Patent ID: 8937832
Filing Date: 2015-01-20
Classification: G11C,H01L

Abstract:
1. A magnetic memory comprising: a memory cell including a magnetoresistive element, the magnetoresistive element comprising a first magnetic film having a magnetization perpendicular to a film surface and a variable magnetization direction, a second magnetic film having a magnetization perpendicular to the film surface and an invariable magnetization direction, a first nonmagnetic film between the first magnetic film and the second magnetic film, a magnetic field application layer including a third magnetic film provided on the first magnetic film opposite to a side of the first nonmagnetic film, the third magnetic film having a magnetization parallel to the film surface and applying a magnetic field to the first magnetic film, the magnetic field being parallel to the film surface of the first magnetic film; and an intermediate layer provided between the first magnetic film and the magnetic field application layer; a writing circuit supplying a write current to the memory cell to write data to the memory cell, the write current flowing into the first magnetic film, the second magnetic film and the magnetic field application layer; a reading circuit supplying a read current to the memory cell to read data stored in the memory cell, the read current flowing into the first magnetic film, the second magnetic film and the magnetic field application layer, a magnitude of the read current less than a magnitude of the write current; wherein a magnitude of the magnetization of the third magnetic film when the read current flows into the magnetic field application layer is larger than the magnitude of the magnetization of the third magnetic film when the write current flows into the magnetic field application layer.