Millipede Memory

Presented By
Jishnu Sidhardh
S7.CS
 CONTENTS
 Introduction
 How it is ?
 Need of Millipede ?
 The Millipede Technology
 FEATURES
 Writing data
 Reading Data
 Overwriting Data
 Advantages
 Applications
 Future Scope
 Conclusion
 Introduction

• Non-volatile computer memory

• Read and written by a MEMS-based probe
• Developed by IBM
• Potential replacement for magnetic recording
• Reducing the form-factor to that of Flash media
• The name “Millipede”

Millipede memory
 How it is ?
• Scientists have demonstrated a data storage density of a trillion bits
per square inch
• Millipede uses thousands of nano-sharp tips to punch pits
representing individual bits into a thin polymer surface.
• 4 times higher than the densest magnetic storage available today.

• The 'Millipede' technology is re-writeable (meaning it can be used

over and over again),

Millipede Memory
 Need of Millipede ?

• Flash memory is not expected to surpass much capacity

• 10 - 15 gigabytes of data into the same tiny format

• Bring tremendous data capacity to mobile devices

• Millionths of a millimeter range

Millipede Memory
 BASIC CONCEPTS
• Modern computers – DRAM technology
• Hard drives – metal disc with magnetic material
• Millipede uses a “dumb” in an electronic
medium
• Uses many nanoscopic heads
• So high throughput

Millipede Memory
 The Millipede Technology

• Stores data in a medium that is simpler and smaller than any cell

• Data acessed by moving the medium under the "head"

• Nanoscopic heads that can read and write in parallel,

• Stores a bit in a very small area.

Millipede Memory
 HEAD

Polymer layer with

Holes

Millipede Memory

Millipede Memory
What is a Cantilever ?

• Two-dimensional array of
silicon probes

• Most recent array

design consists of an
array of 64 × 64
cantilevers (4096) on
a 100 µm pitch
 FEATURES
• Storage capacity – 1 Tb / sq inch
• Equal to 25 DVD
• 25 billion texts in a stamp sized surface
• Enable 10Gb of storage in cell phones
• Highly reliable

Millipede Memory
 Reading & Writing data

• Uses atomic force probes

• Stores & reads data thermo-dynamically
• Access time is small
• Data rate is 1Gb/s
• Needs less power about 100mw

Millipede Memory
 Writing data

• Probe tip heated above glass transition temperature (of about 400
degrees Celsius).
• The hot tip softens the polymer and briefly sinks into it

• Generating an dent.

Millipede Memory
 Reading Data

• Probe tip heated around 300 degrees Celsius

• When the tip drops into an pit

• Electrical resistance drops

• Translated to a “1” bit

Millipede Memory
 Overwriting Data

• The tip makes a series of offset pits

• Overlap so closely their edges fill in the old pits, effectively

erasing the unwanted data.
• The write or overwrite cycles are limited to 1,00,000
cycles.

Millipede Memory
Stored Bits

• Fig. shows that more

than 80 percent of the
1,024 cantilevers of an
experimental setup
were able to write data
(12 storage areas at
right).
 Areal Density

 DRAM - 10Gb/ sq inch

 Flash ram - 25Gb/ sq inch
 Hard drives - 250Gb/ sq inch
 Millipede – 1Tb/ sq inch

Millipede Memory
 ADVANTAGES
 High storage capacity (1 Tb/in2).
 Very small form factor.
 Low power consumption (100 milliwatts).
 Low seek times.
 High data rate (high as 1 Gb/s).
 Long-term perspectives.

Millipede Memory
 Applications
 Micro Drives
 Small Foot Print Devices
 Watches
 Mobile phones
 Personal media systems

 High-capacity hard
drives

Millipede Memory
 Current state of the art

 Progress to a commercially useful product has been

slower than expected

 Appears to be in a race

 64 x 64 cantilever chips with a 7mm x 7mm data

sled
 Future Scope
 Preparing high capacity data drives
 Can hold 600,000 digital images
 “Smart” Millipede
 Researching to reduce the cost
 Bit stability investigations

Millipede Memory
 CONCLUSION

Millipede is a nano-storage prototype developed by IBM that can

store data at a density of a trillion bits per square inch: Millipede
uses thousands of tiny sharp points (hence the name) to punch
holes into a thin plastic film. "There is not a single step in
fabrication that needs to be invented."

Millipede Memory
Millipede Memory
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