摘要:
A memory element comprising a volume of phase change memory material; and first and second contact for supplying an electrical signal to the memory material, wherein the first contact comprises a conductive sidewall spacer. Alternately, the first contact may comprise a contact layer having an edge adjacent to the memory material.
摘要:
A method of operating a electrically programmable phase-change memory element. The method includes the step of applying an electrical signal to memory element which is sufficient to return the memory element to its pre-drift resistance state.
摘要:
A chalcogenide material and chalcogenide memory device having less stringent requirements for formation, improved thermal stability and/or faster operation. The chalcogenide materials include materials comprising Ge, Sb and Te in which the Ge and/or Te content is lean relative to the commonly used Ge2Sb2Te5 chalcogenide composition. Electrical devices containing the instant chalcogenide materials show a rapid convergence of the set resistance during cycles of setting and resetting the device from its as-fabricated state, thus leading to a reduced or eliminated need to subject the device to post-fabrication electrical formation prior to end-use operation. Improved thermal stability is manifested in terms of prolonged stability of the resistance of the device at elevated temperatures, which leads to an inhibition of thermally induced setting of the reset state in the device. Significant improvements in the 10 year data retention temperature are demonstrated. Faster device operation is achieved through an increased speed of crystallization, which acts to shorten the time required to transform the chalcogenide material from its reset state to its set state in an electrical memory device.
摘要:
A method of making an electrically programmable memory element, comprising: providing a first dielectric layer; forming a conductive material over the first dielectric layer; forming a second dielectric layer over the conductive material; and forming a programmable resistance material in electrical contact with a peripheral surface of the conductive material.
摘要:
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.
摘要:
A phase change memory may be read so as to reduce the likelihood of a read disturb. A read disturb may occur, for example, when a reset device is raised to a voltage, which causes its threshold device to trigger. The triggering of the threshold device produces a displacement current which may convert a reset device to a set device. By ensuring that the reset cell never reaches a voltage that would result in triggering of the threshold device, read disturbs may be reduced.
摘要:
A programmable resistance memory element comprising alternating layers of programmable resistance material layers and stabilizing layers. The stabilizing layers may include metallic titanium or a titanium alloy. The stabilizing layers may include a telluride, such as titanium telluride.
摘要:
A phase-change memory device includes a first insulator having a hole therethrough, a first electrode that conforms at least partially to the hole, a phase-change material in electrical communication with the first electrode, and a second electrode in electrical communication with the phase-change material. When current is passed from the first electrode to the second electrode through the phase-change material, at least one of the first and second electrodes remains unreactive with the phase change material.
摘要:
A memory includes multiple layers of deposited memory material. An etch is performed on at least one layer of deposited memory material prior to the deposition of a subsequent layer of memory material.
摘要:
A phase-change memory device includes a first insulator having a hole therethrough, a first electrode that conforms at least partially to the hole, a phase-change material in electrical communication with the first electrode, and a second electrode in electrical communication with the phase-change material. When current is passed from the first electrode to the second electrode through the phase-change material, at least one of the first and second electrodes remains unreactive with the phase change material.