The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 03, 2012
Filed:
May. 14, 2010
Ferdinando Bedeschi, Monza, IT;
Claudio Resta, Pavia, IT;
Enzo Michele Donze, San Giuseppe Jato, IT;
Roberto Gastaldi, Agrate Brianza, IT;
Alessandro Cabrini, S. Angelo Lodigiano, IT;
Guido Torelli, Sant'Alessio Con Vialone, IT;
Ferdinando Bedeschi, Monza, IT;
Claudio Resta, Pavia, IT;
Enzo Michele Donze, San Giuseppe Jato, IT;
Roberto Gastaldi, Agrate Brianza, IT;
Alessandro Cabrini, S. Angelo Lodigiano, IT;
Guido Torelli, Sant'Alessio Con Vialone, IT;
STMicroelectronics S.r.l., Agrate Brianza, IT;
Abstract
A method for programming multilevel PCM cells envisages: forming an amorphous region of amorphous phase change material in a storage element of a PCM cell by applying one or more reset pulse; and forming a conductive path of crystalline phase change material through the amorphous region by applying one or more set pulse, a size of the conductive path defining a programmed state of the PCM cell and an output electrical quantity associated thereto, and being controlled by the value of the reset pulse and set pulse. The step of forming an amorphous region envisages adaptively and iteratively determining, during the programming operations, a value of the reset pulse optimized for electrical and/or physical properties of the PCM cell, and in particular determining a minimum amplitude value of the reset pulse, which allows programming a desired programmed state and a desired value of the output electrical quantity.