IP Library Granted Patent US 9,378,818
Granted Patent B2
US 9,378,818 · App. 14/185,095 · Granted Jun 28, 2016

Apparatuses and operation methods associated with resistive memory cell arrays with separate select lines

Inventors: Zengtao T. Liu (Boise, ID); Kirk D. Prall (Boise, ID); Mike Violette (Boise, ID)
Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
G11C13/0069G11C11/56G11C13/0002G11C13/003G11C13/004G11C5/063G11C8/14G11C2213/74G11C2213/78G11C2213/79H01L27/222H01L27/24
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,378,818
App. No.
14/185,095
Granted
Jun 28, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure includes methods and apparatuses that include resistive memory. A number of embodiments include a first memory cell coupled to a data line and including a first resistive storage element and a first access device, a second memory cell coupled to the data line and including a second resistive storage element and a second access device, an isolation device formed between the first access device and the second access device, a first select line coupled to the first resistive storage element, and a second select line coupled to the second resistive storage element, wherein the second select line is separate from the first select line.

Claims (44)

1. A method of operating an array of resistive memory cells, comprising:

applying a first signal to a selected data line coupled to a first memory cell and a second memory cell, wherein the first memory cell includes a first resistive storage element and a first access device, and wherein the second memory cell includes a second resistive storage element and a second access device; and

applying a second signal to a conductive line coupled to an isolation device formed between the first access device and the second access device;

applying a third signal to a first select line coupled to the first resistive storage element;

applying a fourth signal to a second select line coupled to the second resistive storage element;

applying a fifth signal to a selected conductive line coupled to the first access device;

applying a sixth signal to a conductive line coupled to the second access device; and

applying a seventh signal to unselected data lines of the array.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the fifth signal includes applying a supply voltage; applying the third signal and the seventh signal includes applying a read voltage; and applying the first signal, the second signal, the fourth signal, and the sixth signal includes applying a ground voltage.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the fifth signal includes applying a supply voltage; applying the first signal includes applying a read voltage; and applying the second signal, the third signal, the fourth signal, the sixth signal, and the seventh signal includes applying a ground voltage.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the fifth signal, the sixth signal, and the second signal includes applying an access device activation voltage;

applying the third signal includes applying a set voltage; applying the fourth signal includes applying a first partial set voltage; applying the seventh signal includes applying a second partial set voltage; and applying the first signal includes applying a ground voltage.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first partial set voltage is half of the set voltage and the second partial set voltage is half of the set voltage.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first partial set voltage is ⅓ of the set voltage and the second partial set voltage is ⅔ of the set voltage.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the fifth signal, the sixth signal, and the second signal includes applying an access device activation voltage; applying the first signal includes applying a reset voltage; applying the fourth signal includes applying a first partial reset voltage; applying the seventh signal includes applying a second partial reset voltage; and applying the third signal includes applying a ground voltage.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first partial reset voltage is half of the reset voltage and the second partial reset voltage is half of the reset voltage.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first partial reset voltage is ⅔ of the reset voltage and the second partial reset voltage is ⅓ of the reset voltage.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the fifth signal includes applying an access device activation voltage; applying the third signal and the seventh signal includes applying a set voltage; and applying the first signal, the second signal, the fourth signal, and the sixth signal includes applying a ground voltage.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the fifth signal includes applying an access device activation voltage; applying the first signal includes applying a reset voltage; and applying the second signal, the third signal, the fourth signal, the sixth signal, and the seventh signal includes applying a ground voltage.

12. A method of operating a resistive memory device, comprising:

applying a first voltage to a selected data line coupled to a first memory cell and a second memory cell, wherein the first memory cell includes a first resistive storage element and a first access device, and wherein the second memory cell includes a second resistive storage element and a second access device; and

applying a reference voltage to a conductive line coupled to an isolation device formed between the first access device and the second access device when operating the resistive memory apparatus in a first mode;

applying a third voltage to a first select line coupled to the first resistive storage element;

applying a fourth voltage to a second select line coupled to the second resistive storage element;

applying a fifth voltage to a selected conductive line coupled to the first access device;

applying a sixth voltage to a conductive line coupled to the second access device; and

applying a seventh voltage to unselected data lines of the array.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first mode of operation is a default mode of operation.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the method includes applying an access device activation voltage to the conductive line coupled to the isolation device formed between the first access device and the second access device when operating the resistive memory apparatus in a second mode.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein applying the fourth voltage includes applying a portion of the third voltage and applying the seventh voltage includes applying a portion of the third voltage.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein applying the fourth voltage includes applying a portion of the first voltage and applying the seventh voltage includes applying a portion of the first voltage.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the method includes operating the resistive memory apparatus in the second mode on memory cells having high current tail-bits.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

an array of memory cells; and

a controller configured to:

apply a first signal to a selected data line coupled to a first memory cell and a second memory cell, wherein the first memory cell includes a first resistive storage element and a first access device, and wherein the second memory cell includes a second resistive storage element and a second access device; and

apply a second signal to a conductive line coupled to an isolation device formed between the first access device and the second access device;

apply a third signal to a first select line coupled to the first resistive storage element;

apply a fourth signal to a second select line coupled to the second resistive storage element;

apply a fifth signal to a selected conductive line coupled to the first access device;

apply a sixth signal to a conductive line coupled to the second access device; and

apply a seventh signal to unselected data lines of the array.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the fifth signal, the sixth signal, and the second signal is an access device activation voltage; the third signal is a set voltage; the fourth signal is a first partial set voltage; the seventh signal is a second partial set voltage; and the first signal is a ground voltage.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the fifth signal, the sixth signal, and the second signal is an access device activation voltage; the first signal is a reset voltage; the fourth signal is a first partial reset voltage; the seventh signal is a second partial reset voltage; and the third signal is a ground voltage.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 051028/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050937/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 047243/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2018
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047540/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REPLACE ERRONEOUSLY FILED PATENT #7358718 WITH THE CORRECT PATENT #7358178 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038669 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Jun 8, 2017
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 043079/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 2, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038954/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 12, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038669/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2014
From: LIU, ZENGTAO T.; PRALL, KIRK D.; VIOLETTE, MIKE
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 032255/0701 →
Continuity (2)
Division 13293353 · Nov 10, 2011
Related Publication 20140233300A1 · Aug 21, 2014