Patent ID: 9576660
Date: 2017-02-21
CPC Classifications: G11C,H01L

Claim:
1. A method of operating a non-volatile storage element, comprising: applying a forming voltage to a non-volatile storage element with a polarity of voltage such that an electrode with a lower electron injection energy barrier acts as a cathode and an electrode with a higher electron injection energy barrier acts as an anode, and limiting current through the non-volatile storage element to be lower than maximum current for the non-volatile storage element while applying the forming voltage, the non-volatile storage element is connected to a bit line, the bit line is connected to a vertically oriented select device, the vertically oriented select device is connected to a global bit line and a select line, the applying the forming voltage includes applying an intermediate voltage to the select line so that the vertically oriented select device is partially on and is limiting the current through the bit line, the intermediate voltage is less than a selected voltage during SET and RESET operations and more than an unselected voltage during SET and RESET operations; performing a sensing operation; and determining if the non-volatile storage element is in low resistance condition based on the sensing operation.