IBM, Infineon and Macronix announced they are working together to develop a new form of computer memory technology called phase-change memory (PCM) that could in the future replace memory chips in computers and portable storage devices.PCM is a new technology that stores data by changing the state of a special material from an amorphous to a crystalline structure, rather than storing data as an electrical charge. While in its early stages, the technology shows potential for high speed, high density storage of data, while retaining data even when power is turned off, the companies said in a statement. Such attributes could be beneficial in applications ranging from high performance servers to consumer electronics. PCM can change its structure from an amorphous to a crystalline state by using electrons to pass energy through the material, Chung Lam, manager of the PCM project at IBM, told IDG News Service. Computer memory stores data in the form of zeros and ones. With PCM technology, the material’s state represents this information, with an amorphous form, or indefinite structure, representing 0 and a crystalline, or definite, structure representing 1. PCM offers several advantages over flash memory technology, including greater reliability, Lam said. It does not use floating gates, which flash memory chips use to store information. This makes PCM faster and more reliable. “It is more reliable because there are no moving parts involved like in flash memory. We can change the status [of material] without floating gates,” he said.Flash memory uses floating gates to store electrons, which represents the binary data. With PCM, resistors are used instead of floating gates, he said. “Floating gate stores a large number of electrons. More than a thousand electrons [in flash memory] represent one state of binary. In PCM, the resistance of the material represents the binary data. PCM stores 1 and 0 in the state of material,” Lam said. PCM will provide quicker read and write capabilities than flash memory, Lam said. In PCM, “you can directly write without erase. In flash memory, you need to erase before you can write,” he said. Even if the device containing PCM is shut down, the memory retains data, making it nonvolatile memory. Flash memory is also a non-volatile memory type. Research on the technology is in its early stages, and PCM could hit the mar-ket in three to five years, Lam said. “We are looking at it as a research project, whether we can actually make any memory as [fast] or faster than flash memory,” he said. It could be used in products ranging from servers to consumer electronics, according to the company. IBM has in the past worked with Germany-based Infineon Technologies on memory technologies, Lam said. Taiwan-based Macronix brings in manufacturing expertise, he said. The partnership draws on IBM’s strengths in the research of fundamental materials and physics research, Infineon’s competence in the research, development and high volume manufacturing of various memory technologies and product types and Macronix’s experience in nonvolatile memory technologies, the companies said. “This collaborative effort reinforces IBM’s commitment to explore new phenomena for memory applications,” said T.C. Chen, Vice President of Science and Technology, IBM Research. “The project will aim to develop the materials for high performance, advanced nonvolatile memory and evaluate these materials in realistic memory chip demonstrations.” “The initiative underlines Infineon’s strong momentum in the evaluation and development of interesting emerging memory technologies,” said Wilhelm Beinvogl, Senior Vice President of Technology and Innovation at Infineon’s Memory Products Group. “With this partnership combining resources from specialists in different areas, Infineon continues its long history of R&D co-operations.” The research work will be conducted at IBM’s TJ Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights, N.Y., and the IBM Almaden Research Lab in San Jose, Calif. Approximately 20-25 employees from across the three companies will be dedicated to this project. Technology Industry