Patent ID: 8223565

Claim:
A resistance change memory comprising: a resistance change element having a high-resistance state and a low-resistance state in accordance with write information; a write circuit configured to supply a write current that the write current flowing through the resistance change element is held constant before and after the resistance change element is changed from the high-resistance state to the low-resistance state, and apply a write voltage that the write voltage applied to the resistance change element is held constant before and after the resistance change element is changed from the low-resistance state to the high-resistance state, said write circuit comprising a constant-current circuit configured to supply the write current, and a constant-voltage circuit configured to apply the write voltage; wherein the resistance change memory further comprises: a first switch having one terminal connected to the constant-current circuit, and the other terminal connected to a first node; a second switch having one terminal connected to a ground terminal, and the other terminal connected to the first node; a third switch having one terminal connected to the constant-voltage circuit, and the other terminal connected to a second node; and a fourth switch having one terminal connected to the ground terminal, and the other terminal connected to the second node, and in which the first node is connected to one terminal of the resistance change element, and the second node is connected to the other terminal of the resistance change element, when changing the resistance change element to the low-resistance state, the write current is supplied from the first switch to the fourth switch via the resistance change element by turning on the first switch and the fourth switch and turning off the second switch and the third switch, and when changing the resistance change element to the high-resistance state, the write voltage is applied from the third switch to the second switch via the resistance change element by turning on the second switch and the third switch and turning off the first switch and the fourth switch.