Patent ID: 6577528
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
In an MRAM memory configuration having a plurality of magnetoresistive memory cells with associated bit lines and word lines respectively running in a row direction and a column direction and crossing one another at respective ones of said magnetoresistive memory cells, a circuit configuration for controlling write operations and read operations, comprising:column select lines for providing column select signals; selection transistors connected to the bit lines, said selection transistors having respective control electrodes connected to said column select lines and being controllable via the column select signals; given ones of said selection transistors being first selection transistors, each of the bit lines having ends and having a respective one of said first selection transistors provided at the ends of each of the bit lines on both sides of each of the magnetoresistive memory cells; read/write amplifiers having respective current sources and current sinks; output lines connected to said read/write amplifiers; said first selection transistors being grouped in sections including equal numbers of said first selection transistors, said first selection transistors of each of said sections being jointly connected, at the ends of the bit lines, to a respective interacting pair of said read/write amplifiers via those electrode terminals of said first selection transistors that are not connected to the bit lines; and said read/write amplifiers being controlled such that if a write signal is fed thereto, write currents for writing one of a logic â€œ1â€  and a logic â€œ0â€  flow selectively in a first direction and in a second direction opposite thereto in all of the bit lines selected by a corresponding column select signal on a respective one of said column select lines and, if a read signal is fed in, a logic state stored in a selected one of the magnetoresistive memory cells can be read out via a given one of said output lines.