Patent · US Active

Semiconductor device

US7796426B2 · kind B2 · utility

10Cited by
3References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 17, 2005
Grant dateSep 14, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 5, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C2213/79
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A technique capable of improving speed of a set operation, which controls writing rate in a semiconductor device including a memory cell using a phase-change material. The technique uses means for setting a set-pulse voltage to be applied to the phase-change material to have two steps: the first-step voltage sets a temperature of the phase-change memory to a temperature at which the fastest nucleation is obtained; and the second pulse sets the temperature to a temperature at which the fastest crystal growth is obtained, thereby obtaining solid-phase growth of the phase-change material without melting. Moreover, the technique uses means for controlling the two-step voltage applied to the phase-change memory by a two-step voltage applied to a word line capable of reducing the drain current variation.

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