Patent ID: 7843720

Claim:
A phase change memory device comprising: a memory cell connected to a wordline and a bitline; a wordline driving circuit connected to the wordline and activating the wordline when the phase change memory device is in an active operation; a discharge control circuit generating a discharge control signal activated when the phase change memory device is in standby; and a discharge circuit connected to the bitline and discharging the bitline when the phase change memory device is in standby in response to the activation of the discharge control signal, wherein the memory cell comprises: a memory element connected at one end to the bitline and comprising a phase change material; and a select element connected to another end of the memory element to select the memory cell, the select element being a diode interconnected between the other end of the memory element and the wordline, and the wordline drops to a ground level when the phase change memory device is in the active operation, and rises to a supply voltage level when the phase change memory device is in standby.