The "memristor": A new electronic element

Olowkow · 23rd May 2008, 03:42 PM

I'm not sure how much interest there will be in this, but I just heard a very interesting interview on NPR Science Friday, about a totally new electronic element, in addition to resistors, capacitors, and inductors. It was predicted several years ago, and apparently is now being researched for use as a new type of non-volatile computer memory.

It is called the "memristor".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memristor

A two termnal device, it changes its resistance depending upon the current (or charge?) applied between the terminals, and remembers this resistive value. When the current is reversed, it changes back to some original value. Kind of slow, from what I read, but interesting in that it is the result of "nano-technology".

Anybody have any input on this?

Third Eye Open · 23rd May 2008, 03:59 PM

All I know is that it means you will be able to power down your PC and when you power it on again it will be in the exact same state as when you powered it down. no loading! yay!

Complexity · 23rd May 2008, 06:57 PM

I heard about this a bit ago. Very, very cool.

I think it will be a few years to market. Hope the kids appreciate this gift.

Olowkow · 23rd May 2008, 07:07 PM

I guess at this point it is a curiosity and an application is down the road. Computer memory being one of them. I thought it was interesting because it had been predicted as a "missing element" in the suite of theoretical electrical circuit elements. Apparently over the years experiments would exhibit a strange effect that no one could account for, and now it has been proven.

robinson · 23rd May 2008, 07:11 PM

Originally Posted by Olowkow

I'm not sure how much interest there will be in this, but I just heard a very interesting interview on NPR Science Friday, about a totally new electronic element, in addition to resistors, capacitors, and inductors. It was predicted several years ago, and apparently is now being researched for use as a new type of non-volatile computer memory.

A note on memristors
Oster, G.

IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems
Publication Date: Jan 1974
Volume: 21, Issue: 1
page(s): 152- 152
ISSN: 0098-4094

Formulation of normal form equations of nonlinear networks containing memristors and coupled elements
Ying-Fai Lam

IEEE Transactions on Circuits Theory
Publication Date: Nov 1972
Volume: 19, Issue: 6
On page(s): 585- 594
ISSN: 0098-4094

Abstract
This paper presents a variety of sufficient conditions for the existence of a set of normal form equations of a connected nonseparableRLCMnetwork, which may contain coupled elements. AnRLCMnetwork is defined as a network containing independent (but not necessarily time-independent) current and voltage sources, nonlinear time-invariant resistors, inductors, capacitors, and memristors. Via an example, this paper shows that the class of networks under consideration, in fact, includes networks containing multiterminal network elements and controlled sources.

INRM · 23rd May 2008, 08:18 PM

Completely stable memory... does that mean these things can't be erased?

INRM

Beerina · 27th May 2008, 10:45 AM

Umm, couldn't one build a little electronic device that did the same thing? It wouldn't be a nice little dealie, but it could be emulated easily enough.

TheRedWorm · 27th May 2008, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by Beerina

Umm, couldn't one build a little electronic device that did the same thing? It wouldn't be a nice little dealie, but it could be emulated easily enough.

True, I'm sure that it could be done, however the bolded portion is the salient point. If you can use one (small) device to do the work of a much larger device (especially in computing), it is a tremendous advantage.

Olowkow · 27th May 2008, 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by INRM

Completely stable memory... does that mean these things can't be erased?

INRM

Reversing polarity reverses the resistance from high to low or vice versa. As I remember, they read the state with AC.

23rd May 2008, 03:42 PM	#1
Olowkow Illuminator Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4,806	The "memristor": A new electronic element I'm not sure how much interest there will be in this, but I just heard a very interesting interview on NPR Science Friday, about a totally new electronic element, in addition to resistors, capacitors, and inductors. It was predicted several years ago, and apparently is now being researched for use as a new type of non-volatile computer memory. It is called the "memristor". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memristor A two termnal device, it changes its resistance depending upon the current (or charge?) applied between the terminals, and remembers this resistive value. When the current is reversed, it changes back to some original value. Kind of slow, from what I read, but interesting in that it is the result of "nano-technology". Anybody have any input on this?
Olowkow Illuminator Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4,806	__________________ Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie, which we ascribe to heaven. --Shakespeare

23rd May 2008, 03:59 PM	#2
Third Eye Open Graduate Poster Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Washington state, USA Posts: 1,402	All I know is that it means you will be able to power down your PC and when you power it on again it will be in the exact same state as when you powered it down. no loading! yay!
	__________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain."- Friedrich von Schiller "I do not find in orthodox Christianity one redeeming feature." - Thomas Jefferson "Let all your troubles go, cling to the joy of living..." - Heavenly

23rd May 2008, 06:57 PM	#3
Complexity The Woo Whisperer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Minnesota, USA Posts: 9,263	I heard about this a bit ago. Very, very cool. I think it will be a few years to market. Hope the kids appreciate this gift.
	__________________ "It is a great nuisance that knowledge can only be acquired by hard work." - W. Somerset Maugham "Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible; thought is merciless to privilege, established intuititions, and comfortable habit. Thought looks into the pit of hell and is not afraid. Thought is great and swift and free, the light of the world, and the chief glory of man." - Bertrand Russell

23rd May 2008, 07:07 PM	#4
Olowkow Illuminator Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4,806	I guess at this point it is a curiosity and an application is down the road. Computer memory being one of them. I thought it was interesting because it had been predicted as a "missing element" in the suite of theoretical electrical circuit elements. Apparently over the years experiments would exhibit a strange effect that no one could account for, and now it has been proven.
Olowkow Illuminator Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4,806	__________________ Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie, which we ascribe to heaven. --Shakespeare

23rd May 2008, 07:11 PM	#5
robinson Banned Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 6,136	Originally Posted by Olowkow I'm not sure how much interest there will be in this, but I just heard a very interesting interview on NPR Science Friday, about a totally new electronic element, in addition to resistors, capacitors, and inductors. It was predicted several years ago, and apparently is now being researched for use as a new type of non-volatile computer memory. A note on memristors Oster, G. IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems Publication Date: Jan 1974 Volume: 21, Issue: 1 page(s): 152- 152 ISSN: 0098-4094 Formulation of normal form equations of nonlinear networks containing memristors and coupled elements Ying-Fai Lam IEEE Transactions on Circuits Theory Publication Date: Nov 1972 Volume: 19, Issue: 6 On page(s): 585- 594 ISSN: 0098-4094 Abstract This paper presents a variety of sufficient conditions for the existence of a set of normal form equations of a connected nonseparableRLCMnetwork, which may contain coupled elements. AnRLCMnetwork is defined as a network containing independent (but not necessarily time-independent) current and voltage sources, nonlinear time-invariant resistors, inductors, capacitors, and memristors. Via an example, this paper shows that the class of networks under consideration, in fact, includes networks containing multiterminal network elements and controlled sources.
robinson Banned Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 6,136	Last edited by robinson; 23rd May 2008 at 07:12 PM.

23rd May 2008, 08:18 PM	#6
INRM Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 5,490	Completely stable memory... does that mean these things can't be erased? INRM
INRM Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 5,490

27th May 2008, 10:45 AM	#7
Beerina Sarcastic Conqueror of Notions Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: A floating island above the clouds Posts: 23,835	Umm, couldn't one build a little electronic device that did the same thing? It wouldn't be a nice little dealie, but it could be emulated easily enough.
	__________________ "Great innovations should not be forced [by way of] slender majorities." - Thomas Jefferson The government should nationalize it! Socialized, single-payer video game development and sales *now!* More, cheaper, better games, right? Right?

27th May 2008, 11:47 AM	#8
TheRedWorm I AM the Red Worm! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Body: Michigan, Heart: Chicago Posts: 3,886	Originally Posted by Beerina Umm, couldn't one build a little electronic device that did the same thing? It wouldn't be a nice little dealie, but it could be emulated easily enough. True, I'm sure that it could be done, however the bolded portion is the salient point. If you can use one (small) device to do the work of a much larger device (especially in computing), it is a tremendous advantage.
	__________________ See I'm not a monster, I'm just ahead of the curve. -Joker Working them to death is murder. Making them live like pigs and dying from disease is murder. Shooting them next to a ditch is murder. Digging them up and burning them to hide your murder, is extra credit evil. -beachnut

27th May 2008, 05:21 PM	#9
Olowkow Illuminator Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4,806	Originally Posted by INRM Completely stable memory... does that mean these things can't be erased? INRM Reversing polarity reverses the resistance from high to low or vice versa. As I remember, they read the state with AC.
Olowkow Illuminator Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4,806	__________________ Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie, which we ascribe to heaven. --Shakespeare