Patent ID: 8159872

Claim:
A magnetic random access memory comprising: a memory cell including a first magnetoresistance element; and a reference cell including a second magnetoresistance element, which is referred to for generating a reference level at a time of data reading from said memory cell, wherein said first magnetoresistance element comprises: a first magnetization fixed layer whose magnetization direction is fixed; a first magnetization free layer whose magnetization direction is variable; a first nonmagnetic layer sandwiched between said first magnetization fixed layer and said first magnetization free layer; a second magnetization fixed layer whose magnetization direction is fixed; a second magnetization free layer whose magnetization direction is variable; and a second nonmagnetic layer sandwiched between said second magnetization fixed layer and said second magnetization free layer, wherein said first magnetization fixed layer and said first magnetization free layer have perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, said second magnetization fixed layer and said second magnetization free layer have in-plane magnetic anisotropy, said first magnetization free layer and said second magnetization free layer are magnetically coupled to each other, and center of said second magnetization free layer is displaced in a first direction from center of said first magnetization free layer in a first plane parallel to each layer, wherein said second magnetoresistance element comprises: a third magnetization free layer whose magnetization easy axis is parallel to a second direction; a third magnetization fixed layer whose magnetization direction is fixed in a third direction perpendicular to said second direction; and a third nonmagnetic layer sandwiched between said third magnetization fixed layer and said third magnetization free layer, wherein said third magnetization fixed layer and said third magnetization free layer have in-plane magnetic anisotropy.