Channel capacity and soft-decision decoding of LDPC codes for spin-torque transfer magnetic random access memory (STT-MRAM)

Abstract

Spin-torque transfer magnetic random access memory (STT-MRAM) has emerged as a promising non-volatile memory (NVM) technology, featuring compelling advantages in scalability, speed, endurance, and power consumption. In this paper, we focus on large-capacity stand-alone STT-MRAM, and investigate the channel capacity and the viability of applying low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes with soft-decision decoding to correct the memory cell errors and improve the storage density of STT-MRAM. We propose to use LDPC codes with short codeword lengths, with the reliability-based min-sum (RB-MS) algorithm for decoding. Furthermore, we propose to use the capacity-maximization criterion to design the quantizer and minimize the number of quantization bits. Simulation results demonstrate the potential of applying short-block-length LDPC codes with soft-decision decoding to improve the yield and push the scaling limitation of STT-MRAM.