Patent ID: 7852658

Claim:
A device comprising: a first electrode and a second electrode; and a memory element including a material configured to change between different phases and to pass a current between the first and the second electrodes, the memory element including: a first portion coupled to the first electrode and having a first cross-section area configured to allow the current to pass through; a second portion coupled to the second electrode and having a second cross-section area configured to allow the current to pass through; and a third portion coupled between the first and the second portions and having a third cross-section area configured to allow the current to pass through, wherein the third cross-section area is smaller than each of the first and the second cross-section areas, wherein the memory element includes an intermediate material between the first and the second portions, the intermediate material having a resistance value lower than a resistance value of each of the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion.