Patent ID: 6291836
Filing Date: 2001-09-18
Classification: G11C,H01L

Abstract:
A method of operating a programmable, non-volatile memory device (PROM) comprising a system of programmable non-volatile memory cells arranged in a matrix of rows and columns and provided with a first set of selection lines parallel to the columns and with a second set of selection lines parallel to the rows, a memory cell being associated with each point of intersection between the selection lines, wherein each memory cell consists of only a single-element cell exclusively formed by a diode whose anode and cathode are each conductively connected to a selection line of a different set, at least one of the anode and cathode regions comprising a layer of hydrogenated, silicon-containing amorphous semiconductor material, each memory cell being operated by repeatably bringing said memory cell to a resettable lower conductivity state in response to a current pulse and repeatably bringing said memory cell to a resettable higher conductivity state in response to a heat application.