Patent ID: 8189369

Claim:
A semiconductor device comprising: a memory array which is divided into a plurality of blocks in a row direction and includes a plurality of memory cells arranged in matrix form, each of the memory cells including a magneto-resistive element whose electrical resistance varies according to magnetic data and a switch element coupled in series with the magneto-resistive element and having a control electrode; a plurality of bit lines which are provided corresponding to memory cell columns of the memory array respectively and each used for supplying a first data write current in a direction corresponding to write data in a data write operation; a plurality of digit lines which are provided in each memory cell row in each of the blocks individually and used for supplying a second data write current in a direction intersecting the first data write current in said data write operation; a plurality of word lines which are each coupled to control electrodes of switch elements included in a corresponding memory cell row of the memory array and formed with a first wiring layer; a plurality of common word lines which are provided corresponding to memory cell rows of the memory array respectively and provided common to the blocks, each of the common word lines being formed with a second wiring layer in an upper layer with respect to the word lines formed with said first wiring layer and being electrically coupled at a plurality of points to a word line provided in a corresponding memory cell row; a word line driver which is provided common to the blocks, operates with a first power supply voltage, and activates a common word line provided in the memory cell row selected in a data read operation; and a plurality of digit line drive circuits, which are provided corresponding to the respective blocks and operate with a second power supply voltage higher than said first power supply voltage, to supply the second data write current through a digit line provided in the memory cell row selected in said data write operation.