CAREER: STT-RAM based Memory Hierarchy and Management in Embedded Systems

本研究的目的是开发一种新颖的基于自旋转移扭矩随机存取存储器(STT-RAM)的存储层次结构，以满足现代嵌入式系统对低功耗、快速和高密度片上数据存储的需求。为了解决STT-RAM设计中的主要技术问题，我们的研究包括三个集成组件：(1)应用驱动的STT-RAM单元设计和针对不同嵌入式系统规格的优化。(2)热弹性自适应STT-RAM存储层次结构，以容忍STT-RAM因环境温度和自热引起的温度不稳定性。(3)提高运行稳定性和/或性能的概率STT-RAM设计方法。本研究为将STT-RAM有效地集成到现代嵌入式系统设计中提供了一个全面的设计方案，并提供了无与伦比的性能和功耗优势。通过研究创新，系统架构师和电路设计者可以很好地沟通和教育。所开发的技术可以在与多个行业合作伙伴的密切合作下直接转化为行业应用，并直接影响未来的嵌入式系统。协作中的活动还包括在各主要会议上就项目的技术方面和新课程的开发提供指导。该项目的教育部分将向学生介绍嵌入式系统的实现和优化技术，并对学生进行培训。运用基于挑战的教学技术解决问题的能力。

The objective of the research is to develop an innovative spin-transfer torque random access memory (STT-RAM) based memory hierarchy to meet the demands of modern embedded systems for low-power, fast-speed and high-density on-chip data storage. Three integrated components are included in our research to address the major technical concerns in STT-RAM designs: (1) Application-driven STT-RAM cell design and optimization to target different embedded system specifications. (2) Thermal resilient adaptive STT-RAM memory hierarchy to tolerate the temperature instability of STT-RAM incurred by ambient temperature and self-heating. (3) Probabilistic STT-RAM design methodology to improve the run-time stability and/or the performance. This research provides a comprehensive design package for efficiently integrating STT-RAM into modern embedded system designs and offers unparalleled performance and power advantages. The system architects and the circuit designers can be well bridged and educated by the research innovations. The developed techniques can be directly transferred to industry applications under the close collaborations with several industry partners, and directly impact the future embedded systems. The activities in the collaboration also include the tutorials in the major conferences on the technical aspects of the projects and new course development. The educational components of this project will introduce the students to the implementation and optimization techniques of embedded systems and train the students? problem solving ability by leveraging challenge based instruction technique.