Patent ID: 7978508

Claim:
A method of programming a phase-change material comprising: providing a transformation pulse; said transformation pulse including a programming waveform and a conditioning waveform; said programming waveform having a first leading edge and a first trailing edge, said first leading edge increasing in amplitude from an initial amplitude to a first peak amplitude, said first trailing edge decreasing in amplitude from said first peak amplitude; said programming waveform providing energy to said phase-change material in an amount sufficient to heat said phase-change material to a temperature greater than or equal to its crystallization temperature, said programming waveform increasing the amorphous phase volume fraction of said phase-change material; said conditioning waveform having a second peak amplitude, and a second trailing edge; said conditioning waveform initiating before termination of said amplitude of said first trailing edge decreases to said initial amplitude of said first leading edge; said conditioning waveform providing energy to said phase-change material in an amount sufficient to heat said phase-change material to a temperature greater than the ambient temperature and less than said crystallization temperature.