IP Library Granted Patent US 7,965,542
Granted Patent B2
US 7,965,542 · App. 12/015,015 · Granted Jun 21, 2011

Magnetic random access memory and write method of the same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,965,542
App. No.
12/015,015
Granted
Jun 21, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A magnetic random access memory includes a memory cell element which includes a first fixed layer, a first recording layer in which a magnetization direction reverses on the basis of a first threshold value, and a first nonmagnetic layer formed between the first fixed layer and the first recording layer, a first interconnection connected to one terminal of the memory cell element, a transistor whose current path has one end connected to the other terminal of the memory cell element, a second interconnection connected to the other end of the current path, and a first resistance change element electrically connected to the memory cell element, and having a resistance value which changes on the basis of a second threshold value.

Claims (50)

1. A magnetic random access memory comprising:

a memory cell element which includes a first fixed layer in which a magnetization direction is fixed, a first recording layer in which a magnetization direction reverses on the basis of a first threshold value, and a first nonmagnetic layer formed between the first fixed layer and the first recording layer, and in which the magnetization directions in the first fixed layer and the first recording layer take one of a parallel state and an antiparallel state in accordance with a direction of an electric current flowing between the first fixed layer and the first recording layer;

a first interconnection connected to one terminal of the memory cell element;

a transistor whose current path has one end connected to the other terminal of the memory cell element;

a second interconnection connected to the other end of the current path; and

a first resistance change element electrically connected to the memory cell element, and having a resistance value which changes on the basis of a second threshold value different from the first threshold value.

2. The memory according to claim 1 , wherein the first resistance change element comprises an anti-fuse element.

3. The memory according to claim 2 , wherein the second threshold value is an electrostatic breakdown voltage value lower than the first threshold value.

4. The memory according to claim 2 , wherein the anti-fuse element comprises a capacitor element having a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and an insulating layer formed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.

5. The memory according to claim 1 , wherein

the first resistance change element includes a second fixed layer in which a magnetization direction is fixed, a second recording layer in which a magnetization direction reverses on the basis of the second threshold value, and a second nonmagnetic layer formed between the second fixed layer and the second recording layer, and the magnetization directions in the second fixed layer and the second recording layer take one of the parallel state and the antiparallel state in accordance with a direction of an electric current flowing between the second fixed layer and the second recording layer, and

the memory cell element and the first resistance change element are connected in series.

6. The memory according to claim 5 , wherein a film thickness of the second recording layer differs from that of the first recording layer.

7. The memory according to claim 5 , wherein a material of the second recording layer differs from that of the first recording layer.

8. The memory according to claim 5 , wherein an area of a planar shape of the second recording layer differs from that of a planar shape of the first recording layer.

9. The memory according to claim 5 , wherein an aspect ratio of a planar shape of the second recording layer differs from that of a planar shape of the first recording layer.

10. The memory according to claim 1 , which further comprises a second resistance change element electrically connected to the memory cell element, and having a resistance value which changes on the basis of a third threshold value different from the first threshold value, and

in which the first resistance change element includes a second fixed layer in which a magnetization direction is fixed, a second recording layer in which a magnetization direction reverses on the basis of the second threshold value, and a second nonmagnetic layer formed between the second fixed layer and the second recording layer, and the magnetization directions in the second fixed layer and the second recording layer take one of the parallel state and the antiparallel state in accordance with a direction of an electric current flowing between the second fixed layer and the second recording layer,

the second resistance change element includes a third fixed layer in which a magnetization direction is fixed, a third recording layer in which a magnetization direction reverses on the basis of the third threshold value, and a third nonmagnetic layer formed between the third fixed layer and the third recording layer, and the magnetization directions in the third fixed layer and the third recording layer take one of the parallel state and the antiparallel state in accordance with a direction of an electric current flowing between the third fixed layer and the third recording layer,

the memory cell element, the first resistance change element, and the second resistance change element are connected in series, and

the first resistance change element is set in the antiparallel state, and the second resistance change element is set in the parallel state.

11. The memory according to claim 10 , wherein the first resistance change element and the second resistance change element are connected between one terminal of the memory cell element and the first interconnection.

12. The memory according to claim 10 , wherein the first resistance change element and the second resistance change element are connected between the other terminal of the memory cell element and one end of the current path of the transistor.

13. The memory according to claim 10 , wherein the memory cell element is connected between the first resistance change element and the second resistance change element.

14. The memory according to claim 1 , wherein

the first resistance change element includes a second fixed layer in which a magnetization direction is fixed, a second recording layer in which a magnetization direction reverses on the basis of the second threshold value, and a second nonmagnetic layer formed between the second fixed layer and the second recording layer, and the magnetization directions in the second fixed layer and the second recording layer take one of the parallel state and the antiparallel state in accordance with a direction of an electric current flowing between the second fixed layer and the second recording layer, and

the memory cell element and the first resistance change element are connected in parallel.

15. The memory according to claim 1 , wherein the first resistance change element is connected to the first interconnection in an end portion of a memory cell array including the memory cell element.

16. A write method of a magnetic random access memory comprising:

a memory cell element which includes a first fixed layer in which a magnetization direction is fixed, a first recording layer in which a magnetization direction reverses on the basis of a first threshold value, and a first nonmagnetic layer formed between the first fixed layer and the first recording layer, and in which the magnetization directions in the first fixed layer and the first recording layer take one of a parallel state and an antiparallel state in accordance with a direction of an electric current flowing between the first fixed layer and the first recording layer;

a first interconnection connected to one terminal of the memory cell element;

a transistor whose current path has one end connected to the other terminal of the memory cell element;

a second interconnection connected to the other end of the current path; and

a first resistance change element electrically connected to the memory cell element, and having a resistance value which changes on the basis of a second threshold value different from the first threshold value,

wherein when writing data in the memory cell element by supplying a write current perpendicularly to a film surface of the memory cell element,

a value of an electric current flowing through the memory cell element is changed by changing the resistance value of the first resistance change element by the write current, supplying an electric current exceeding the first threshold value to the memory cell element.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein

the first resistance change element comprises an anti-fuse element,

the second threshold value is an electrostatic breakdown voltage value lower than the first threshold value, and

the value of the electric current flowing through the memory cell element is increased by decreasing the resistance value of the anti-fuse element by the write current.

18. The method according to claim 16 , wherein

the first resistance change element includes a second fixed layer in which a magnetization direction is fixed, a second recording layer in which a magnetization direction reverses on the basis of the second threshold value, and a second nonmagnetic layer formed between the second fixed layer and the second recording layer, and the magnetization directions in the second fixed layer and the second recording layer take one of the parallel state and the antiparallel state in accordance with a direction of an electric current flowing between the second fixed layer and the second recording layer, and

the resistance value of the first resistance change element is changed by changing the first resistance change element to one of the parallel state and the antiparallel state by the write current, thereby changing the value of the electric current flowing through the memory cell element.

19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the memory cell element and the first resistance change element form one of a series circuit and a parallel circuit.

20. The method according to claim 16 , wherein

the magnetic random access memory further comprises a second resistance change element electrically connected to the memory cell element, and having a resistance value which changes on the basis of a third threshold value different from the first threshold value,

the first resistance change element includes a second fixed layer in which a magnetization direction is fixed, a second recording layer in which a magnetization direction reverses on the basis of the second threshold value, and a second nonmagnetic layer formed between the second fixed layer and the second recording layer, and the magnetization directions in the second fixed layer and the second recording layer take one of the parallel state and the antiparallel state in accordance with a direction of an electric current flowing between the second fixed layer and the second recording layer,

the second resistance change element includes a third fixed layer in which a magnetization direction is fixed, a third recording layer in which a magnetization direction reverses on the basis of the third threshold value, and a third nonmagnetic layer formed between the third fixed layer and the third recording layer, and the magnetization directions in the third fixed layer and the third recording layer take one of the parallel state and the antiparallel state in accordance with a direction of an electric current flowing between the third fixed layer and the third recording layer,

the first resistance change element is set in the antiparallel state, and the second resistance change element is set in the parallel state, and

a total resistance value of the first resistance change element and the second resistance change element is changed by setting the first resistance change element and the second resistance change element in one of the parallel state and the antiparallel state by the write current, changing the value of the electric current flowing through the memory cell element.

Assignments (4)
DE-MERGER Recorded Dec 12, 2019
From: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
To: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 051260/0291 →
MERGER Recorded Dec 12, 2019
From: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION; K.K PANGEA
To: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 051262/0776 →
CHANGE OF NAME AND ADDRESS Recorded Dec 12, 2019
From: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
To: KIOXIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 051262/0881 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2008
From: ASAO, YOSHIAKI
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Reel/Frame 020561/0327 →