Patent ID: 8125822

Claim:
A method of programming a two terminal memory cell, comprising; providing the memory cell; providing a first line connected to the memory cell; providing a first line driver connected to the first line; providing a first line select to control the first line driver; providing a control circuit selectively connected to the first line through the first line driver when the first line select is enabled, the control circuit to set the first line to a first voltage from a first line standby voltage; providing a second line connected to the memory cell; providing a second line driver connected to the second line; providing a second line select to control the second line driver; and providing a sense amplifier selectively connected to the second line through the second line driver when the second line select is enabled, the sense amplifier operative to charge the second line to a predetermined voltage from a second line standby voltage, wherein the control circuit switches the first line from the first voltage to the second voltage, wherein a voltage drop across the memory cell, when the first line is set to the first voltage, is a safe voltage that does not program the memory cell, and wherein a voltage drop across the memory cell, after the first line is switched from the first to the second voltage, is a programming voltage that is sufficient to program the memory cell.