Phase-change memory element driver circuits using measurement to control current and methods of controlling drive current of phase-change memory elements using measurement

• US 20050281073A1
• Filed: 03/29/2005
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kang, Sang-beom, Cho, Woo-yeong
• Granted Patent: US 7,190,607 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 365/148
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/0004 comprising amorphous/crystalline phase transition cells
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/0064 Verifying circuits or methods
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/0069 Writing or programming circuits or methods
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2013/0078 Write using current through the cell
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2213/79 Array wherein the access device being a transistor

Abstract

Programming phase-change memory devices and driver circuits for programming phase-change memory devices are provided that control an amount of current supplied to a phase-change material of the phase-change memory device based on a measure of resistance of the phase-change material during programming of the phase-change memory device. Such control may be based on detected voltage or current. The amount of current supplied to the phase-change material may be increased until the measured voltage level changes with respect to a reference voltage value and the current maintained constant if the measured voltage level has changed with respect to the reference voltage value. The change of the measured voltage level with respect to the reference voltage may be the measured voltage level falling below the reference voltage value.

Claims

1. A method of programming a phase-change memory device, comprising controlling an amount of current supplied to a phase-change material of the phase-change memory device based on a measure of resistance of the phase-change material during programming of the phase-change memory device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling an amount of current comprises:

measuring a voltage across the phase-change material of the phase-change memory device; and

controlling an amount of current supplied to the phase-change material of the phase-change memory device based on the measured voltage across the phase-change material.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein controlling an amount of current supplied comprises:

increasing the amount of current supplied to the phase-change material until the measured voltage level changes with respect to a reference voltage value; and

maintaining the current constant if the measured voltage level has changed with respect to the reference voltage value.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the change of the measured voltage level with respect to the reference voltage comprises the measured voltage level falling below the reference voltage value.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein increasing the amount of current supplied to the phase-change material until the measured voltage level changes with respect to a reference voltage value comprises increasing the amount of a reference current supplied to a current mirror circuit so as to increase an amount of current supplied to the phase-change material until the measured voltage level changes with respect to a reference voltage value controlling an amount of current supplied.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising precharging a node of the current mirror that controls the current supplied to the phase-change material.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein precharging the node is responsive to a power on signal.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising precharging a node where the voltage across the phase-change material is detected.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the node that is precharged comprises a data line of the phase-change memory device.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein current supplied to the phase-change material is supplied by a current mirror circuit and wherein maintaining the current constant comprises floating a node of the current mirror that controls the current supplied to the phase-change material when the measured voltage falls below reference voltage.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling an amount of current comprises:

measuring a current supplied to the phase-change material of the phase-change memory device; and

controlling an amount of current supplied to the phase-change material of the phase-change memory device based on the measured current supplied to the phase-change material.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein controlling an amount of current supplied comprises:

increasing the amount of current supplied to the phase-change material until the measured current changes with respect to a reference current value; and

maintaining the current constant if the measured current has changed with respect to the reference current value.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the change of the measured current with respect to the reference voltage comprises the measured current exceeding the reference current value.

14. A phase-change memory device, comprising:

a phase-change memory cell comprising a phase-change material;

a detection circuit configured to measure a voltage and/or current of a data line coupled to the phase-change memory cell; and

a controller circuit coupled to the phase-change memory cell and configured to control an amount of current supplied to the phase-change material of the phase-change memory cell based on an output of the detection circuit.

15. The phase-change memory device of claim 14, wherein the detection circuit comprises a voltage detection circuit.

16. The phase-change memory device of claim 15, wherein the voltage detection circuit is configured to compare the measured voltage of the data line and a reference voltage and output a control signal based on whether the measured voltage is greater than or less than the reference voltage.

17. The phase-change memory device of claim 16, wherein the controller circuit comprises a current mirror circuit configured to increase an amount of current supplied to the phase-change memory cell until the control signal output by the voltage detection circuit indicates that the measured voltage is less than the reference voltage and maintain the amount of current supplied to the phase-change memory cell when the control signal output by the voltage detection circuit indicates that the measured voltage is less than the reference voltage.

18. The phase-change memory device of claim 17, where the current mirror circuit is further responsive to a first control signal to control whether or not current is supplied to the phase-change memory cell.

19. The phase-change memory device of claim 18, wherein the current mirror circuit comprises:

a first transistor having controlled terminals coupled between a data line of the phase-change memory cell and a supply voltage;

a charge storage element coupled between a controlling terminal of the first transistor and the supply voltage;

a second transistor responsive to the first control signal that selectively couples the controlling terminal of the first transistor to the supply voltage; and

a third transistor responsive to a second control signal and an output of the voltage detection circuit for selectively coupling the controlling terminal of the first transistor and the charge storage element to a ground voltage.

20. The phase-change memory device of claim 19, wherein the charge storage element comprises a metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitor.

21. The phase-change memory device of claim 14, wherein the detection circuit comprises a current detection circuit.

22. The phase-change memory device of claim 21, wherein the current detection circuit is configured to compare the measured current of the data line and a reference current and output a control signal based on whether the measured current is greater than or less than the reference current.

23. The phase-change memory device of claim 22, wherein the controller circuit comprises a current mirror circuit configured to increase an amount of current supplied to the phase-change memory cell until the control signal output by the current detection circuit indicates that the measured current is less than the reference current and maintain the amount of current supplied to the phase-change memory cell when the control signal output by the current detection circuit indicates that the measured current is greater than the reference current.

24. A phase-change memory device, comprising:

a phase-change memory cell comprising a phase-change material; and

means for controlling an amount of current supplied to the phase-change material of the phase-change memory cell based on a measure of resistance of the phase-change material during programming of the phase-change memory cell.

25. The phase-change memory device of claim 24, wherein the means for controlling a current comprises:

means for measuring a voltage across the phase-change material of the phase-change memory device; and

means for controlling an amount of current supplied to the phase-change material of the phase-change memory device based on the measured voltage across the phase-change material.

26. The phase-change memory device of claim 25, wherein the means for controlling an amount of current supplied comprises:

means for increasing the amount of current supplied to the phase-change material until the measured voltage level changes with respect to a reference voltage value; and

means for maintaining the amount of current constant if the measured voltage level has changed with respect to the reference voltage value.

27. The phase-change memory device of claim 26, wherein the amount of constant current is substantially the same as the amount to which the current was increased prior to the change in measured voltage.

28. The phase-change memory device of claim 24, wherein means for controlling an amount of current comprises:

means for measuring a current supplied to the phase-change material of the phase-change memory device; and

means for controlling an amount of current supplied to the phase-change material of the phase-change memory device based on the measured current supplied to the phase-change material.

29. The phase-change memory device of claim 28, wherein the means for controlling an amount of current supplied comprises:

means for increasing the amount of current supplied to the phase-change material until the measured current changes with respect to a reference current value; and

means for maintaining the current constant if the measured current has changed with respect to the reference current value.

30. The phase-change memory device of claim 29, wherein the change of the measured current with respect to the reference voltage comprises the measured current exceeding the reference current value.

31. A phase-change memory write drive circuit, comprising:

a current detection circuit coupled to a data line of a phase-change memory;

a current generation circuit responsive to a control signal and coupled to the data ine of the phase-change memory and configured to supply current to the data line of the phase-change memory responsive to the control signal and to increase an amount of current supplied to the data line of the phase-change memory until the current detection circuit indicates that a current measured by the current detection circuit is greater than a reference current and maintain the amount of current supplied to the phase-change memory when the current measured by the current detection circuit indicates that the measured current is greater than the reference current.

32. A phase-change memory write drive circuit, comprising:

a voltage detection circuit coupled to a data line of a phase-change memory;

a current generation circuit responsive to a control signal and coupled to the data line of the phase-change memory and configured to supply current to the data line of the phase-change memory responsive to the control signal and to increase an amount of current supplied to the data line of the phase-change memory until the voltage detection circuit indicates that a voltage measured by the voltage detection circuit is less than a reference voltage and maintain the amount of current supplied to the phase-change memory when the voltage measured by the voltage detection circuit indicates that the measured voltage is less than the reference voltage.