Patent ID: 7483316

Claim:
A nonvolatile integrated circuit, comprising: at least one nonvolatile memory cell, comprising: a programmable resistive element having a plurality of physical states to store data; control circuitry applying a plurality of electrical signals to said at least one nonvolatile memory cell, the plurality of electrical signals comprising: a plurality of signals applied to said at least one nonvolatile memory cell to store data, including: a reset signal to cause the programmable resistive element of said at least one nonvolatile memory cell to store a first physical state of the plurality of physical states; a set signal to cause the programmable resistive element of said at least one nonvolatile memory cell to store a second physical state of the plurality of physical states; a plurality of signals applied to said at least one nonvolatile memory cell to maintain an ability of said at least one nonvolatile memory cell to store data, including: a hot signal to cause the programmable resistive element of said at least one nonvolatile memory cell to store the first physical state of the plurality of physical states, wherein the hot signal is applied to the programmable resistive element at a higher power relative to the reset signal; a cold signal to cause the programmable resistive element of said at least one nonvolatile memory cell to store the second physical state of the plurality of physical states, wherein the cold signal is applied to the programmable resistive element for a longer duration relative to the set signal.