Patent ID: 7760539

Claim:
A nonvolatile memory device comprising: a variable resistance element; and power suppression means for limiting electric power applied to the variable resistance element to a predetermined value or less, wherein the variable resistance element has a structure of a resistance change film material having a sheet resistivity (ρ) and a film thickness (l) being sandwiched in an electrode material having an area (S), and assuming that a resistance value computed from ρ×l÷S is an element bulk resistance value (R bulk ), the variable resistance element can store information when its resistance changes under electrical stimulation within a resistance value range larger than the element bulk resistance value R bulk , and the power suppression means suppresses electric power, consumed by the variable resistance element when an erase pulse having a predetermined voltage amplitude (V) for changing the variable resistance element from a high resistance state to a low resistance state is applied for erasing data stored in the variable element, to a quarter or less of V×V÷R bulk , and applies the suppressed electric power to the variable resistance element.