Patent ID: 8902690

Claim:
A method for operating a unipolar memory cell array including a bidirectional access diode, the method comprising: determining if an operating state of the unipolar memory cell is one of a select state and a deselect state; determining if a programming state of the unipolar memory cell is one of a read state and a write state; switching an output signal of a column voltage switch to a select column voltage if the operating state is the select state; switching the output signal of the column voltage switch to a read deselect column voltage if the operating state is the deselect state and the programming state is the read state; switching the output signal of the column voltage switch to a write deselect column voltage if the operating state is the deselect state and the programming state is the write state; switching the output signal of a row voltage switch to a read select row voltage if the operating state is the select state and the programming state is the read state; switching the output signal of the row voltage switch to a write select row voltage if the operating state is the select state and the programming state is the write state; switching the output signal of the row voltage switch to a read deselect row voltage if the operating state is the deselect state and the programming state is the read state; and switching the output signal of the row voltage switch to a write deselect row voltage if the operating state is the deselect state and the programming state is the write state; switching an output signal of a first stage column multiplexer to the select column voltage if the operating state is the select state, the first stage column multiplexer being electrically coupled to the unipolar memory cell; switching the output signal of the first stage column multiplexer to an output signal of a second stage column multiplexer if the operating state is the deselect state; switching the output signal of the first stage row multiplexer to an output signal of a second stage select row multiplexer if the operating state is the select state, the first stage row multiplexer being electrically coupled to the unipolar memory cell; and switching the output signal of the first stage row multiplexer to an output signal of a second stage deselect row multiplexer if the operating state is the deselect state.