MRAM (magnetoresistive random access memory)

What is MRAM (magnetoresistive random access memory)?

MRAM (magnetoresistive random access memory) is a method of storing data bits using magnetic states instead of the electrical charges used by devices such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM).

By combining the high speed of static random access memory (SRAM) and the high density of DRAM, MRAM promises to significantly improve electronic products by storing greater amounts of data, enabling faster data access and consuming less energy than existing electronic memory.

MRAM got its start in 1984 when Dr. Arthur Pohm and Dr. Jim Daughton were both working for Honeywell. The scientists conceived a new class of non-volatile magnetoresistance memory devices that offered random access and high density. In 1989, Daughton left Honeywell to form his own company, Nonvolatile Electronics Inc. He also entered into an agreement with Honeywell to sublicense the MRAM technology.

MRAM got a big boost in 1995 when the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) provided funding to three private consortia researching the viability of making MRAM a general-purpose memory with high density, high speed and low power usage. The consortia were led by IBM, Motorola and Honeywell.

Since then, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Matsushita, NEC, Fujitsu, Toshiba, Hitachi, Siemens and other companies have all invested in MRAM technology. Some of the most notable advancements in MRAM have come from smaller companies such as Everspin Technologies Inc. and Avalanche Technology. Everspin, for example, now has over 1,300 customers using Everspin MRAM devices in such industries as aerospace, automotive, medical devices and smart energy.

What is MRAM used for?

MRAM has been around for many years, but its adoption has been slow, in part because of manufacturing challenges, but also because the chips hold relatively little data, making them suited to only specific use cases. Even so, MRAM has been making steady inroads into a number of industries:

• Aerospace
• Defense
• Automotive
• Robotics
• Consumer electronics
• Medical devices
• Internet of things
• Edge computing
• Industrial operations and automation
• Energy management and automation
• Storage controllers and cache
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning

MRAM can help address the challenges of other memory technologies. It has the potential to replace both DRAM and SRAM, and it beats out NAND flash in terms of performance and durability. MRAM also consumes a relatively low-level of power, and it's resistant to radiation. As a result, MRAM could potentially benefit a number of use cases such auto powertrain systems, aircraft black boxes or medical devices such as ventilators or RFID tags.

Despite these benefits, MRAM is still an emerging technology, and