Channel equalization techniques for non-volatile memristor memories

Abstract

Abstract-Channel coding and information theoretic approaches have been utilized in conventional non-volatile memories to overcome their inherent design limitations of leakage, coupling and refresh rates. However, the continuous scaling and integration constraints set on the current devices directed the attention towards emerging memory technologies as suitable alternatives. Memristive devices are prominent candidates to replace the conventional electronics due to its non-volatility and small feature size. Nonetheless, memristor-based memories still encounter an accuracy limitation throughout the read operation addressed as the sneak path phenomenon. The readout data is corrupted with added distortion that increases significantly the bit error rate and jeopardizes the reliability of the read operation. A novel technique is applied to alleviate this distorting effect where the communication channel model is proposed for the memory array. Noise cancellation principles are applied with the aid of preset pilots to extract channel information and adjust the readout values accordingly. The proposed technique has the virtue of high speed, energy efficiency, and low complexity design while achieving high reliability and error-free decoding.

Simple method for monitoring the switching activity in memristive cross-point arrays with line resistance effects

“…CPAs are often associated with the matrix-vector multiplication operation which is a key operation in many computationally intensive algorithms [2,3]. In memory devices, the direct interconnection of devices (selectorless CPA) leads to the so-called sneak-path problem [4]. A CPA basically consists in the combination of two networks of vertical (N bit lines) and horizontal (M word lines) wires with a passive nonvolatile memory device or memristor at each intersection (see Fig.…”