News & Analysis
'Missing link' memristor created: Rewrite the textbooks?
R Colin Johnson
4/30/2008 1:00 PM EDT
New era of devices
As Chua predicted, Williams is already thinking about creating new types of devices with HP's crossbar architecture beyond a simple memory device. "If we push current through it hard and fast, it acts like a digital device, but if we run current through it gently and slowly it acts as an analog device," said Williams. "We are already designing new types of circuits in both the digital and analog domains using our crossbar architecture. In the analog domain, we want to build memristor-based devices that operate in a manner similar to how the synapse works in the brain--neuron-like analog computational elements that could perform control functions where decisions must be made involving comparisons as to whether something is larger or smaller than something else. We are not building a neural network yet, but we think that using the memristor in its analog mode with our crossbar is a pretty good representation of a neural net."
As Chua predicted, Williams is already thinking about creating new types of devices with HP's crossbar architecture beyond a simple memory device. "If we push current through it hard and fast, it acts like a digital device, but if we run current through it gently and slowly it acts as an analog device," said Williams. "We are already designing new types of circuits in both the digital and analog domains using our crossbar architecture. In the analog domain, we want to build memristor-based devices that operate in a manner similar to how the synapse works in the brain--neuron-like analog computational elements that could perform control functions where decisions must be made involving comparisons as to whether something is larger or smaller than something else. We are not building a neural network yet, but we think that using the memristor in its analog mode with our crossbar is a pretty good representation of a neural net."
Later in 2008, HP promises to begin releasing details of how its memristor material works with its already perfected nanoscale crossbar switch architecture in these various types of circuits.
"The memristor is not just a replacement technology for existing memory devices, but will be used to make a whole range of new types of devices that no one has ever thought of before," said Williams.
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TimN
4/30/2008 4:42 PM EDT
Very interesting - too late the save the planet though, with all that "now proven" unecessary leakage current out there.
Now we just need the evolutionists to admit their theories are wrong too, hopefully that will be 30 rather than 2000 years
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SPLatMan
4/30/2008 6:29 PM EDT
Neural networks with memristors? Hmmmm, maybe Asimov's positronic brain will have to be renamed memistronic brain :-)
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Phononscattering
5/1/2008 3:32 AM EDT
Why does this article consist of three page of pseudoscientific drivel of it could have a diagram actually showing what the device does? Is this EEtimes or Foxnews?
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kevin_hingwan_yu
5/2/2008 9:49 AM EDT
What is the dimension of memristance compared to ohm=E/ampere, farad=Q/volt and henry=Wb/ampere?
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jeff Rose
5/5/2008 4:24 PM EDT
A quick google of "memistor" shows JPL developed one in 1990. Why didn't the author mention it?
Title: Solid-state thin-film memistor for electronic neural networks
Abstract: This paper reports on a tungsten-oxide-based, nonvolatile, electrically reprogrammable, variable resistance device as an analog synaptic memory connection for electronic neural networks. A voltage controlled, reversible injection of H(+) ions in electrochromic thin films of WO3 is utilized to modulate its resistance. A hygroscopic thin film of Cr2O3 is the source of H(+) ions. The resistance of the device can be tailored and stabilized over a wide dynamic range (about 4 orders of magnitude), and the programming speed is modulated by the control voltage. The suitability of such a device in terms of its response speed, reversibility, stability, and cyclability for its use in electronic neural networks is discussed.
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Da Wiz
5/8/2008 12:55 PM EDT
The fourth component! Neat!
But if resistors are R,
capacitors are -1/omega C,
and inductors are +1/omega L,
where do memristors fit in Z = R+jX?
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HFPack
6/5/2008 11:31 AM EDT
I was wondering about human consciousness in machines after reading about the memristor. I remember something about a Nobel Prize in the mid 1970's which predicted that once a certain threshold of synapic activity happens, that consciousness is obtained. I have also been reading about a new breakthough in electronics (fourth element in integrated circuits) called memristor. It is suppose to memic the synapsic connections in the brain.
Putting these two items together makes me wonder if it is possible to develop consciousness using memristor technology. I read that memristor technology could one day lead to computer systems that can remember and associate patterns in a way similar to how people do. This could be used to substantially improve facial recognition technology or to provide more complex biometric recognition systems that could more effectively restrict access to personal information. These same pattern-matching capabilities could enable appliances that learn from experience and computers that can make decisions. I have no knowledge of these matters but wonder what the future brings.
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e jaison
6/11/2008 1:33 PM EDT
is this a good topic to prepare a seminar on it??...am an electronics engineering student...and in search of a seminar topic on latest technologies...
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melanoman
7/11/2008 7:08 PM EDT
This is a brilliant step forward with a truly awful name. These things look like a comb. I'm going to call them combs. I look forward to the day that "memristor" is the answer to a trivia question and "comb" or some other easily pronounced replacement name is what we teach to the freshmen.
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PatrickBCC
7/25/2008 2:51 PM EDT
what are the implications of this new technology?
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