World's Thinnest Flash Memory Cell Unveiled

qorkfiend writes "Measuring a scant 20 nanometers across, Infineon AG's new nonvolatile flash memory cell could lead to 32 gigabit flash chips within the next few years. The cell contains a unique structure with a fin for the transistor to avoid nano-scale physical effects and uses 90% less electrons than today's memory to store data."

Comments

Real Solid State Computing

[Jozer99]

Wow, now there might be a practical inexpensive method for solid state servers.

Increased susceptibility to quantum effects?

[EQ]

90% fewer electrons? Does this mean less resiliency/redundancy in the chip - how vulnerable is this to quantum effects - or simple radiation?

does this mean

[museumpeace]

90% less current and since power is
I-squared R
that REALLY cuts the power dissapation which his the brick wall most silicon vendors now approach?

Re:replacement?

[databoing]

Well, see, the problem with that is that Flash Memory is great for reads, but writes tend to wear out the chip. Writes require a higher voltage to perform (1.5V compared to 0.2V, I think. That may be wrong, use google) and so use as a replacement HD tends to shorten the lifespan of the device to a few months.

Using a flash memory device as a storeage place for things unlikely to change frequently (bootable linux for troubleshooting, encryption keys, etc) doesn't do much for the wear-and-tear of the memory, though.

90% less = 81% lesspower too?

[Transcendent]

Since there is 90% less electrons to move, then there would be 90% less current. Power is I^2R, so (.9I)^2R = 0.81P

Sounds very good for portable devices, although I doubt the power consumption of flash cards was that significant (compared to an LCD with a backlite).

Although, my pen drive does get pretty warm when I'm doing enough reading/writing to it, so maybe there will be a significant benefit.