Patent ID: 7936591

Claim:
A magnetoresistive random access memory, comprising: a memory cell array in which a plurality of memory cells which hold data are arranged in a first direction and a second direction; a plurality of word lines which are arranged to run in the first direction and to which a word line voltage for selecting a memory cell is applied; a plurality of bit lines which are arranged to run in the second direction and to which a read/write voltage for reading the data from or writing the data to the memory cell is applied; a plurality of source lines which are arranged to run in the second direction and to which the read/write voltage for reading the data from or writing the data to the memory cell is applied; a word line selector which selects a word line and applies the word line voltage; a driver which applies a predetermined voltage to a bit line and a source line, thereby supplying a current to the memory cell; and a read circuit which reads a first current having flowed through the memory cell and determines the data stored in the memory cell, wherein, when performing a read operation, the driver supplies a second current to second bit lines among other bit lines, which are close to a first bit line through which the first current has flowed, and the second current generates a magnetic field in a direction to suppress a write error in the memory cell from which the data is to be read, the memory cell is formed by connecting a MOSFET and a tunnel magnetoresistive element in series, the MOSFET has a gate electrode connected to the word line, and a first main electrode connected to the source line, the tunnel magnetoresistive element includes a first magnetic layer connected to the bit line, and a second magnetic layer connected to a second main electrode of the MOSFET, when performing the read operation, the driver supplies the second current to one of the second bit lines adjacent to the first bit line, and the second current generates a magnetic field in a direction to suppress a spin transfer torque generated inside the tunnel magnetoresistive element by the first current, and, when the second magnetic layer is a reference layer having a magnetization directed to the first magnetic layer, the spin transfer torque occurs in a direction from the second magnetic layer to the first magnetic layer, and the second current generates a magnetic field in a direction from the first magnetic layer to the second magnetic layer.