2023 Faculty Courses School of Engineering Undergraduate major in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Memory Devices
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Satoshi Sugahara
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Tue (W3-301(W331))
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- EEE.D371
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2023
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 8, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course covers device and circuit technologies for memory systems that play an essential role in logic systems such as microprocessors, system-on-chip (SOC) devices, field-programmed gate array (FPGA) devices, and microcontrollers. First, the instructor lectures on the organization of hierarchical memory systems, circuit technologies of memory subsystems using various memories. Second, fundamentals of CMOS circuits are briefly reviewed, and then students learn the operating principles of bistable circuits as a basis for CMOS-based memories. Third, students will gain an understanding of the details of various flip-flop and SRAM circuits, along with their applications for registers, register files, and caches. Fourth, the instructor will cover device and circuit technologies of large capacity memory DRAM. Finally, practically used nonvolatile memories, i.e., Flash and FeRAM, and emerging nonvolatile memories such as MRAM, ReRAM, and PRAM are discussed. The present status and future prospects of these memory devices and circuits are also discussed.
Course description and aims
Through the course, the students will be able to
1) understand the concept and organization of memory hierarchy for logic systems.
2) comprehend the operating principles, microarchitectures, performance, and applications of CMOS-based bistable memories (latch, flip-flop, and SRAM).
3) comprehend the operating principles, microarchitectures, performance, and applications of nonvolatile memories (Flash, FeRAM, MRAM, ReRAM, and PRAM).
Keywords
memory hierarchy, resister, resister file, cache, bistable circut, latch, flip-flop, SRAM, DRAM, EPRAM, EEPROM, Flash, FeRAM, MRAM, ReRAM, PRAM
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
- ・Fundamental specialist skills on EEE
Class flow
Exercises will be carried out during the class to help students understand lectures
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | memory systems and their organization | Memory hierarchy, organization of memory systems |
| Class 2 | fundamentals of CMOS devices and circuits | Modeling of CMOS devices, CMOS inverter, transfer gates, and advanced CMOS devices |
| Class 3 | CMOS bistable circuit | Circuit configuration and operating principle of CMOS bistable circuits and latche applicationss |
| Class 4 | Flip-flop | Circuit configuration, operating principle, performance, and applications of flip-flops |
| Class 5 | SRAM | Circuit configuration, operating principle, microarchitectures, performance, and applications of SRAM |
| Class 6 | DRAM | Device structure, circuit configuration Operating principle, architectures, and performance of DRAM |
| Class 7 | ROM, Flash, and emerging nonvolatile memories | Device structure, circuit configuration, Operating principle, architectures, performance, and applications of EPROM, EEPROM, Flash memry, and emerging nonvolatile memories |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
None specified
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Course materials will be provided
Evaluation methods and criteria
Evaluation will be based on the term-end examination.
Related courses
- EEE.C341 ： Integrated Circuit Technology Integrated Circuit Technology
- EEE.D352 ： Electron Devices II
- EEE.C321 ： Digital Electronic Circuits
Prerequisites
None in particular