Patent ID: 7099184
Filing Date: 2006-08-29
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
1. A magnetic random access memory comprising: a plurality of first signal lines provided to extend in a first direction; a plurality of second signal lines provided to extend in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction; a plurality of memory cells respectively provided at intersections of said plurality of first signal lines and said plurality of second signal lines; and a plurality of magnetic structures respectively provided for said plurality of memory cells, wherein each of said plurality of memory cells comprises a magneto-resistance element containing a spontaneous magnetization layer which has a first threshold function, and a direction of a spontaneous magnetization of said spontaneous magnetization layer is reversible when an element applied magnetic field equal to or larger than a value of the first threshold function is applied, each of said plurality of magnetic structures has a second threshold function, and generates a magnetic structure magnetic field in response to a structure applied magnetic field, and generates a first structure magnetic field as said magnetic structure magnetic field when said structure applied magnetic field is equal to or larger than a value of a second threshold function, and a second structure magnetic field, which is weaker than said first structure magnetic field, as said magnetic structure magnetic field, when said structure applied magnetic field is less than the second threshold function value, a first write current is supplied to one of said plurality of first signal lines as a first selected signal line such that a first magnetic field is generated, a second write current is supplied to one of said plurality of second signal lines as a second selected signal line such that a second magnetic field is generated, and a first synthetic magnetic field of said first magnetic field and said second magnetic field is applied to said plurality of magnetic structures as said structure applied magnetic field, and a second synthetic magnetic field of said first synthetic magnetic field and said magnetic structure magnetic field is generated as said element applied magnetic field such that said element applied magnetic field equal to or larger than the first threshold function value is applied to a selected memory cell as one of said plurality of memory cells which is provided at the intersection of said first selected signal line and said second selected signal line, and such that said element applied magnetic field less than the first threshold function value is applied to each of non-selected memory cells as ones said plurality of memory cells other than said selected memory cell.