Patent ID: 7023724
Filing Date: 2006-04-04
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
1. A method of reading a binary state of a storage layer of a multilayer magnetoresistive tunneling element, the method comprising: applying a first externally generated magnetic field in a first direct ion to a sense layer of the tunneling element; applying a first voltage perpendicularly across the layers of the tunneling element, the layers comprising a nonmagnetic non-conducting barrier layer sandwiched between the storage layer and the sense layer, wherein the applied first voltage is useful in obtaining a first metric indicative of a first resistivity of the tunneling element; applying a second externally generated magnetic field in a second direction to the sense layer of the tunneling element, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction; applying a second voltage perpendicularly across the layers of the tunneling element, wherein the applied second voltage is useful in obtaining a second metric indicative of a second resistivity of the tunneling element; and determining the binary state of the storage layer.