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(2) of die area and whose fabrication is compatible with a standard IC manufacturing process. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(00)90308-6].