Patent · US Expired

Magnetic memory and method for optimizing write current in a magnetic memory

US6992924B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
3References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 7, 2003
Grant dateJan 31, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 27, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C2029/5006
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The invention provides methods and apparatus for for determining and providing optimum write bit line current and write word line current in an MRAM. A single reference potential is used to determine the values of the write line current and the bit line current. In determining the optimal values, asteroid curves representing bit line magnetic fields Hx generated by write bit line current IB and word line magnetic fields Hy generated by write word line current Iw for magnetization are considered, and an asteroid curve ACout is defined outside the asteroid curves of all memory cells taking manufacture variations and design margins into account. A write bit line current and a write word line current are selected such that the write current obtained by adding the write bit line current or currents and the write word line current, or the write power consumed by the bit line or lines and the write word line is minimized. Furthermore, in order to prevent multi-selection, the write bit line current and the write word line current are selected so that they generate a synthetic magnetic field on the curve between calculated points of the asteroid curve ACout.

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