RRAM filament spatial localization using a laser stimulation

An apparatus for determining a spatial location of a filament in a resistive random access memory (RRAM) cell, the apparatus comprising:

• a signal generator for applying a bias signal to the RRAM cell;
• a laser signal generator for applying a laser signal at different positions of a surface of the RRAM cell;
• a detector for measuring a change in a signal sensed at the RRAM cell responsive to the applied laser signal at each different surface position;
• a memory configured to store a set of instructions;
• a hardware processor, in communication with the memory, the set of instructions configuring the hardware processor to:
• create a mapping of the measured sense signal changes corresponding to the different surface positions;
• detect a presence of a spot in the map corresponding to a sense signal change at a particular surface position;
• determine an edge or center of the RRAM cell;
• and
• determine a 2-dimensional coordinate position of the spot compared to the edge/center of the RRAM cell, the spot indicating the location of the filament in the RRAM device.

A computer program product for determining a spatial location of a filament in a resistive random access memory (RRAM) cell, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to:

• bias the RRAM cell with a bias signal using a bias signal generator;
• apply a laser signal at different positions of a surface of the RRAM cell using a laser signal generator;
• measure, using a signal detector, a change in a signal sensed at the RRAM cell responsive to the applied laser beam signal at each different surface position;
• create a map of the sense signal changes at the different surface positions;
• detect a presence of a spot in the map corresponding to a sense signal change at a particular surface position;
• determine an edge or center of the RRAM cell;
• and
• determine a 2-dimensional coordinate position of the spot compared to the edge/center of the RRAM cell, the spot indicating the location of the filament in the RRAM device.