Patent ID: 7106624
Filing Date: 2006-09-12
Classification: B82Y,H01F

Abstract:
1. A magnetic element comprising: a first pinned layer, the pinned layer being ferromagnetic and including a first magnetization, the first magnetization being pinned in a first direction; a nonmagnetic spacer layer, the nonmagnetic spacer layer being conductive; a free layer, the nonmagnetic spacer layer residing between the first pinned layer and the free layer, the free layer being synthetic and including a first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, and a first nonmagnetic conductive layer between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer, the first ferromagnetic layer having a second magnetization, the second ferromagnetic layer having a third magnetization; a barrier layer, the barrier layer being an insulator and having a thickness that allows electron tunneling through the barrier layer; a second pinned layer, the second pinned layer being ferromagnetic and including a fourth magnetization pinned in a second direction substantially the same as the first direction, the barrier layer being between the free layer and the second pinned layer; wherein the magnetic element is configured to allow at least one of the second magnetization and the third magnetization of the free layer to change direction due to spin transfer switching when a write current is passed through the magnetic element in current-perpendicular-to-the-plane mode.