Patent ID: 6999341
Filing Date: 2006-02-14
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
1. A thin-film magnetic memory device comprising: a memory array including a plurality of memory cells arranged in rows and columns, each of said memory cells having an electric resistance varying in accordance with storage data magnetically written by first and second data write currents; a plurality of write digit lines provided corresponding to memory cell rows, respectively, and each being activated to pass said first data write current in the row direction; a plurality of write bit lines provided corresponding to memory cell columns, respectively, and each being activated to pass said second data write current in the column direction; a plurality of word lines provided corresponding to said memory cell rows for activating a selected row including the memory cell selected as a data read target, respectively; and a row selecting portion for executing the row selection in said memory array, wherein said row selecting portion includes: a row decode circuit for decoding a row address, a plurality of word line select circuits provided corresponding to said word lines, respectively, each for activating corresponding one of said word lines based on results of decoding of the corresponding memory cell row in a data read operation, and a plurality of write digit line select circuits provided corresponding to said write digit lines, respectively, each for activating corresponding one of said write digit lines based on said results of decoding of said corresponding memory cell rows in a data write operation, wherein said thin-film magnetic memory device further comprises: a plurality of main word lines each arranged for the memory cell rows of L (L: natural number more than one) in number and being selectively activated in accordance with said row address; select lines transmitting signals for selecting one of the memory cell rows of L in number corresponding to the one main word line in accordance with said row address; and sub-word drivers each provided corresponding to the one word line and the one write digit line in common, for transmitting said results of decoding to corresponding one of said word lines and corresponding one of said write digit lines in accordance with corresponding one of said main word line and said select lines.