Nonvolatile memory device utilizing spin-valve-type designs and current pulses
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A memory device, comprising:
- an array of memory elements, each memory clement having a free layer and a pinned layer, the pinned layer being settable to a magnetic orientation upon application of a current pulse thereto;
wherein a positive current pulse applied to the memory element sets the pinned layer to a first magnetic orientation representing a first binary state;
wherein a negative current pulse applied to the memory element sets the pinned layer to a second magnetic orientation representing a second binary state;
wherein a binary state of each memory element is read by applying a sense current to the memory element for determining a resistance of the memory element and determining the binary state based on the resistance;
wherein the pinned layer of each memory element remains in substantially the same magnetic orientation in a nonvolatile manner until another current pulse is applied thereto.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A memory device includes a plurality of memory elements each having: an antiferromagnetic layer, a first pinned layer coupled to the antiferromagnetic layer, a nonmagnetic spacer layer coupled to the first pinned layer, a second pinned layer coupled to the spacer, and a free layer coupled to the second pinned layer. A plurality of single wiring circuits are provided, each wiring circuit being coupled to a memory element. An addressing mechanism applies current pulses to the memory elements via the single wiring circuits for writing to the memory elements. The addressing mechanism also applies a sense current to the memory elements via the single wiring circuits for reading the memory elements.
62 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A memory device, comprising:
-
an array of memory elements, each memory clement having a free layer and a pinned layer, the pinned layer being settable to a magnetic orientation upon application of a current pulse thereto;
wherein a positive current pulse applied to the memory element sets the pinned layer to a first magnetic orientation representing a first binary state;
wherein a negative current pulse applied to the memory element sets the pinned layer to a second magnetic orientation representing a second binary state;
wherein a binary state of each memory element is read by applying a sense current to the memory element for determining a resistance of the memory element and determining the binary state based on the resistance;
wherein the pinned layer of each memory element remains in substantially the same magnetic orientation in a nonvolatile manner until another current pulse is applied thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 20)
-
-
12. A memory device, comprising:
-
a plurality of memory elements each having;
an antiferromagnetic layer;
a first pinned layer coupled to the antiferromagnetic layer;
a nonmagnetic spacer layer coupled to the first pinned layer;
a second pinned layer coupled to the spacer; and
a free layer coupled to the second pinned layer;
a plurality of single wiring circuits, each wiring circuit being coupled to a memory element; and
an addressing mechanism for applying current pulses to the memory elements via the single wiring circuits for writing to the memory elements, the addressing mechanism also applying a sense current to the memory elements via the single wiring circuits for reading the memory elements, wherein the current pulses set a magnetic orientation of the pinned layers of each memory element, the pinned layers remaining in substantially the same magnetic orientation in a nonvolatile manner until another current pulse is applied thereto. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method for storing data, comprising:
-
selectively applying a current pulse to each of a plurality of memory elements, each memory element having a free layer and a pinned layer, wherein a positive current pulse sets the pinned layer to a first magnetic orientation that represents a first binary state, wherein a negative current pulse sets the pinned layer to a second magnetic orientation that represents a second binary state, wherein the pinned layer of each memory element remains in substantially the same magnetic orientation in a nonvolatile manner until another current pulse is applied thereto;
applying a sense current to the memory elements;
measuring the resistance of each memory element; and
determining the binary state of each memory element based on the resistance. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
-
Specification