9th Annual Non-Volatile Memory Technology Symposium

Phase Change Memory: Technology Status and the Path Forward
Dr. Stephen J. Hudgens
Ovonyx Technologies, Inc.

Phase Change Memory (PCM) technology has undergone a rapid evolution in recent years as a result of intensive development efforts and the technology is now widely regarded as the leading candidate for next generation nonvolatile memory. In order to take advantage of the inherent high dynamic range and fundamental scalability of the phase change process, future generations of PCM devices will employ new cell structures, multi-level storage, and three dimensional, cross-point array designs. Each of these innovations can significantly increase memory density and reduce cost, but each presents challenges which are now being addressed. This presentation will review the present status of the PCM technology and discuss the challenges for future generations.