Advantages of memristor | Disadvantages of memristor
This page covers advantages and disadvantages of memristor element. It mentions benefits or advantages of memristor and drawbacks or disadvantages of memristor device.
Introduction: The term memristor is a concatenation of two words viz. memory and resistor. It is a nonlinear resistor with memory. This device finds applications in analog electronics and neural networks. It is used in neuromorphic systems, logic circuits, digital memory, biological circuits etc.
What is memristor ?
It is the fourth circuit element similar to resistor, inductor and capacitor. In simplest form, it is composed of thin film between two layers of metal electrodes. The thin film is made of material such as titanium dioxide. The other meterials which exhibit memresistive characteristics include metal oxides, carbon, amorphous silicon etc.
Like resistor, memristor limits or controls flow of electric current. In addition, it remembers magnitude of charge flowed through it previously. It is a non-volatile component and hence it retains value without the need of power.
Memristor maintains relationship between time integrals of current and voltage across its two terminal elements as mentioned in equation 1.
Moreover it relates charge and flux as per equation 2. Memresistance can be expressed in units of Wb / C or Ohm.
➨Memresistance = dV/dI ... Equation-1
➨ M =dΦ/dq ... Equation-2
The memresistance of memristor increases when current or charge flows in one direction and decreases
when it flows in the other direction.
Refer memristor >> for more information on Memristor element.
Benefits or advantages of memristor
Following are the benefits or advantages of memristor:
➨It has unique properties which can not be duplicated by basic circuit elements such as R, L and C.
➨It can replace DRAM and hard drives in specific applications. It offers functions of both of these devices on single tiny device.
➨It is smaller in size compare to transistor and generates less heat.
➨It delivers better results when its dimensions are smaller.
➨It can operate with relatively less voltage and hence overall power requirement is lower.
➨It is faster and cheaper compare to MRAM.
➨Information is retained when device is turned OFF which allows less time during booting process.
➨It remembers charge flowed through it at given point in time.
➨Memristor can use 0, 1 and anything between them i.e. 0.3, 0.5 etc.
➨It can function as digital device as well as analog device by changing speed/strength of the current.
Drawbacks or disadvantages of memristor
Following are the limitations or drawbacks or disadvantages of memristor:
➨It's commercial availability is lower.
➨It delivers speed which is one tenth of the DRAM speed.
➨It will take sometime to deliver speed/performance as of transistors and DRAM devices.
➨It is challenge for designers to build circuit with this new circuit element.
➨It is not an active circuit element and hence it can not store or generate power.
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