Patent ID: 7167387

Claim:
A method of driving a non-volatile memory comprising: a variable resistance element, the variable resistance element comprising a first electrode, a layer in which its resistance is variable by applying an electric pulse thereto, the layer being formed on the first electrode, and a second electrode formed on the layer; wherein the layer has a perovskite structure; and the layer has at least one selected from depressions and protrusions in an interface with at least one electrode selected from the first electrode and the second electrode; and a diode or a transistor electrically connected to the variable resistance element; the method comprising the steps of: changing a resistance state of the layer from a low resistance state to a high resistance state or vice versa by applying a write electric pulse across the first electrode and the second electrode; and identifying the resistance state of the layer by applying, across the first electrode and the second electrode, a read electric pulse that does not change the resistance state of the layer and is capable of reading out the resistance state.