Magnetic elements with spin engineered insertion layers and MRAM devices using the magnetic elements
First Claim
1. A magnetic element comprising:
- a pinned layer;
a spacer layer, the spacer layer being nonmagnetic;
a free layer, the spacer layer residing between the pinned layer and the free layer; and
a spin engineered layer adjacent to the free layer, the spin engineered layer being configured to more strongly scatter majority electrons than minority electrons;
wherein the magnetic element is configured to allow the free layer to be switched due to spin transfer when a write current is passed through the magnetic element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for providing a magnetic element is disclosed. The method and system include providing a pinned layer, a free layer, and a spacer layer between the pinned and free layers. The spacer layer is nonmagnetic. The magnetic element is configured to allow the free layer to be switched due to spin transfer when a write current is passed through the magnetic element. In one aspect, the method and system include providing a spin engineered layer adjacent to the free layer. The spin engineered layer is configured to more strongly scatter majority electrons than minority electrons. In another aspect, at least one of the pinned, free, and spacer layers is a spin engineered layer having an internal spin engineered layer configured to more strongly scatter majority electrons than minority electrons. In this aspect, the magnetic element may include another pinned layer and a barrier layer between the free and pinned layers.
199 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A magnetic element comprising:
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a pinned layer;
a spacer layer, the spacer layer being nonmagnetic;
a free layer, the spacer layer residing between the pinned layer and the free layer; and
a spin engineered layer adjacent to the free layer, the spin engineered layer being configured to more strongly scatter majority electrons than minority electrons;
wherein the magnetic element is configured to allow the free layer to be switched due to spin transfer when a write current is passed through the magnetic element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A magnetic element comprising:
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a pinned layer;
a spacer layer, the spacer layer being nonmagnetic;
a free layer, the spacer layer residing between the pinned layer and the free layer;
wherein at least one of the pinned layer, the spacer layer, and the free layer includes an internal spin engineered layer configured to more strongly scatter majority electrons than minority electrons;
wherein the magnetic element is configured to allow the free layer to be switched due to spin transfer when a write current is passed through the magnetic element. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A magnetic element comprising:
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a spin engineered pinned layer;
a barrier layer;
a free layer, the barrier layer residing between the spin engineered pinned layer and the free layer;
a spin engineered spacer layer, the free layer residing between the barrier layer and the spin engineered spacer layer; and
a pinned layer, the spin engineered spacer layer residing between the free layer and the pinned layer;
wherein the magnetic element is configured to allow the free layer to be switched due to spin transfer when a write current is passed through the magnetic element.
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32. A method for fabricating magnetic element comprising:
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providing a pinned layer;
providing a spacer layer, the spacer layer being nonmagnetic;
providing a free layer, the spacer layer residing between the pinned layer and the free layer; and
providing a spin engineered layer adjacent to the free layer, the spin engineered layer being configured to more strongly scatter majority electrons than minority electrons;
wherein the magnetic element is configured to allow the free layer to be switched due to spin transfer when a write current is passed through the magnetic element.
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33. A method for fabricating magnetic element comprising:
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providing a pinned layer;
providing a spacer layer, the spacer layer being nonmagnetic;
providing a free layer, the spacer layer residing between the pinned layer and the free layer;
wherein providing at least one of the pinned layer, the spacer layer, and the free layer providing includes providing an internal spin engineered layer configured to more strongly scatter majority electrons than minority electrons;
wherein the magnetic element is configured to allow the free layer to be switched due to spin transfer when a write current is passed through the magnetic element.
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34. A method for fabricating a magnetic element comprising:
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providing a spin engineered pinned layer;
providing a barrier layer;
providing a free layer, the barrier layer residing between the spin engineered pinned layer and the free layer;
providing a spin engineered spacer layer, the free layer residing between the barrier layer and the spin engineered spacer layer; and
providing a pinned layer, the spin engineered spacer layer residing between the free layer and the pinned layer;
wherein the magnetic element is configured to allow the free layer to be switched due to spin transfer when a write current is passed through the magnetic element.
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Specification