Raising programming currents of magnetic tunnel junctions using word line overdrive and high-k metal gate
First Claim
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1. A method of operating magneto-resistive random access memory (MRAM) cells, the method comprising:
- providing an MRAM cell comprising;
a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) device; and
a selector comprising a source-drain path serially coupled to the MTJ device;
applying an overdrive voltage to a gate of the selector to turn on the selector; and
supplying a positive power supply voltage to a logic circuit in a same chip as the MRAM cell, wherein the overdrive voltage is higher than the positive power supply voltage.
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Abstract
A method of operating magneto-resistive random access memory (MRAM) cells includes providing an MRAM cell, which includes a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) device; and a selector comprising a source-drain path serially coupled to the MTJ device. The method further includes applying an overdrive voltage to a gate of the selector to turn on the selector.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of operating magneto-resistive random access memory (MRAM) cells, the method comprising:
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providing an MRAM cell comprising; a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) device; and a selector comprising a source-drain path serially coupled to the MTJ device; applying an overdrive voltage to a gate of the selector to turn on the selector; and supplying a positive power supply voltage to a logic circuit in a same chip as the MRAM cell, wherein the overdrive voltage is higher than the positive power supply voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of operating a magneto-resistive random access memory (MRAM) array, the method comprising:
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providing a semiconductor chip comprising the MRAM array and a logic circuit, wherein the MRAM array comprises; a plurality of MRAM cells arranged as rows and columns, wherein each of the plurality of MRAM cells comprises; a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) device; and a selector comprising a source-drain path serially coupled to the MTJ device; a plurality of bit-lines parallel to each other and extending in a column direction; a plurality of source lines parallel to each other and extending in a row direction, wherein each of the plurality of MRAM cells is coupled between one of the plurality of bit-lines and one of the plurality of source lines; and a plurality of word-lines parallel to each other and extending in the row direction, wherein gates of the selectors of the plurality of MRAM cells in a same row are connected to a same one of the plurality of word-lines; providing a logic power supply voltage to operate the logic circuit; providing a pulse to one of the plurality of word-lines connected to a selected one of the plurality of MRAM cells to write the selected one of the plurality of MRAM cells, wherein the pulse has an overdrive voltage higher than the logic power supply voltage; and during a period the overdrive voltage is applied, applying a current flowing through the MTJ device of the selected one of the plurality of MRAM cells. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of operating magneto-resistive random access memory (MRAM) cells, the method comprising:
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providing an MRAM cell comprising a first end coupled to a bit-line, and a second end coupled to a source line, wherein the MRAM cell comprises; a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) device; and a selector comprising a source-drain path serially coupled to the MTJ device; applying an overdrive voltage to a gate of the selector to turn on the selector, wherein the overdrive voltage is applied in the form of a pulse; and during a period the overdrive voltage is applied, applying a current to write the MTJ device, wherein the step of applying the current comprises applying a high voltage and a low voltage to the bit-line and the source line, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification