Patent ID: 6349054
Filing Date: 2002-02-19
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
A thin film magnetic memory device, comprising:a memory array including a plurality of magnetic memory cells arranged in rows and columns, each of said plurality of magnetic memory cells having either a first or second resistance value according a storage data level thereof; a plurality of first bit lines provided corresponding to the respective columns of the magnetic memory cells; a plurality of read word lines provided corresponding to the respective rows of the magnetic memory cells, for electrically coupling the magnetic memory cells corresponding to an addressed row between said plurality of first bit lines each being set to a first voltage and a second voltage so as to pass a data read current through the magnetic memory cells; a first read data line for transmitting read data; a read gate circuit for setting a voltage of said first read data line according to a voltage on one of said plurality of first bit lines that corresponds to an addressed column; and a data read circuit for setting a level of the read data according to the voltage on the first read data line.