Patent ID: 7120048

Claim:
A magnetoresistive (MR) memory cell comprising: a ring-shaped magnetoresistive multilayer element having a base, a top, a hole passing through the center of the element, and a curved surface at the perimeter of the element wherein the ring-shaped magnetoresistive multilayer element comprises a nonmagnetic conducting ring layer sandwiched between a first ferromagnetic layer and a second ferromagnetic layer, and wherein the coercivity of the first layer is greater than the coercivity of the second layer; and at least one write-read line, each write-read line comprising: a via passing through the hole, wherein the via is electrically isolated from the element; a top write-read line segment arranged near the top and coupled with the via, wherein the top word line extends radially from the via toward the perimeter and wherein the top write-read line is electrically isolated from the element; and a base write-read line segment arranged near the base and coupled with the via, wherein the base write-read line extends radially from the via toward the perimeter and wherein the base write-read line is electrically isolated from the element, whereby each write-read line is configured such that a current passing through the write-read line creates a magnetic field for switching a magnetic direction of a layer of the element.