Method for low power accessing a phase change memory device
AssigneeNumonyx B.V.
InventorsClaudio Resta, Ferdinando Bedeschui
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for accessing a phase change memory device, wherein a first sub-plurality of bitlines is grouped in a first group and a second sub-plurality of bitlines is grouped in a second group. At least a bitline in the first and second groups are selected; currents are supplied to the selected bitlines; and a selected wordline is biased. The bitlines are selected by selecting a first bitline in the first group and, while the first bitline is selected, selecting a second bitline in the second group which is arranged on the selected wordline symmetrically to the first bitline in the first group.
Claims13
A method for accessing a phase change memory device, comprising:
- providing a plurality of phase change memory cells connected at crosspoints of a plurality of bitlines and a plurality of wordlines;
- grouping a first sub-plurality of bitlines in a first group and a second sub-plurality of bitlines in a second group;
- selecting at least a bitline in the first and second groups;
- supplying currents to the selected bitlines;
- biasing a selected wordline,
- wherein selecting at least a bitline in the first and second groups comprises selecting a first bitline in the first group and, while the first bitline is selected, selecting a second bitline in the second group which is arranged on the selected wordline symmetrically to the first bitline in the first group.
A phase change memory device comprising:
- a plurality of bitlines (BL) including a first group of bitlines and a second group of bitlines;
- a plurality of wordlines (WL), crossing the bitlines;
- a plurality of phase change memory cells connected at crosspoints of the bitlines and the wordlines;
- a selecting stage for selecting at least a bitline in the first and in the second groups;
- a current generator to supply access current to the selected bitlines;
- a biasing stage for biasing a selected wordline,
- wherein said selecting stage comprises means for selecting a first bitline in the first group and, while the first bitline is still selected, selecting in the second group a second bitline which is arranged symmetrically to the first bitline in the first group.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.