Quantum random address memory with magnetic readout and/or nano-memory elements

• US 6,016,269 A
• Filed: 09/30/1998
• Issued: 01/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chen, Eugene Y., Peterson, William M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, V A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lam, David
• Application Number:
  US09/163,880
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 365/171, 365/151, 365/153, 365/157, 365/158, 365/148, 365/162
• US Class Current: 365/171
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 11/15 using multiple magnetic layers G11C11/155 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 11/155 with cylindrical configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 11/161 details concerning the memory cell structure, e.g. the layers of the ferromagnetic memory cell
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 11/1653 Address circuits or decoders
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 11/1673 Reading or sensing circuits or methods
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 8/16 Multiple access memory array, e.g. addressing one storage element via at least two independent addressing line groups
• CPC Class Codes: H10B 61/10 comprising components having two electrodes, e.g. diodes or MIM elements

Abstract

Quantum random address memory apparatus including a low dimensional plurality of address ports, a plurality of magnetic nano-memory elements, mixer elements coupling the address ports to a high dimensional plurality of the plurality of magnetic nano-memory elements, and data output ports and structure coupled to the plurality of magnetic nano-memory elements. The high dimensional plurality of magnetic nano-memory elements is greater than the low dimensional plurality of address ports by a number resulting in substantially error free memory recalls.

Claims

1. A quantum random address memory comprising:

a plurality of address ports providing a low dimensional plurality of addresses;

data output structure;

a plurality of magnetic nano-memory elements;

a plurality of pseudo-randomly positioned, non-linear mixer elements coupling one of the plurality of address ports and the data output structure to a high dimensional plurality of the plurality of magnetic nano-memory elements; and

the other of the plurality of address ports and the data output structure being coupled to the plurality of magnetic nano-memory elements, wherein the high dimensional plurality of magnetic nano-memory elements is greater than the low dimensional plurality of addresses.

2. Quantum random address memory apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the high dimensional plurality of magnetic nano-memory elements is greater than the low dimensional plurality of addresses by at least a factor of 40.

3. Quantum random address memory apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of magnetic nano-memory elements are pseudo-randomly placed on a support structure.

4. Quantum random address memory apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the magnetic nano-memory elements each include one of a plurality of spherical magnetic tunnel junctions and a plurality of layered magnetic tunnel junctions.

5. Quantum random address memory apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the plurality of spherical magnetic tunnel junctions each include a sphere of temporarily magnetizable magnetic material and a sphere of permanently magnetized ferro-magnetic material, one of the sphere of temporarily magnetizable magnetic material and the sphere of permanently magnetized ferro-magnetic material having thereon a layer of tunnel barrier material, and the sphere of temporarily magnetizable magnetic material and the sphere of permanently magnetized ferro-magnetic material being held in juxtaposition with the layer of tunnel barrier material positioned therebetween.

6. Quantum random address memory apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the plurality of layered magnetic tunnel junctions each include a first layer of magnetic material having a fixed magnetic vector, a layer of insulating material positioned on the first layer of magnetic material, and a second layer of magnetic material positioned on the layer of insulating material, the second layer of magnetic material having a free magnetic vector, the second layer of magnetic material being positioned adjacent the plurality of pseudo-randomly positioned, non-linear mixer elements.

7. Quantum random address memory apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the data output structure includes a first layer of magnetic material with a plurality of magnetized areas each having a fixed magnetic vector, a layer of insulating material positioned on the first layer of magnetic material, and a second layer of magnetic material positioned on the layer of insulating material, the second layer of magnetic material having a plurality of magnetized areas each having a free magnetic vector with the plurality of magnetized areas of the second magnetic layer overlying the plurality of magnetized areas of the first magnetic layer, the second layer of magnetic material being positioned adjacent one of the plurality of pseudo-randomly positioned, non-linear mixer elements and the plurality of magnetic nano-memory elements.

8. Quantum random address memory apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the data output structure includes a first layer of magneto-resistive material with a plurality of magnetized areas each having a fixed magnetic vector, a layer of electrically conducting material positioned on the first layer of magneto-resistive material, and a second layer of magneto-resistive material positioned on the layer of conducting material, the second layer of magnetoresistive material having a plurality of magnetized areas each having a free magnetic vector with the plurality of magnetized areas of the second magneto-resistive layer overlying the plurality of magnetized areas of the first magneto-resistive layer, the second layer of magnetoresistive material being positioned adjacent one of the plurality of pseudo-randomly positioned, non-linear mixer elements and the plurality of magnetic nano-memory elements.

9. A quantum random address memory comprising:

a plurality of address ports providing a low dimensional plurality of addresses;

data output structure including a magnetic readout;

a plurality of nano-memory elements;

a plurality of randomly positioned, non-linear mixer elements coupling one of the plurality of address ports and the data output structure to a high dimensional plurality of the plurality of nano-memory elements; and

the other of the plurality of address ports and the data output structure being coupled to the plurality of nano-memory elements, wherein the high dimensional plurality of nano-memory elements is greater than the low dimensional plurality of addresses.

10. Quantum random address memory apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the magnetic readout of the data output structure includes layers of one of magnetic tunnel junctions and magneto-resistive material.

11. Quantum random address memory apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the magnetic readout includes a first layer of magnetic material with a plurality of magnetized areas each having a fixed magnetic vector, a layer of insulating material positioned on the first layer of magnetic material, and a second layer of magnetic material positioned on the layer of insulating material, the second layer of magnetic material having a plurality of magnetized areas each having a free magnetic vector with the plurality of magnetized areas of the second magnetic layer overlying the plurality of magnetized areas of the first magnetic layer, the second layer of magnetic material being positioned adjacent one of the plurality of pseudo-randomly positioned, non-linear mixer elements and the plurality of nano-memory elements.

12. Quantum random address memory apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the data output structure includes a first layer of magneto-resistive material with a plurality of magnetized areas each having a fixed magnetic vector, a layer of electrically conducting material positioned on the first layer of magneto-resistive material, and a second layer of magneto-resistive material positioned on the layer of conducting material, the second layer of magnetoresistive material having a plurality of magnetized areas each having a free magnetic vector with the plurality of magnetized areas of the second magneto-resistive layer overlying the plurality of magnetized areas of the first magneto-resistive layer, the second layer of magnetoresistive material being positioned adjacent one of the plurality of pseudo-randomly positioned, non-linear mixer elements and the plurality of nano-memory elements.

13. Quantum random address memory apparatus comprising:

a plurality of address ports providing a low dimensional plurality of addresses;

a plurality of nano-memory magnetic tunnel junction elements pseudo-randomly placed on a support structure;

pseudo-randomly positioned, non-linear mixer elements coupling the address ports to a high dimensional plurality of the plurality of nano-memory magnetic tunnel junction elements;

similarity or comparison structure coupled to the plurality of nano-memory magnetic tunnel junction elements for detecting a read-out pattern of the plurality of nano-memory magnetic tunnel junction elements for each address applied to the plurality of address ports; and

data output ports coupled to the similarity or comparison structure for providing an output signal for each address applied to the plurality of address ports, wherein the high dimensional plurality of nano-memory magnetic tunnel junction elements is greater than the low dimensional plurality of addresses by a number resulting in substantially error free memory recalls.

14. Quantum random address memory apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the high dimensional plurality of nano-memory magnetic tunnel junction elements is greater than the low dimensional plurality of addresses by at least a factor of 40.

15. Quantum random address memory apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the nano-memory magnetic tunnel junction elements each include one of spherical magnetic tunnel junctions and layered magnetic tunnel junctions.

16. Quantum random address memory apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the similarity or comparison structure includes layers of magneto-resistive material.

17. Quantum random address memory apparatus comprising a volume containing pseudo-randomly meandering insulation coated electrical conductors and pseudo-randomly placed magnetic elements.