Patent ID: 7613040

Claim:
A method of switching a magnetic orientation of at least one of a plurality of magnetic memory elements in a magnetic random access device comprising: coupling a sense line to the at least one of the plurality of magnetic memory elements wherein the sense line includes a first via and a second via; and utilizing the sense line to thermally assist in switching a magnetic orientation of at least one of the plurality of magnetic memory elements, wherein utilizing the sense line to thermally assist in switching a magnetic orientation of at least one of the plurality of magnetic memory elements further comprising: coupling a current source to the sense line; and utilizing the sense line to heat at least one of the plurality of magnetic memory elements; and wherein utilizing the sense line to heat at least one of the plurality of magnetic memory elements further comprises: utilizing the current source to provide a current from the first via to the second via wherein the current heats at least one of the plurality of magnetic memory elements.