Methods of Retaining and Refreshing Data in a Thyristor Random Access Memory

摘要

A volatile memory array using vertical thyristors is disclosed together with methods of operating the array to read, write, retain and refresh data stored therein.

主权项

1. A method of operating a volatile memory array having anode lines, cathode lines, and an array of vertical thyristors having anodes coupled to the anode lines and having cathodes coupled to the cathode lines, the method to retain stored data in all of the thyristors comprising:
applying to all anode lines a first potential; applying to all cathode lines a second potential; whereinthe difference between the first and second potentials is sufficient to keep thyristors which are on turned on.