Patent ID: 8767441

Claim:
Method for operating a memory comprising: applying a read voltage to the memory, wherein the memory comprising a plurality of cells including at least a first cell, a second cell, a third cell, and a fourth cell, wherein the first cell and the second cell are coupled to a first top electrode, wherein the third cell and the fourth cell are coupled to a second top electrode, wherein the first cell and the third cell are coupled to a first bottom electrode, wherein the second cell and the fourth cell are coupled to a second bottom electrode, wherein each cell of the plurality of cells comprises a resistive switching material stack comprising a resistive switching material overlying a non-linear switching element material, wherein the resistive switching material is characterized by a first voltage associated with switching from a non-conductive state to a conductive state, wherein the non-linear switching element material is characterized by a second voltage associated with switching from a non-conductive state to a conductive state, wherein the second voltage is less than the first voltage, wherein the read voltage is between the first voltage and the second voltage, and wherein applying the read voltage to the memory comprises applying the read voltage to the first top electrode while grounding the first bottom electrode to thereby cause non-linear switching element material of the first cell to be in the conductive state, while maintaining non-linear switching element material of the second cell, the third cell, and the fourth cell to remain in the non-conductive state; and detecting a read current across the first cell in response to the read voltage.