Patent ID: 8399875

Claim:
A cross-point nonvolatile memory device comprising: a substrate; a plurality of first wires which are formed to extend in parallel with each other on the substrate; a plurality of second wires which are formed above the plurality of first wires such that the plurality of second wires extend in parallel with each other within a plane parallel to a main surface of the substrate and three-dimensionally cross the plurality of first wires, respectively; and a plurality of nonvolatile memory elements which are provided to respectively correspond to three-dimensional cross-points of the plurality of first wires and the plurality of second wires and to electrically connect the first wires to the second wires, respectively; wherein the nonvolatile memory element comprising: a resistance variable element configured to reversibly change between a low-resistance state and a high-resistance state in response to electric signals with different polarities which are applied thereto; and a current controlling element configured such that when a current flowing when a voltage whose absolute value is a first value as a desired value which is larger than 0 and smaller than a predetermined voltage value and whose polarity is a first polarity is applied is a first current and a current flowing when a voltage whose absolute value is the first value and whose polarity is a second polarity different from the first polarity is applied is a second current, the first current is higher than the second current; the resistance variable element including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a resistance variable layer which comprises oxygen-deficient transition metal oxide and is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode; the resistance variable element being connected in series with the current controlling element; and a resistance changing phenomenon occurring at a specified one of an interface between the first electrode and the resistance variable layer and an interface between the second electrode and the resistance variable layer, in response to the electric signals applied between the first electrode and the second electrode.