Zero-capacitor ram (Z-RAM)

[project topics]

Zero-capacitor (Z-RAM) is a novel DRAM computer memory technology .Based on the floating body effect of silicon on insulator (SOI) process technology. Z-RAM has been licensed by Advanced Micro Devices for possible use in future microprocessors. This technology offers memory access speeds similar to the standard six-transistor SRAM cell used in cache memory but uses only a single transistor, therefore affording much higher packing densities.Z-RAM relies on the floating body effect, an artifact of the SOI process technology which places transistors in isolated tubs (the transistor body voltages "float" with respect to the wafer substrate underneath the tubs). The floating body effect causes a variable capacitance to appear between the bottom of the tub and the underlying substrate