Patent · US Expired

Thin film magnetic memory device provided with a dummy cell for data read reference

US7233537B2 · kind B2 · utility

43Cited by
4References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 1, 2002
Grant dateJun 19, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 27, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C2207/2281
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Normal memory cells and dummy cells are arranged continuously in a memory array. In a data read operation, first and second data lines are connected to the selected memory cell and the dummy cell, respectively, and are supplied with operation currents of a differential amplifier. An offset corresponding to a voltage difference between first and second offset control voltages applied from voltage generating circuits are provided between passing currents of the first and second data lines, and a reference current passing through the dummy cell is set to a level intermediate between two kinds of levels corresponding to storage data of a data read current passing through the selected memory cell.

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