Non-volatile memory device conducting comparison operation

Abstract

The non-volatile memory device includes a current detection circuit for comparing, in data retrieve operation, storage information written in a non-volatile manner in a memory cell row with retrieval information in order to determine whether or not the storage information matches the retrieval information. The current detection circuit compares a data read current flowing through each bit line corresponding to each memory cell of a memory cell row storing the storage information with a data read current flowing through each bit line corresponding to each retrieval memory cell storing the retrieval information.

1 . A non-volatile memory device, comprising: 
 a plurality of memory cells arranged in a matrix, and each having an electric resistance varying according to storage data written in a non-volatile manner by a data write current;    a plurality of word lines provided corresponding to memory cell rows respectively;    a plurality of bit lines provided corresponding to memory cell columns respectively; and    a control circuit for conducting one of data write operation and data read operation wherein    each of data write operation and data read operation is divided into a plurality of cycles, said control circuit conducts a part of said one of data write operation and data read operation in each of said cycles by pipeline processing.    
     
     
         2 . The non-volatile memory device according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an address latch circuit for temporarily holding information for selecting a memory cell row and a memory cell column, wherein    said address latch circuit operates in synchronization with each of said plurality of cycles.    
     
     
         3 . The non-volatile memory device according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a data latch circuit for temporarily holding data transmitted between a selected memory cell and a data output node, wherein    said data latch circuit operates in synchronization with each of said plurality of cycles.