Patent ID: 7643334
Filing Date: 2010-01-05
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
1. A serializing token-stub phase-change memory (PCM) comprising: an upstream serial interface to a memory controller or to an upstream phase-change memory device in a token-stub of phase-change memory devices; a downstream serial interface to a downstream phase-change memory device in the token-stub of phase-change memory devices; a deserializer that extracts a write address and a write word in a write request from a serial bitstream received by the upstream serial interface when the write address is within an address range of the serializing token-stub phase-change memory; wherein the deserializer further extracts a read address in a read request from the serial bitstream received by the upstream serial interface when the read address is within the address range of the serializing token-stub phase-change memory; a serializer that generates a serial output bitstream to the upstream serial interface from a read data word in response to the read request; a host write buffer, coupled to the deserializer, for storing a write data word; a host read buffer, coupled to the serializer, for storing the read data word; a plurality of PCM cells each having a first logical state having an alloy in a crystalline phase and a second logical state having the alloy in an amorphous phase, wherein a resistance of the alloy is higher when in the amorphous phase than when in the crystalline phase; a plurality of banks, each bank comprising: whereby set and reset pulses are driven to the selected PCM cells from the write data word received by the upstream serial interface.