Reference current distribution in MRAM devices
View Patent ↗A reference current distribution method and structure thereof for MRAM devices. An MRAM array includes current reference paths with substantially uniform length and resistance for all current paths flowing from the global reference current generator (GRCG) to a plurality of local current generators (LCGs), each LCG being coupled to at least one sub-array. The conductive wire segments that couple the LCGs to the GRCG are positioned such that all reference current path lengths from the GRCG to each LCG are substantially the same, ensuring that the resistance of all reference current paths is substantially the same and the amount of reference current provided by the GRCG to the LCGs is substantially the same. An advantage of an embodiment of present invention may be that the write margin is increased for the MRAM chip.
1. A semiconductor device, comprising:
a plurality of circuit sections;
a plurality of local current generator (LCG), each LCG being coupled to at least one of the circuit sections; and
a global reference current generator (GRCG), each LCG being coupled to the GRCG through a plurality of conductive lines, wherein the resistance of the conductive lines between each LCG and the GRCG is substantially the same.
2. The memory device according to claim 1 , wherein the length of the conductive lines between each LCG and the GRCG is substantially the same.
3. The memory device according to claim 1 , wherein a reference current sent from the GRCG to the plurality of LCGs is substantially the same at an input of each LCG.
4. The memory device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductive lines comprises a first segment, a second segment coupled to the first segment, and a third segment coupled to the first segment and second segment, wherein the plurality of LCGs comprises a first LCG and a second LCG, wherein the first segment and the second segment are coupled between the first LCG and the GRCG, wherein the first segment and the third segment are coupled between the second LCG and the GRCG, and wherein the resistance of second segment and third segment are substantially equal.
5. The memory device according to claim 4 , wherein the length of the second segment is substantially equal to the length of the third segment.
6. The memory device according to claim 1 , further comprising plurality of sub-arrays that including a plurality of magnetic memory cells, wherein the memory device comprises a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) device.
7. The memory device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductive lines are formed in a single material layer of the memory device.
8. The memory device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductive lines are formed in a plurality of material layers of the memory device.
9. The memory device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductive lines comprise copper, aluminum or combinations thereof.
10. The memory device according to claim 1 , wherein the LCGs are arranged in columns or rows.
11. A magnetic random access memory (MRAM) device, comprising;
a plurality of sub-arrays, each sub-array comprising:
a plurality of magnetic memory cells;
a plurality of first conductive lines disposed beneath the magnetic memory cells, the first conductive lines being positioned in a first direction; and
a plurality of second conductive lines disposed above the magnetic memory cells, the second conductive lines being positioned in a second direction;
a local current generator (LCG) coupled to each sub-array; and
a global reference current generator (GRCG) coupled to each local current generator through a plurality of third conductive lines, wherein the resistance of the third conductive lines between each LCG and the GRCG is substantially the same.
12. The MRAM device according to claim 11 , wherein the length of the third conductive lines between each LCG and the GRCG is substantially the same.
13. The MRAM device according to claim 11 , wherein a reference current sent from the GRCG to the plurality of LCGs is substantially the same at an input of each LCG.
14. The MRAM device according to claim 11 , wherein the plurality of third conductive lines comprises a first segment a second segment coupled to the first segment, and a third segment coupled to the first segment and second segment, wherein the plurality of LCGs comprises a first LCG and a second LCG, wherein the first segment and the second segment are coupled between the first LCG and the GRCG, wherein first segment and the third segment are coupled between the LCG and the GRCG, and wherein the resistance of the second segment and the third segment are substantially equal.
15. The MRAM device according to claim 14 , wherein a first write current generated by the first LCG is substantially equal to a second write current generated by the second LCG.
16. The MRAM device according to claim 14 , wherein the length of the second segment is substantially equal to the length of the third segment.
17. The MRAM device according to claim 11 , wherein the plurality of third conductive lines are formed in a single material layer of the MRAM device.
18. The MRAM device according to claim 11 , wherein the plurality of third conductive lines are formed in a plurality of material layers of the MRAM device.
19. The MRAM device according to claim 11 , wherein the plurality of third conductive lines comprise copper, aluminum or combinations thereof.
20. The MRAM device according to claim 11 , wherein the LCGs are ranged in columns or rows.
21. In a semiconductor memory device comprising a plurality of local current generator (LCGs) coupled to a global reference current generator (GRCG), a method of distributing current comprises:
flowing current through a first current path from the GRCG to a first LCG; and
flowing current through a second current path from the GRCG to a second LCG, the second current path having the same resistance as the first current path.
22. The method according to claim 21 , wherein the second current path has the same length as the first current path.
23. The method according to claim 21 , further comprising:
flowing current through a third current path from the GRCG to a third LRCG circuit, the third current pat having the same resistance as the first and second current paths; and
flowing current through a fourth current path from the GRCG to a fourth LRCG circuit, the fourth current path having the same resistance as the first, second and third current paths.
24. The method according to claim 23 , wherein the second current path, the third current path and the fourth current path have the same length as the first current path.
25. The method according to claim 23 , wherein the first and second current paths are coupled at a first point, and wherein the third and fourth current paths are coupled at a second point.
26. The method according to claim 25 , wherein the first and second current paths are coupled with the third and fourth current paths at a third point.
27. The method according to claim 21 , wherein the first and second current paths are coupled at a first point.