Patent ID: 8737122

Claim:
A nonvolatile memory device comprising: a magnetic memory element including a stacked body including: a first stacked unit including: a first ferromagnetic layer, a magnetization of the first ferromagnetic layer being fixed in a first direction; a second ferromagnetic layer stacked with the first ferromagnetic layer along a stacking direction, a direction of a magnetization of the second ferromagnetic layer being variable; and a first nonmagnetic layer provided between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer; and a second stacked unit stacked with the first stacked unit along the stacking direction, the second stacked unit including: a third ferromagnetic layer, a magnetization of the third ferromagnetic layer being rotated by a passed current to produce oscillation, a frequency of the oscillation changing in accordance with the direction of the magnetization of the second ferromagnetic layer; a fourth ferromagnetic layer stacked with the third ferromagnetic layer along the stacking direction, a magnetization of the fourth ferromagnetic layer being fixed in a second direction; and a second nonmagnetic layer provided between the third ferromagnetic layer and the fourth ferromagnetic layer; and a control unit including a reading unit configured to read out the direction of the magnetization of the second ferromagnetic layer by detecting the change in the frequency of the oscillation of the third ferromagnetic layer.