Samsung is planning new memory modules that will extend the battery life on a mobile phone by up to 20%
Samsung is planning new memory modules that will extend the battery life on a mobile phone by up to 20%
The Korean manufacturer claims that it is set to launch what will be known as phase change material, these are modules that are built of a substance that records or erases data when it is heated and typically use far less power than existing equivalents. Samsung lab tests show that the 512Mbit phase change memory can read and write data up to 10 times faster than some existing flash memory types. Overall, said Samsung, phase change memory is about three times faster than existing flash memory.
The electronics giant said it eventually expects PCM to replace flash memory in many gadgets. PCM is typically made from an alloy of germanium, antimony and titanium which forms a glass-like material. Heating it by applying a voltage makes the material turn into two separate forms that exhibit very different resistances to electricity.
It plans to produce phase change memory (PCM) chips in the same format as existing designs so they can easily be worked into production runs.
At its mobile technology forum held in Taipei last week Samsung announced plans to start producing PCM modules 512megabits (Mbit) in size.
These will be made to be compatible with traditional flash memory modules that have individual components only 40 nanometres wide. In addition, it said, PCM had a simpler structure than older formats so it should be easy to manufacture and start using in phones.
