Patent US3140710A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6912152B2
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Magnetic random access memory
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 2003-02-21
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Granted: 2005-06-28
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Expires: 2023-02-21
Abstract
Abstract A magnetic random access memory includes a memory cell array having memory cells using a magnetoresistive effect, a first functional line which runs in a first direction in the memory cell array and is commonly connected without an intervening select switch to one terminal of each of the memory cells, second functional lines which are arranged in correspondence with the memory cells and run in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in the memory cell array, each second functional line being connected without an intervening select switch to a corresponding memory cell, and a third functional line which is electrically insulated from the memory cells and generates a magnetic field to write data in the memory cells such that the magnetic field is shared by the memory cells.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshihisa Iwata
- 👤 Tomoki Higashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 09:14
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C11/00; G11C11/02; G11C11/14; G11C11/15; G11C11/16; G11C11/165; G11C11/1659; G11C11/1653; G11C11/1655; G11C11/1673; G11C11/1675
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A magnetic random access memory comprising: a memory cell array having memory cells using a magnetoresistive effect; a first functional line which runs in a first direction in the memory cell array and is commonly connected without an intervening select switch to one terminal of each of the memory cells; second functional lines which are arranged in correspondence with the memory cells and run in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in the memory cell array, each second functional line being connected without an intervening select switch to a corresponding memory cell; and a third functional line which is electrically insulated from the memory cells and is configured to generate a magnetic field to write data in the memory cells, wherein the magnetic field is shared by the memory cells.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
A magnetic random access memory comprising: a memory cell array having memory cells using a magnetoresistive effect; a first functional line which runs in a first direction in the memory cell array and is commonly connected without an intervening select switch to one terminal of each of the memory cells; second functional lines which are arranged in correspondence with the memory cells and run in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in the memory cell array, each second functional line being connected without an intervening select switch to a corresponding memory cell; and a third functional line which is electrically insulated from the memory cells and is configured to generate a magnetic field to write data in the memory cells, wherein the magnetic field is shared by the memory cells.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A memory according to claim 1 , wherein the memory cell array is arranged on a semiconductor substrate, and no switch element is present immediately under the memory cell array.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A memory according to claim 2 , wherein dummy interconnections which do not function as actual interconnections are arranged immediately under the memory cell array.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A memory according to claim 3 , wherein each of the dummy interconnections has the same structure as that of a gate electrode of a MOS transistor arranged at a peripheral portion of the memory cell array.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A memory according to claim 3 , wherein the dummy interconnections are arranged equidistantly, periodically, or uniformly as a whole.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A memory according to claim 1 , wherein the memory cells are arranged on a semiconductor substrate and arrayed in a direction parallel to a surface of the semiconductor substrate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A memory according to claim 6 , wherein the memory cells are arrayed in the first direction, and the first and third functional lines run in the first direction in the memory cell array.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A memory according to claim 6 , wherein when the memory cell array and the first, second, and third functional lines form one memory cell unit, stages of memory cell units are stacked on the semiconductor substrate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
A memory according to claim 8 , wherein for first and second memory cell units which are adjacent to each other in the memory cell units, the first functional line of the first memory cell unit and the third functional line of the second memory cell unit are integrated as a fourth functional line.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A memory according to claim 9 , wherein the first memory cell unit is arranged on the second memory cell unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A memory according to claim 9 , further comprising a switch circuit which determines whether the fourth functional line should function as the first functional line of the first memory cell unit or the third functional line of the second memory cell unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
A memory according to claim 9 , wherein for first and second memory cell units which are adjacent to each other in the memory cell units, the first functional lines of the first and second memory cell units are integrated as a fifth functional line.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
A memory according to claim 12 , wherein for first and second memory cell units which are adjacent to each other in the memory cell units, the third functional lines of the first and second memory cell units are integrated as a sixth functional line.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
79 words
A memory according to claim 13 , wherein each of the memory cells of the first and second memory cell units is formed from a magnetic storage element having a pinning layer whose magnetizing direction is fixed, and the magnetizing direction of the pinning layer of each of the memory cells of the first memory cell unit is different from the magnetizing direction of the pinning layer of each of the memory cells of the second memory cell unit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
A memory according to claim 13 , wherein each of the memory cells of the first and second memory cell units is formed from a magnetic storage element having a pinning layer whose magnetizing direction is fixed, and the pinning layers of the memory cells of the first and second memory cell units have the same magnetizing direction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
A memory according to claim 1 , wherein the first functional line and second functional lines are arranged immediately under the memory cells, and the third functional line is arranged immediately on the memory cells.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
A memory according to claim 16 , wherein said one terminal of each of the memory cells corresponds to an upper surface of the memory cell, another terminal of each of the memory cells corresponds to a lower surface of the memory cell, and the memory cells are arranged symmetrically with respect to a contact plug.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A memory according to claim 1 , wherein the first functional line and second functional lines are arranged immediately on the memory cells, and the third functional line is arranged immediately under the memory cells.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
56 words
A memory according to claim 18 , wherein said one terminal of each of the memory cells corresponds to a lower surface of the memory cell, another terminal of each of the memory cells corresponds to an upper surface of the memory cell, and the memory cells are arranged symmetrically with respect to a contact plug.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
A memory according to claim 17 or 19 , wherein an electrode is connected to said one terminal of each of the memory cells, and said one terminal of each of the memory cells and the first functional line are connected through a contact plug.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
A memory according to claim 1 , wherein the first functional line functions as a read line to supply a read current to the memory cells.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
A memory according to claim 21 , wherein one end of the first functional line is connected to a ground point through a column select switch.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
A memory according to claim 21 , wherein one end of the first functional line is connected to a bias line which is set to a bias potential.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
A memory according to claim 1 , wherein the second functional lines function as read lines to supply a read current to the memory cells and write lines which generate a magnetic field to write data in the memory cells.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
40 words
A memory according to claim 24 , wherein one end of each of the second functional lines is connected to a corresponding one of common lines arranged outside the memory cell array through a corresponding one of row select switches.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
A memory according to claim 25 , wherein the common lines run in the first direction.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
A memory according to claim 25 , wherein one end of each of the common lines is connected to a read circuit.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
A memory according to claim 25 , wherein one end of each of the common lines is connected to a driver, and the other end of each of the second functional lines is connected to a sinker.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
38 words
A memory according to claim 25 , wherein a driver is connected between the second functional lines and the row select switches, and a sinker is connected to the other end of each of the second functional lines.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
A memory according to claim 28 or 29 , wherein an axis of easy magnetization of MTJ elements is set in the second direction.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
78 words
A memory according to claim 24 , wherein one end of each of the second functional lines is connected, through a corresponding one of first row select switches, to a corresponding one of first common lines arranged outside the memory cell array, and the other end of each of the second functional lines is connected, through a corresponding one of second row select switches, to a corresponding one of second common lines arranged outside the memory cell array.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
A memory according to claim 31 , wherein the first and second common lines run in the first direction.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
A memory according to claim 31 , wherein one end of each of the first common lines is connected to a read circuit.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
39 words
A memory according to claim 31 , wherein one end of each of the first common lines is connected to a first driver/sinker, and one end of each of the second common lines is connected to a second driver/sinker.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
A memory according to claim 34 , wherein an axis of easy magnetization of MTJ elements is set in the first direction.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
A memory according to claim 1 , wherein drivers/sinkers are respectively connected to two ends of the third functional line.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
34 words
A memory according to claim 1 , wherein a driver is connected to one end of the third functional line, and a sinker is connected to the other end of the third functional line.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
40 words
A memory according to claim 27 or 33 , wherein the read circuit is formed from sense amplifiers which are arranged in correspondence with the second functional lines, and output buffers which are arranged in correspondence with the sense amplifiers.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
54 words
A memory according to claim 27 or 33 , wherein the read circuit is formed from sense amplifiers which are arranged in correspondence with the second functional lines, an output buffer which outputs data from one of the sense amplifiers, and a selector which is connected between the sense amplifiers and the output buffer.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
31 words
A memory according to claim 38 , wherein the sense amplifiers fix potentials of the second functional lines and detect a change in read current flowing through the second functional lines.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
31 words
A memory according to claim 38 , wherein the sense amplifiers fix potentials of the second functional lines and detect a change in read current flowing through the second functional lines.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
25 words
A memory according to claim 1 , wherein the memory cells form a read block, and data from the memory cells are simultaneously read out.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
55 words
A memory according to claim 1 , wherein each of the memory cells is formed from a magnetic storage element including a pinning layer whose magnetizing direction is fixed, a storing layer whose magnetizing direction changes in accordance with write data, and a tunneling barrier layer arranged between the pinning layer and the storing layer.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
19 words
A memory according to claim 1 , wherein 2 n (n is a natural number) memory cells are present.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
26 words
A memory according to claim 1 , wherein each of the memory cells is formed from an element which stores data using a tunneling magnetoresistive effect.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
84 words
A read method of a magnetic random access memory, comprising: using the method to the magnetic random access memory of claim 1 ; fixing all the second functional lines of claim 1 to a first potential; setting the first functional line of claim 1 to a second potential different from the second potential; individually supplying a read current to the memory cells of claim 1 ; and reading out data from the memory cells on the basis of a value of the read current.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
87 words
A write method of a magnetic random access memory, comprising: using the method to the magnetic random access memory of claim 1 ; supplying a first write current flowing in one direction to one of the second functional lines of claim 1 ; supplying a second write current having a direction depending on write data to the third functional line of claim 1 ; and writing the write data in one of the memory cells using a magnetic field generated by the first and second write currents.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
87 words
A write method of a magnetic random access memory, comprising: using the method to the magnetic random access memory of claim 1 ; supplying a first write current having a direction depending on write data to one of the second functional lines of claim 1 ; supplying a second write current flowing in one direction to the third functional line of claim 1 ; and writing the write data in one of the memory cells using a magnetic field generated by the first and second write currents.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-06-27 | 2008-12-27 | 2009-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-06-27 | 2012-12-27 | 2013-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-06-27 | 2016-12-27 | 2017-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |