Patent · US Expired

Method for programming phase-change memory array to set state and circuit of a phase-change memory device

US7274586B2 · kind B2 · utility

19Cited by
4References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 3, 2005
Grant dateSep 25, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 3, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C2013/0092
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for programming a phase-change memory array and circuit of a phase-change memory device, each having a plurality of phase-change memory cells, may enable all the phase-change memory cells therein to be changed or set at a set resistance state, and may reduce the time needed to change the phase-change memory array to the set resistance state. In the method, a set current pulse having first through nth stages may be applied to the cells of the array to change the cells to the set resistance state. A minimum current level of the set current pulse applied to the phase-change memory cells in any stage may be higher than a reference current level for the cells of the array. A given current level of the set current pulse may be sequentially reduced from stage to stage.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.