Patent ID: 6671213
Filing Date: 2003-12-30
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
A thin film magnetic memory device comprising:a memory array having a plurality of normal memory cells and a plurality of spare memory cells each for replacing a defective memory cell in said plurality of normal memory cells, arranged in a matrix; a plurality of program units each storing redundant information of 1 bit used for the replacing of said defective memory cell; a program information read portion for reading said redundant information from said plurality of program units before executing a data read operation; and a select circuit for controlling access to said plurality of normal memory cells and said plurality of spare memory cells in accordance with said redundant information read by said program information read portion and an inputted address signal, wherein each of said program units includes two program cells each having a same configuration as a configuration of each of said normal memory cells and said spare memory cells, and said two program cells store data at different levels, respectively.