Memory Technology of Embedded Systems

Memory technology in embedded systems encompasses various types of memory, including volatile RAM and non-volatile ROM, EEPROM, and flash memory. These memories serve distinct purposes, with RAM providing fast access for temporary data storage and ROM offering permanent storage of firmware and essential system information. Advanced memory technologies like flash memory enable data persistence without power, crucial for embedded devices. Memory hierarchy and caching mechanisms optimize performance and power consumption, while memory management techniques ensure efficient resource utilization. Emerging memory technologies like MRAM and FRAM promise enhanced performance and reliability, driving innovation in embedded systems design and development.

Dr.Fujio Masuoka.

Flash memory is invented by Dr. Fujio Masuoka at Toshiba in the 1980s which are non-volatile memory.

Shifters.

The memory arrays are basically divided into three which are random access memory, serial access memory, and content address memory. Serial access memory is divided into two, theses are shifters and queues.

magnetic core memory.

The early form of non-volatile memory is known as magnetic core memory in which the ferromagnetic ring was magnetised to store data.

SRAM.

SRAM have more speed than DRAM because it has 4 to 6 transistors arranged as flip-flop logic gates, that is it can be flipped from one binary state to another but DRAM has a small capacitor as its storage element.

DRAM.

The signals in address bus are multiplexed with DRAM non-multiplexed with SRAM.

4.

The main signals associated with memory chips are four. These are the signals associated with address bus, data bus, chip select signals, and control signals for read and write operations.

to select a location within the memory chip.

Address bus is used to choose a particular location in the memory chip. Data bus is used to provide data to and from the chip. Chip select signals are used to select a particular chip within the memory.

sockets and slots.

The type of processor which connects to a socket on the bottom surface of the chip that connects to the motherboard by Zero Insertion Force Socket. Intel 486 is an example of this type of connection. The processor slot is one which is soldered into a card, which connects to a motherboard by a slot. Example for slot connection is Pentium 3.

NXP Semiconductor.

TriMedia is a VLIW processor from NXP Semiconductor in the Netherlands. It possesses a Harvard architecture CPU for video and audio applications.

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