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US 2012/0057401 A1Published application
Phase change memory cycle timer and method
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsJohn A. GABRIC, Mark C. LAMOREY, Thomas M. MAFFITT
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Abstract
A phase change memory (PCM) cycle timer and associated method are disclosed. A system includes at least one reference phase change element (PCE). The system also includes a circuit that performs a write operation on the at least one reference PCE and substantially immediately thereafter continuously senses and returns a value of a resistance of the at least one reference PCE throughout a settling time of the at least one reference PCE.
Claims21
A system, comprising:
- at least one reference phase change element (PCE);
- and
- a circuit that performs a write operation on the at least one reference PCE and substantially immediately thereafter continuously senses and returns a value of a resistance of the at least one reference PCE.
A method, comprising:
- triggering a cycle timer associated with a portion of phase change memory (PCM), wherein the triggering causes the cycle timer to:
- execute a write operation on a reference phase change element (PCE) associated with the portion of PCM;
- and sense a parameter of the reference PCE after the executing the write operation;
- and
- determining whether to permit or prevent subsequent writing to the portion of PCM based upon the sensed parameter.
2 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a memory controller associated with a phase change memory (PCM) array;
- and
- a cycle timer comprising at least one reference phase change element (PCE), wherein a write command from the memory controller to a portion of the PCM array triggers the cycle timer to fill charge traps of the at least one reference PCE and thereafter continuously sense and return a value of a resistance of the at least one reference PCE.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.