Patent ID: 6961261
Filing Date: 2005-11-01
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
1. A data reading method of a magnetic random access memory comprising a first block, the first block comprising a plurality of first magnetoresistive elements which read data using a magnetoresistive effect, a plurality of first word lines each of which is independently connected to one terminal of a corresponding one of the plurality of first magnetoresistive elements, a first read sub bit line commonly connected to the other terminal of each of the plurality of first magnetoresistive elements, a first block select switch whose first current path has one end connected to the first read sub bit line, and a first read main bit line connected to the other end of the first current path, a second block arranged on the same row as that of the first block and on a different column, the second block comprising a plurality of second magnetoresistive elements which read data using the magnetoresistive effect, the plurality of first word lines each of which is independently connected to one terminal of a corresponding one of the plurality of second magnetoresistive elements, a second read sub bit line commonly connected to the other terminal of each of the plurality of second magnetoresistive elements, a second block select switch whose second current path has one end connected to the second read sub bit line, and a second read main bit line connected to the other end of the second current path, a third block arranged on the same column as that of the first block and on a different row, the third block comprising a plurality of third magnetoresistive elements which read data using the magnetoresistive effect, a plurality of second word lines each of which is independently connected to one terminal of a corresponding one of the plurality of third magnetoresistive elements, a third read sub bit line commonly connected to the other terminal of each of the plurality of third magnetoresistive elements, a third block select switch whose third current path has one end connected to the third read sub bit line, and the first read main bit line connected to the other end of the third current path, a first bias circuit which is arranged around the first to third blocks and connected to the first read main bit line, a second bias circuit which is arranged around the first to third blocks and connected to the second read main bit line, and a sense amplifier which is arranged around the first to third blocks and connected to the first and second read main bit lines, comprising: in reading data of a first selected magnetoresistive element in the plurality of first magnetoresistive elements in the first block, connecting the first read main bit line to the sense amplifier; selecting, from the plurality of first word lines, a selected word line to be connected to the first selected magnetoresistive element; and supplying a first read current to the first selected magnetoresistive element and supplying a second read current to a second selected magnetoresistive element to be connected to the selected word line in the plurality of second magnetoresistive elements in the second block to cause the sense amplifier to read out data of the first selected magnetoresistive element.