Patent ID: 6529404
Filing Date: 2003-03-04
Classification: B82Y,G11C,H01L

Abstract:
A thin film magnetic memory device comprising:a memory array having a plurality of magnetic memory cells arranged in rows and columns, each of said plurality of magnetic memory cells including: a storage part having a resistance value varying with the level of stored data written when data write fields applied by first and second data write currents are larger than a prescribed magnetic field, and a memory cell selection gate for passing a data read current through said storage part in data reading; a plurality of write word lines provided in correspondence to said rows of said magnetic memory cells respectively and selectively activated in response to a result of row selection for feeding said first data write current in data writing; a plurality of read word lines provided in correspondence to said rows respectively for operating the corresponding memory cell selection gates in response to a result of row selection in said data reading; a plurality of reference lines for connecting each said storage part with a predetermined voltage; and a plurality of data lines provided in correspondence to said columns of said magnetic memory cells respectively for feeding said second data write current and said data read current in said data writing and said data reading respectively, wherein each of said plurality of data lines being electrically connected with the storage parts through said memory cell selection gates belonging to a corresponding one of said columns, said plurality of data lines being set to a first voltage before execution of said data reading.