and Decarbonization of Industrial Heating Applications

François Maréchal, Daniel Alexander Florez Orrego, Meire Ellen Gorete Ribeiro Domingos, Réginald Germanier

The process synthesis and optimization methods used in this work include simulation of biomass gasification, hydrogen and synthetic natural gas production, and jet fuel production via a Fisher Tropsch unit. An energy integration approach, carried out by th ...
American Institute of Chemical Engineering2023

A systems perspective on sufficiency, wellbeing, and transition in the Swiss habitat

Sascha Nick

The Swiss habitat – buildings and related mobility – is facing multiple wicked problems that can only be solved together, such as excessive energy and climate impact, high material use with low circularity, accelerating urban sprawl and ecosystem destructi ...
2023
Show more
Related MOOCs (10)
SES Swiss-Energyscope
La transition énergique suisse / Energiewende in der Schweiz
Plasma Physics: Introduction
Learn the basics of plasma, one of the fundamental states of matter, and the different types of models used to describe it, including fluid and kinetic.
Plasma Physics: Introduction
Learn the basics of plasma, one of the fundamental states of matter, and the different types of models used to describe it, including fluid and kinetic.
Show more

Graph Chatbot

Chat with Graph Search

Ask any question about EPFL courses, lectures, exercises, research, news, etc. or try the example questions below.

DISCLAIMER: The Graph Chatbot is not programmed to provide explicit or categorical answers to your questions. Rather, it transforms your questions into API requests that are distributed across the various IT services officially administered by EPFL. Its purpose is solely to collect and recommend relevant references to content that you can explore to help you answer your questions.