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. 11, 2017
Filed:
Apr. 08, 2016
Macronix International Co., Ltd., Hsinchu, TW;
Win-San Khwa, Taipei, TW;
Chao-I Wu, Hsinchu, TW;
Tzu-Hsiang Su, Hsinchu, TW;
Hsiang-Pang Li, Hsinchu, TW;
MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., Hsinchu, TW;
Abstract
A first memory cell including a phase change material. The first memory cell is programmable to store one data value of a plurality of data values. The plurality of data values are represented by a plurality of non-overlapping ranges of resistance of the first memory cell. At least one testing pulse is applied to the first memory cell to establish a cell resistance of the first memory cell in an intermediate range of resistance, the intermediate range of resistance in between first and second adjacent ranges in the plurality of non-overlapping ranges of resistance representing the plurality of data values. After applying the at least one testing pulse to the first memory cell, it is determined whether to apply at least one healing pulse to repair the first memory cell, depending on relative values of (i) the cell resistance in the intermediate range of resistance and (ii) a reference resistance in the intermediate range of resistance.