Patent ID: 7791931

Claim:
A magnetic memory comprising: a plurality of magnetic storage cells, each of the plurality of magnetic storage cells including a magnetic element and a selection device coupled with the magnetic element, the magnetic element being programmed to a first state by a first write current driven through the magnetic element in a first direction and to a second state by a second write current driven through the magnetic element in a second direction; voltage supply for the magnetic memory, the voltage supply providing a supply voltage; and a plurality of bit lines coupled with the plurality of magnetic storage cells and configured to provide a negative bias for the magnetic element of the magnetic storage cell such that a voltage provided to the selection device in combination with the negative bias provides at least a bias voltage across the selection device, the bias voltage having a magnitude greater than the supply voltage, the bias voltage allowing the selection device to support the first write current and the second write current, the selection device being unable to support the first write current and unable to support the second write current without the bias voltage, the first and second write current capable of programming the magnetic element.