Patent ID: 8503226

Claim:
A method of forming an electrically programmable memory device having a non-volatile memory, the method comprising: providing an amorphous phase change layer; and, providing electrical contacts spaced apart one from another, wherein a contiguous layer of phase change material is provided having therein a first region for encoding of first data therein and a second other region for encoding of second different data therein; disposing a first pair of contacts for providing an electrical programming current therebetween, the electrical current for passing through the contiguous layer of phase change material for inducing heating thereof within the first region; and, disposing a second pair of contacts for providing an electrical programming current therebetween, the electrical current for passing through the contiguous layer of phase change material for inducing heating thereof within the second other region thereof, and disposing both contacts of the first pair of contacts on a same side of the contiguous layer of phase change material, and wherein a pair of the electrical contacts for, when conducting, resulting in localized heating within the amorphous phase change layer to result in a region of crystalline phase change layer material within the amorphous phase change layer and electrical conduction between the pair of the electrical contacts.