Patent ID: 6597618
Filing Date: 2003-07-22
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
A circuit for controlling a read operation for a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) comprising an array of magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJ) having conducting row and column lines attached thereto, the circuitry comprising:a current supply for providing a read current; a row selector for selecting a row containing a junction to be read and applying the read current to that row with the respective row line; an unselected row switch for switching to at least some of the row lines not connected to the MTJ to be read; a voltage source for applying, via the unselected row switch, a voltage to each of the unselected row lines that is of a load substantially identical to the voltage load on the selected row line; a column selector for selecting the column line connected to the array containing the MTJ to be read; and a voltage detector for detecting the voltage across the MTJ to be read via the selected column and row lines.