Patent ID: 7286395

Claim:
A magnetic memory comprising: a plurality of magnetic storage cells, each of the plurality of magnetic storage cells including a magnetic element that is configured to be programmed to a high resistance state by a first write current driven through the magnetic element in a first direction and to a low resistance state by a second write current driven through the magnetic element in a second direction, the first write current and the second write current programming the magnetic element via spin transfer; at least one bit line corresponding to the plurality of magnetic storage cells; and a plurality of source lines corresponding to the plurality of magnetic storage cells; wherein the at least one bit line and the plurality of source lines are configured to drive the first write current through the magnetic element in the first direction, to drive the second write current through the magnetic element in the second direction, and to drive at least one read current through the magnetic element in a third direction that does not destabilize the low resistance state; wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction and the second direction and the third direction are the same.