Patent ID: 8861252

Claim:
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device comprising: a memory cell which includes a variable resistance element and a current-limiting element that has a nonlinear current-voltage characteristic; a current driver; a detection module; a reference current supplying module; and a stabilizing current supplying module, wherein the reference current supplying module causes a first current to flow in the detection module, before the stabilizing current supplying module causes a second current to flow in the detection module, the stabilizing current supplying module causes the second current to flow in the detection module, before the current driver causes a third current to flow in the memory cell, the current driver changes the resistance of the variable resistance element, after stopping the third current, from low-resistance state to high-resistance state by causing the third current to flow in the memory cell, and the detection module compares the first current with the third current, causes the current driver to stop the third current if the third current has become less than or equal to the first current, and detects a change in the resistance of the memory cell based on the magnitude of the third current.