Patent ID: 7068530

Claim:
A memory device comprising: a plurality of memory cells connected electrically in series; and a plurality of switching elements connected in parallel with said memory cells in one-to-one correspondence; wherein each of said memory cells is comprised of a magnetoresistive effect element having a plurality of magnetoresistive effect element portions; wherein said magnetoresistive effect elements are laminated on one surface side of a substrate and disposed in a direction parallel to laminated surfaces of said magnetoresistive effect elements with respect to one another; wherein said magnetoresistive effect element portions in each of said magnetoresistive effect elements are electrically connected in series so as to form an electric series connection body; wherein opposite ends of said series connection body in each of said magnetoresistive effect elements are electrically connected to a sensing current supply portion so that a sensing current for detecting a change in magnetoresistance flows in through one end of said series connection body, passes in turn through effective areas effective in changing magnetoresistance in each of said magnetoresistive effect element portions so as to penetrate said laminated surfaces, and flows out through the other end of said series connection body; and wherein each of said switching elements switches on/off between said one end and said other end of said series connection body of said magnetoresistive effect element connected in parallel with said switching element, in accordance with a signal inputted into a control input portion of said switching element.