Patent ID: 7936631

Claim:
A non-volatile memory element comprising: an n-type semiconductor region; a p-type semiconductor region; a semiconductor light detection region formed between the n-type semiconductor region and the p-type semiconductor region, wherein a size and material of the semiconductor light detection region is selected so that the number of photo-curriers in a first spin direction and that of photo-curriers in a second spin direction opposite to the first spin direction are not equal to each other, when these photo-carriers are generated by light which is not linearly polarized; a side contact region which is made of metal, and is in contact with the n-type semiconductor region; a free layer which is made of ferromagnetic metal, and is in contact with the n-type semiconductor region, wherein a size and form of the free layer is selected so that magnetization direction of the free layer can be reversed by current flowing between the n-type semiconductor region and the pin layer through the free layer; a pin layer which is made of ferromagnetic-metal and is formed above the free layer, wherein a size, form and structure of the free layer and the pin layer are selected so that a magnetic field required to change magnetization direction of the pin layer is larger than that of the free layer; and a non-conductive tunnel-barrier region formed between the free layer and the pin layer, in which a thickness and material of the non-conductive tunnel-barrier region is selected so as to transmit electrons from the pin layer to the free layer or from the free layer to the pin layer, wherein data is stored in the memory element by using a nature of taking two magnetization directions in the free layer.