Memory element with energy control mechanism
AssigneeEnergy Conversion Devices, Inc.
InventorsPatrick Klersy, Boil Pashmakov, Wolodymyr Czubatyj, Sergey Kostylev, Stanford R. Ovshinsky
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Abstract
An electrically operated, directly overwritable memory element comprising a volume of memory material having at least two electrical resistance values. The volume of memory material can be set to one of the resistance values in response to a selected electrical input signal without the need to be set to a specific starting or erased resistance value. The memory element includes resistive layers for controlling the distribution of electrical energy within the memory material, heating layers for transferring heat energy into the memory material, and thermal insulation layers for reducing the loss of heat energy from the memory material.
Claims65
An electrically operated, directly overwritable memory element comprising:
- a volume of memory material having two or more electrical resistance values, said volume of memory material being setable to one of said electrical resistance values in response to a selected electrical input signal without the need to be set to a specific starting or erased electrical resistance value;
- a pair of spacedly disposed electrical contacts for supplying said electrical input signal;
- and
- energy control means for controlling the energy environment of at least a portion of said volume of memory material.
An electrically operated memory array comprising:
- a plurality of electrically activated, directly overwritable memory elements, each of said plurality of memory elements including:
- a volume of memory material having two or more electrical resistance values, said volume of memory material being setable to one of said electrical resistance values in response to a selected electrical input signal without the need to be set to a specific starting or erased electrical resistance value;
- a pair of spacedly disposed electrical contacts for supplying said electrical input signal;
- and
- energy control means for controlling the energy environment of at least a portion of said volume of memory material.
A method of programming an electrically operated memory element, said method comprising:
- providing a memory element, said memory element including:
- a volume of memory material having two or more electrical resistance values, said volume of memory material being setable to one of said electrical resistance values in response to a selected electrical input signal;
- and
- a pair of spacedly disposed electrical contacts for supplying said electrical input signal;
- applying an electrical input signal to said contacts;
- and
- controlling the electrical input signal and the energy environment of said volume of memory material such that the viscosity of said material is reduced to below about 10.sup.14 Poise.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.