Chapter Resources
Chapter 11 - Memories

Chapter Overview
It has been said that the most important characteristic that a digital system has over an analog system is its ability to store data for short or long periods. The availability and use of memory and digital storage devices has fueled what writers have called the information revolution. The entire Internet system is dependent on the transfer of data from one storage/memory device to another. Of course, computers and telecommunication systems are dependent on large amounts of digital storage.

The compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) is a wonderful modern example of an optical storage device that features very high storage capacity at low cost. A single CD-ROM can store the equivalent of more than 200,000 typed pages of information, which is more data storage than is available on more than 400 standard floppy disks. The CD-ROM has a storage capacity of 650 Mbytes per single 4.75-in. diameter disk. The cost of manufacturing a high-quality CD-ROM is relatively inexpensive.

The flip-flop, which we have already studied, forms a basic 'memory cell' in some semiconductor memories. You have already used a simple shift register, latches, and counters, which use the flip-flop as a temporary memory. Several more types of semiconductor memory cells will be investigated in this chapter. Several types of bulk storage devices will also be surveyed. Bulk storage devices are commonly classified as either magnetic, mechanical, optical, or semiconductor in nature.

Practice Tests
Chapter Test

EWB (Electronics Workbench) Files
EWB experiments manual files for all chapters.

Save the files above to your computer's desktop. Find the file, double-click it and unzip to a convenient location. You will need Electronics Workbench®, version 5 to use the files.

Chapter Links
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