Patent ID: 7742263

Claim:
A magnetoresistance device comprising: a magnetoresistance element including: a free ferromagnetic layer having reversible spontaneous magnetization, a fixed ferromagnetic layer having fixed spontaneous magnetization, and a tunnel dielectric layer disposed between said free and fixed ferroelectric layer; a non-magnetic conductor electrically connected to said fixed ferromagnetic layer without involving said tunnel dielectric layer to provide electrical connection between said magnetoresistance element to another element; and a diffusion barrier structure connected between said non-magnetic conductor and said fixed ferromagnetic layer, wherein said diffusion barrier structure is formed of material selected from the group consisting of: MgO x , CaO x , LiO x , and HfO x , said magnetoresistance element further includes a manganese-including antiferromagnetic layer, and said antiferromagnetic layer is positioned between said fixed ferromagnetic layer and said diffusion barrier layer.