Dynamic RAM

Preface

Semiconductor memories were introduced in the late 1960s. Increased storage density, speed, and reduced cost were their main advantages. In the basic form, semiconductor random access memory (RAM) information is stored in a cell that is replicated for each bit. RAMs are broadly classified as nonvolatile, such as flash memories, or volatile, such as static RAM (SRAM) and dynamic RAM (DRAM). No single memory satisfies all system needs. However, the highest density and lowest cost per bit of DRAMs have given them a prominent role, whether in mainframe computers and PCs, telecommunications, or so many other high-tech applications such as avionics and space. Hence, during the last four decades the number of DRAM bits/chip has increased four ...