Patent ID: 6538920
Filing Date: 2003-03-25
Classification: B82Y,G11C,H01F,H01L

Abstract:
A magnetic memory cell comprising:a ferromagnetic data layer for storing a bit of data as an alterable orientation of magnetization; an intermediate layer in contact with the ferromagnetic data layer; and a soft ferromagnetic reference layer having a non-pinned orientation of magnetization and including a read conductor and a ferromagnetic cladding that completely surrounds the read conductor, the ferromagnetic cladding including a minimum thickness along a portion of the ferromagnetic cladding that is in contact with the intermediate layer, and wherein during a read operation the soft ferromagnetic reference layer is pinned-on-the-fly to a desired orientation by a read magnetic field generated by a read current flowing in the read conductor and the read magnetic field does not saturate and is substantially contained within the minimum thickness of the ferromagnetic cladding.