Methods and systems to read a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) based memory cell based on a pulsed read current
US9455011B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 25, 2012 |
| Grant date | Sep 27, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 25, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C2013/0071
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods and systems to read a logic value stored in a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ)-based memory cell based on a pulsed read current, with time between pulses to permit the MTJ to relax towards the magnetization orientation between the pulses, which may reduce build-up of momentum within the MTJ, and which may reduce and/or eliminate inadvertent re-alignment of a magnetization orientation. A sequence of symmetric and/or non-symmetric pulses may be applied to a wordline (WL) to cause a pre-charged bit line (BL) capacitance to discharge a pulsed read current through the MTJ, resulting in a corresponding sequence of voltage changes on the BL. The BL voltage changes may be integrated over the sequence of read current pulses, and a stored logic value may be determined based on the integrated voltage changes. The pre-charged BL capacitance may also serve as the voltage integrator.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.