IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,527,288
Granted Patent B2
US 11,527,288 · App. 17/192,762 · Granted Dec 13, 2022

Memory cell and operating method of memory cell

Inventor: Jae Hyun Han (Icheon-si, KR)
Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
G11C13/0069G11C13/004G11C13/0004G11C13/0038G11C13/0097
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,527,288
App. No.
17/192,762
Granted
Dec 13, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A memory cell includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a variable resistance layer located between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a ferroelectric layer located between the variable resistance layer and the second electrode, wherein the variable resistance layer is maintained in an amorphous state during a program operation.

Claims (28)

1. A memory cell, comprising:

a first electrode;

a second electrode;

a variable resistance layer located between the first electrode and the second electrode, and reversibly transitioning between different resistance states; and

a ferroelectric layer located between the variable resistance layer and the second electrode,

wherein the variable resistance layer is maintained in an amorphous state during a program operation.

2. The memory cell of claim 1 , wherein the memory cell has a first threshold voltage after a positive program operation and the memory cell has a second threshold voltage after a negative program operation, and

wherein the second threshold voltage is greater than the first threshold voltage.

3. The memory cell of claim 2 , wherein a read voltage is between the first threshold voltage and the second threshold voltage.

4. The memory cell of claim 1 , wherein the variable resistance layer has a low-resistance amorphous state after a set operation and the variable resistance layer has a high-resistance amorphous state after a reset operation.

5. The memory cell of claim 1 , wherein the variable resistance layer includes a chalcogenide.

6. The memory cell of claim 1 , wherein during a positive program operation, a positive program voltage is applied to the first electrode and causes polarization of the ferroelectric layer.

7. The memory cell of claim 1 , wherein during a negative program operation, a negative program voltage is applied to the first electrode and causes polarization of the ferroelectric layer.

8. A method of operating a memory cell including a first electrode, a second electrode, a variable resistance layer located between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a ferroelectric layer located between the variable resistance layer and the second electrode, the method comprising:

applying a positive program voltage to the first electrode, wherein the positive program voltage causes polarization of the ferroelectric layer; and

applying a read voltage that does not polarize the ferroelectric layer to the memory cell.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the variable resistance layer is maintained in an amorphous state after the positive program voltage is applied.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the variable resistance layer includes a chalcogenide.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein a resistance of the variable resistance layer is reduced by the positive program voltage.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising

applying a negative program voltage to the first electrode, wherein the negative program voltage causes polarization of the ferroelectric layer.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein a resistance of the variable resistance layer is increased by the negative program voltage.

14. A method of operating a memory cell including a first electrode, a second electrode, a switching layer located between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a ferroelectric layer located between the switching layer and the second electrode, the method comprising:

applying a positive program voltage to the first electrode, wherein the positive program voltage causes polarization of the ferroelectric layer; and

applying a read voltage that does not polarize the ferroelectric layer to the memory cell.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising

applying a negative program voltage to the first electrode, wherein the negative program voltage causes polarization of the ferroelectric layer.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the switching layer includes a chalcogenide layer and the switching layer is maintained in an amorphous state after the positive program voltage is applied.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2021
From: HAN, JAE HYUN
To: SK HYNIX INC.
Reel/Frame 055500/0603 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2020-0111938 · Sep 2, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220068384A1 · Mar 3, 2022