Patent ID: 8837209
Filing Date: 2014-09-16
Classification: G11C,H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A magnetic memory cell comprising: a magnetoresistance effect element comprising a first ferromagnetic layer; a second ferromagnetic layer; and a nonmagnetic layer formed between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer, wherein one of the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer is a pinned layer whose magnetization direction is pinned and the other is a recording layer whose magnetization direction is variable, a selection transistor; and a mechanism that applies a voltage in series to the magnetoresistance effect element and the selection transistor, wherein a drain electrode of the selection transistor is electrically connected with the first ferromagnetic layer; the magnetoresistance effect element is placed in a first resistance value state when a current exceeding a first threshold current flows from the first ferromagnetic layer to the second ferromagnetic layer, and placed in a second resistance value state when a current exceeding a second threshold current flows from the second ferromagnetic layer to the first ferromagnetic layer; and a magnetic field application mechanism is provided that applies a magnetic field that is in inverse direction of the magnetization direction of the pinned layer to the recording layer, in accordance with reduction of the drive current of the selection transistor in applying voltage thereto so as to flow a current from the first ferromagnetic layer to the second ferromagnetic layer as compared to that in applying a voltage so as to flow a current from the second ferromagnetic layer to the first ferromagnetic layer and in order to decrease the first threshold current on flowing a current from the first ferromagnetic layer to the second ferromagnetic layer to be equal to or less than the drive current of the selection transistor.