SRAM
SRAM
SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) is a type of semiconductor memory that retains data as long as it is powered up and stores each bit of data in a latch made from a pair of cross-coupled inverters.
What does SRAM mean?
SRAM stands for Static Random Access Memory. It is a form of memory that stores data in memory cells consisting of transistors and capacitors. The data in an SRAM cell is held as long as power is applied to the cell. This makes SRAM faster and more power-efficient than other types of memory, such as DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory). SRAM is used in a variety of electronic devices, including computers, smartphones, and video game consoles.
SRAM cells are made up of two transistors and two capacitors. The transistors are used to control the flow of current through the cell, while the capacitors are used to store the data. When a bit of data is written to an SRAM cell, the transistors are Set to either allow current to flow through the cell or to Block it. This causes the capacitor to either Charge or discharge, which changes the voltage level in the cell. The voltage level in the cell is then used to represent the data.
SRAM cells are very small, which makes them a good choice for use in high-density memory devices. SRAM is also very fast, which makes it ideal for use in applications where speed is important. However, SRAM is more power-hungry than other types of memory, which can be a drawback in some applications.
Applications
SRAM is used in a wide variety of electronic devices, including:
- Computers: SRAM is used in computers as the main memory. It is also used in the cache memory, which is a small amount of memory that is used to store frequently accessed data.
- Smartphones: SRAM is used in smartphones as the main memory and the cache memory. It is also used in the display memory, which is used to store the pixels that are displayed on the screen.
- Video game consoles: SRAM is used in video game consoles as the main memory and the cache memory. It is also used in the Graphics memory, which is used to store the textures and other graphics data that are used to render the game world.
SRAM is important in technology today because it is a very fast and reliable type of memory. It is used in a wide variety of electronic devices, and it is likely to continue to be used in many new devices in the future.
History
SRAM was first developed in 1965 by Robert Norman, a researcher at Fairchild Semiconductor. Norman’s design was based on a previous design by John von Neumann, which had been published in 1951. SRAM quickly became the dominant type of memory used in computers, and it has remained so to this day.
The first SRAM chips were very small, and they could only store a few thousand bits of data. However, over time, SRAM chips have become much larger and more powerful. Today, SRAM chips can store millions or even billions of bits of data.
SRAM is still used in many electronic devices today, and it is likely to continue to be used in the future. It is a very fast and reliable type of memory, and it is well-suited for use in a variety of applications.