Method of programming phase-change memory element
First Claim
1. A method of programming an electrically programmable, phase-change memory element to a low resistance state, said memory element including a volume of phase-change memory material having at least said low resistance state and a detectably distinct high resistance state, said method comprising the steps of:
- applying a first pulse of energy to said memory material, said first pulse sufficient to transform said memory material from said low resistance state to said high resistance state; and
applying a second pulse of energy to said memory material following said first pulse, said second pulse sufficient to transform said memory material from said high resistance state to said low resistance state.
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Abstract
A method of programming an electrically programmable phase-change memory element to the low resistance state. A first pulse of energy sufficient to transform the device from the low to high resistance states is applied, and a second pulse of energy sufficient to transform the device from the high to low resistance states is applied following the first pulse. In another programming method, the present and desired device states are compared, and programming pulses are applied only if the state of the device needs to be changed.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of programming an electrically programmable, phase-change memory element to a low resistance state, said memory element including a volume of phase-change memory material having at least said low resistance state and a detectably distinct high resistance state, said method comprising the steps of:
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applying a first pulse of energy to said memory material, said first pulse sufficient to transform said memory material from said low resistance state to said high resistance state; and applying a second pulse of energy to said memory material following said first pulse, said second pulse sufficient to transform said memory material from said high resistance state to said low resistance state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of setting an electrically programmable, phase-change memory element having at least a low resistance state and a detectably distinct high resistance state, said method comprising the steps of:
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applying a first pulse of energy to said memory material, said first pulse sufficient to transform said memory material from said low resistance state to said high resistance state; and applying a second pulse of energy to said memory material following said first pulse, said second pulse sufficient to transform said memory material from said high resistance state to said low resistance state. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of programming an electrically programmable, phase-change memory element to a desired state, said memory element including a volume of phase-change memory material having at least a low resistance state and a detectably distinct high resistance state, said method comprising the steps of:
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reading the present state of said memory element; determining whether the present state is equal to said desired state; and
if not,programming said memory element from the present state to said desired state. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification