Patent ID: 6829161
Filing Date: 2004-12-07
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
A magnetic element comprising:a spin tunneling junction having a first free layer, a barrier layer and a first pinned layer, the first pinned layer being ferromagnetic and having a first pinned layer magnetization, the first pinned layer magnetization being pinned in a first direction, the first free layer being ferromagnetic and having a first free layer magnetization, the barrier layer being an insulator and having a thickness that allows tunneling through the barrier layer, the barrier layer also residing between the first pinned layer and the first free layer; a spin valve having a second pinned layer, a nonmagnetic spacer layer and a second free layer, the second pinned layer being ferromagnetic and having a second pinned layer magnetization, the second pinned layer magnetization being pinned in a second direction, the second free layer being ferromagnetic and having a second free layer magnetization, the nonmagnetic spacer layer being conductive and residing between the second free layer and the second pinned layer; a separation layer residing between the first free layer of the spin tunneling junction and the second free layer of the spin valve, the separation layer being configured to allow the first free layer and the second free layer to be magnetostatically coupled; wherein the magnetic element is configured to allow the second free layer magnetization to change direction due to spin transfer when a write current is passed through the magnetic element.