Patent ID: 8058636
Filing Date: 2011-11-15
Classification: G11C,H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A nonvolatile memory apparatus comprising: a first electrode; a second electrode; a variable resistance layer which is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, a resistance value of the variable resistance layer reversibly varying between a plurality of resistance states based on an electric signal applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, the plurality of resistance states including a low-resistance state and a high-resistance state whose resistance value is higher than a resistance value of the low-resistance state; a first terminal connected to the first electrode; and a second terminal connected to the second electrode; wherein the variable resistance layer comprises at least a tantalum oxide, and is configured to satisfy 0<x<2.5 when the tantalum oxide is represented by TaOx; and wherein when a resistance value between the first electrode and the second electrode in a state where the variable resistance layer is in the low-resistance state is RL, a resistance value between the first electrode and the second electrode in a state where the variable resistance layer is in the high-resistance state is RH, and a resistance value of a portion other than the variable resistance layer in a current path connecting the first terminal to the second terminal via the first electrode, the variable resistance layer and the second electrode, is R R