Magnetic elements having improved switching characteristics and magnetic memory devices using the magnetic elements
First Claim
1. A magnetic element comprising:
- a pinned layer;
a spacer layer, the spacer layer being nonferromagnetic; and
a free layer, the spacer layer residing between the pinned layer and the free layer, at least the free layer having a first end portion, a second end portion and a central portion between the first end portion and the second end portion, the first end portion, the second end portion and the central portion forming an S-shape, at least one of the first end portion and the second end portion including a curve;
wherein the magnetic element is configured to allow the free layer to be switched at least in part due to spin transfer when a write current is passed through the magnetic element.
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Abstract
A method and system for providing a magnetic element and a memory using the magnetic element are described. The method and system include providing a pinned layer, providing a spacer layer, and providing a free layer. The spacer layer is nonferromagnetic and resides between the pinned layer and the free layer. At least the free layer has a first end portion, a second end portion and a central portion between the first end portion and the second end portion. The first end portion, the second end portion and the central portion form an S-shape. At least one of the first end portion and the second end portion includes a curve. The magnetic element is also configured to allow the free layer to be switched at least in part due to spin transfer when a write current is passed through the magnetic element.
151 Citations
60 Claims
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1. A magnetic element comprising:
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a pinned layer;
a spacer layer, the spacer layer being nonferromagnetic; and
a free layer, the spacer layer residing between the pinned layer and the free layer, at least the free layer having a first end portion, a second end portion and a central portion between the first end portion and the second end portion, the first end portion, the second end portion and the central portion forming an S-shape, at least one of the first end portion and the second end portion including a curve;
wherein the magnetic element is configured to allow the free layer to be switched at least in part 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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A magnetic element comprising:
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a first ferromagnetic layer;
a spacer layer, the spacer layer being nonferromagnetic; and
a second ferromagnetic layer, the spacer layer residing between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer, at least one of the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer having a first end portion, a second end portion and a central portion between the first end portion and the second end portion, the first end portion, the second end portion and the central portion forming an S-shape, at least one of the first end portion and the second end portion including a curve;
wherein the magnetic element is configured to allow at least one of the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer to be switched at least in part due to spin transfer when a write current is passed through the magnetic element.
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30. A magnetic element comprising:
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a pinned layer;
a spacer layer, the spacer layer being nonferromagnetic; and
a free layer, the spacer layer residing between the pinned layer and the free layer, at least the free layer having an S-shape having a perimeter substantially free of corners, the S-shape further including a first end portion, a second end portion, and a central portion between the first end portion and the second end portion, the first end portion and the second end portion each having an inside curve having a first radius, an outside curve having a second radius, and an end curve having a third radius, the inside curve, the outside curve, and the end curve each forming a portion of the perimeter, the second radius being the first radius plus twice the third radius, the central portion having a first side and a second side, the first side and the second side forming another portion of the perimeter, the first side and the second side being substantially parallel and having a width equal to twice the third radius;
wherein the magnetic element is configured to allow the free layer to be switched at least in part due to spin transfer when a write current is passed through the magnetic element.
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31. A magnetic memory comprising:
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a plurality of magnetic elements, each of the plurality of magnetic elements including a pinned layer, a spacer layer, and a free layer, the spacer layer being nonferromagnetic and residing between the free layer and the pinned layer, at least the free layer having a first end portion, a second end portion and a central portion between the first end portion and the second end portion, the first end portion, the second end portion and the central portion forming an S-shape, at least one of the first end portion and the second end portion including a curve, the magnetic element being configured to allow the free layer to be switched at least in part due to spin transfer when a write current is passed through the magnetic element; and
a plurality of write lines for providing the write current. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A magnetic memory comprising:
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a plurality of magnetic elements, each of the plurality of magnetic elements including a pinned layer, a spacer layer and a free layer, the spacer layer being nonferromagnetic and residing between the free layer and the pinned layer, at least the free layer having an S-shape having a perimeter substantially free of corners, the S-shape further including a first end portion, a second end portion, and a central portion between the first end portion and the second end portion, the first end portion and the second end portion each having an inside curve having a first radius, an outside curve having a second radius, and an end curve having a third radius, the inside curve, the outside curve, and the end curve each forming a portion of the perimeter, the second radius being the first radius plus twice the third radius, the central portion having a first side and a second side, the first side and the second side forming another portion of the perimeter, the first side and the second side being substantially parallel and having a width equal to twice the third radius, the magnetic element being configured to allow the free layer to be switched at least in part due to spin transfer when a write current is passed through the magnetic element; and
a plurality of write lines for providing the write current.
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60. A method for providing a magnetic memory comprising:
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providing a pinned layer;
providing a spacer layer, the spacer layer being nonferromagnetic; and
providing a free layer, the spacer layer residing between the pinned layer and the free layer, at least the free layer having a first end portion, a second end portion and a central portion between the first end portion and the second end portion, the first end portion, the second end portion and the central portion forming an S-shape, at least one of the first end portion and the second end portion including a curve;
wherein the magnetic element is configured to allow the free layer to be switched at least in part due to spin transfer when a write current is passed through the magnetic element.
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Specification