Patent ID: 6611454
Filing Date: 2003-08-26
Classification: G11C,H01L

Abstract:
A thin film magnetic memory device capable of writing input data of a plurality of bits in parallel, comprising:a memory array including a plurality of magnetic memory cells arranged in rows and columns, wherein each of said plurality of magnetic memory cells includes a storage portion having an electric resistance value varying according to a data level that is written according to combination of first and second data write magnetic fields respectively applied by first and second data write currents, said memory array is divided into a plurality of memory blocks, one of said plurality of memory blocks being selected in a data write operation, and each of said plurality of memory blocks includes k first bit lines respectively corresponding to the columns of said plurality of magnetic memory cells, for passing said first data write current therethrough (where k is an integer at least 2), a block selection gate for coupling first and second nodes to first and second voltages, respectively, when a corresponding one of said plurality of memory blocks is selected, and a first bit-line current switching portion for connecting said k first bit lines in series between said first and second nodes in said data write operation so that said first data write current flows through each of said k first bit lines in a direction corresponding to a respective data level of k-bit input data, said thin film magnetic memory device further comprising: a plurality of write word lines respectively corresponding to the rows of said magnetic memory cells, and selectively activated in said data write operation according to a row selection result, for passing said second data write current therethrough.