Patent ID: 7502249

Claim:
A method for programming a magnetic memory, the magnetic memory including a plurality of magnetic storage cells and a plurality of bit lines, each of the plurality of magnetic storage cells including at least one magnetic element programmable due to spin transfer when a write current is passed through the magnetic element and at least one selection device, at least one bit line of the plurality of bit lines coupled to the at least one magnetic element of the plurality of magnetic elements, wherein at least one magnetic layer of the at least one magnetic element has in-plane anisotropy, the method comprising: driving a first current in proximity to but not through the at least one magnetic element of a portion of the plurality of magnetic storage cells, the first current being driven through a portion of the plurality of bit lines and generating a magnetic field; driving a second current through the at least one magnetic element of the portion of the plurality of magnetic storage cells, the second current and the first current being turned on at a start time, the second current and the magnetic field being sufficient to program the at least one magnetic element; wherein the at least one magnetic element makes an angle with the plurality of the bit lines in a film plane, the angle being based on the in-plane an isotropy.