Single-chip computers with microelectromechanical systems-based magnetic memory „invited..

This article describes an approach for implementing a complete computer system ~CPU, RAM, I/O, and nonvolatile mass memory! on a single integrated-circuit substrate ~a chip!—hence, the name ‘‘single-chip computer.’’ The approach presented combines advances in the field of microelectromechanical systems ~MEMS! and micromagnetics with traditional low-cost very-large-scale integrated circuit style parallel lithographic manufacturing. The primary barrier to the creation of a computer on a chip is the incorporation of a high-capacity @many gigabytes ~GB!# re-writable nonvolatile memory ~in today’s terminology, a disk drive! into an integrated circuit ~IC! manufacturing process. This article presents the following design example: a MEMS-based magnetic memory that can store over 2 GB of data in 2 cm of die area and whose fabrication is compatible with a standard IC manufacturing process. © 2000 American Institute of Physics. @S0021-8979~00!90308-6#