Patent ID: 7894272

Claim:
A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium including a computer readable program for operating a memory cell in which a variation of the characteristic parameter of the memory cell affects the effective resistance of the memory cell, the computer readable program comprising computer code to: receive a request to read a binary value stored in the memory cell; pre-charge a bit-line capacitor in an electronic circuit formed, at least partially, by the memory cell to a pre-charge voltage; activate a word-line in the electronic circuit; discharge the bit-line capacitor through the said memory cell in the electronic circuit to the word-line; start an electron discharge time measurement when the word-line is activated; stop the electron discharge time measurement when the voltage level in the bit-line falls below a pre-defined reference voltage; and determine the binary value from the measured electron discharge time; wherein the pre-defined reference voltage is a fraction of the pre-charge voltage.