Patent · US Expired

Magnetostatically coupled magnetic elements utilizing spin transfer and an MRAM device using the magnetic element

US6847547B2 · kind B2 · utility

235Cited by
8References
33Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 28, 2003
Grant dateJan 25, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 8, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C11/16
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and system for providing a magnetic element and a corresponding memory are disclosed. In one aspect, the method and system include providing a dual spin tunnel/valve structure and at least one spin valve. The dual spin tunnel/valve structure includes a nonmagnetic spacer layer between a pinned layer and a free layer, another pinned layer and a barrier layer between the free layer and the other pinned layer. The free layers of the dual spin tunnel/valve structure and the spin valve are magnetostatically coupled. In one embodiment a separation layer resides between the dual spin tunnel/valve structure and the spin valve. In another aspect, the method and system include providing two dual spin valves, a spin tunneling junction there between and, in one embodiment, the separation layer. In both aspects, the magnetic element is configured to write to the free layers using spin transfer when a write current is passed through the magnetic element.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.