Patent ID: 8295079
Filing Date: 2012-10-23
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
1. A memory circuit comprising: a bistable circuit that stores data; and a ferromagnetic tunnel junction device that nonvolatilely stores the data stored in the bistable circuit according to a magnetization direction of a ferromagnetic electrode free layer, the data nonvolatilely stored in the ferromagnetic tunnel junction device being able to be restored to the bistable circuit, a first inverter circuit and a second inverter circuit being coupled in a ring shape in the bistable circuit, the ferromagnetic tunnel junction device being coupled to a node to which the first inverter circuit and the second inverter circuit are coupled, and the ferromagnetic tunnel junction device being coupled between the node and a control line, and becoming a high resistance as a first current flows between the node and the control line, and becoming a low resistance as a second current flows to a counter direction of the first current, wherein the control line applies a high level voltage to the ferromagnetic tunnel junction device and further applies a low level voltage lower than the high level voltage at a time differing from applying the high level voltage when nonvolatilely storing the data from the bistable circuit to the ferromagnetic tunnel junction device.