Patent · US Active

Memory element utilizing magnetization switching caused by spin accumulation and spin RAM device using the memory element

US7613036B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
4References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 8, 2008
Grant dateNov 3, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 8, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C11/1675
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Provided is a spin memory that has excellent durability. The spin memory includes a ferromagnetic word line, a nonmagnetic bit line that crosses the ferromagnetic word line, a wiring disposed so as to be opposed to the ferromagnetic word line, and a magnetoresistive element formed between the wiring and the portion where the ferromagnetic word line and the nonmagnetic bit line cross each other. At the time of writing, current is made to flow between the ferromagnetic word line and the nonmagnetic bit line. The direction of magnetization for a free layer of the magnetoresistive element is switched by accumulating spins in the nonmagnetic bit line while the spins are injected from the ferromagnetic word line. At the time of reading, current is made to flow between the nonmagnetic bit line and the wiring, and to flow in the film-thickness direction of the magnetoresistive element.

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