Thermally stable magnetic elements utilizing spin transfer and an MRAM device using the magnetic element
US6838740B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 27, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jan 4, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 25, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10B61/22
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and system for providing a magnetic element capable of being written using spin-transfer effect while being thermally stable and a magnetic memory using the magnetic element are disclosed. The magnetic element includes a first, second and third pinned layers, first and second nonmagnetic layers, a free layer and a nonmagnetic spacer layers. The first, second and third pinned layers are ferromagnetic and have first, second and third magnetizations pinned in first, second and third directions. The first and second nonmagnetic layers include first and second diffusion barriers, respectively. The first and second nonmagnetic layers are between the first and second pinned layers and the second and third pinned layers, respectively. The first and second pinned layers and the second and third pinned layers are antiferromagnetically coupled. The nonmagnetic spacer layer is conductive and resides between the free layer and the third pinned layer. In addition, performance can be further improved by doping Co containing ferromagnetic layers with Cr and/or Pt.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.