IP Library Granted Patent US 9,324,936
Granted Patent B2
US 9,324,936 · App. 14/431,140 · Granted Apr 26, 2016

Magnetic logic unit (MLU) cell and amplifier having a linear magnetic signal

Inventors: Ioan Lucian Prejbeanu (Seyssinet Pariset, FR); Bernard Dieny (Lans-en-Vercors, FR); Kenneth MacKay (Le Sappey en Chartreuse, FR); Bertrand Cambou (Palo Alto, CA)
Assignee: CROCUS TECHNOLOGY SA
H01L43/02G11C11/16G11C11/1675H01L43/10H03F15/00H03K19/18
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,324,936
App. No.
14/431,140
Granted
Apr 26, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A magnetic logic unit (MLU) cell includes a first and second magnetic tunnel junction, each including a first magnetic layer having a first magnetization, a second magnetic layer having a second magnetization, and a barrier layer; and a field line for passing a field current such as to generate an external magnetic field adapted to adjust the first magnetization. The first and second magnetic layers and the barrier layer are arranged such that the first magnetization is magnetically coupled antiparallel with the second magnetization through the barrier layer. The MLU cell also includes a biasing device arranged for applying a static biasing magnetic field oriented substantially parallel to the external magnetic field such as to orient the first magnetization at about 90° relative to the second magnetization, the first and second magnetizations being oriented symmetrically relative to the direction of the external magnetic field.

Claims (25)

1. Magnetic logic unit (MLU) cell comprising:

a first magnetic tunnel junction and a second magnetic tunnel junction, each magnetic tunnel junction comprising a first magnetic layer having a first magnetization, a second magnetic layer having a second magnetization, and a barrier layer between the first and second magnetic layers;

a strap, electrically connecting the magnetic tunnel junction in series with the second magnetic tunnel junction; and

a field line for passing a field current such as to generate an external magnetic field adapted to adjust the first magnetization;

the first and second magnetic layers and the barrier layer being arranged such that the first magnetization is magnetically coupled antiparallel with the second magnetization through the barrier layer;

the MLU cell further comprising a biasing device arranged for applying a static biasing magnetic field oriented substantially parallel to the external magnetic field such as to orient the first magnetization at about 90° relative to the second magnetization, the first and second magnetizations being oriented symmetrically relative to the direction of the external magnetic field.

2. The MLU cell according to claim 1 , wherein

the biasing device comprises a permanent magnet arranged for applying the static biasing magnetic field.

3. The MLU cell according to claim 1 , wherein

the biasing device comprises a biasing layer included in the magnetic tunnel junction and arranged for applying the static biasing magnetic field.

4. The MLU cell according to claim 3 , wherein

the biasing layer comprises a permanent magnet.

5. The MLU cell according to claim 4 , wherein

the biasing layer comprises a FePt or a CoCr alloy.

6. The MLU cell according to claim 3 , wherein

the biasing layer comprises an exchange biased pinned layer comprising a third magnetic layer and an antiferromagnetic layer, and wherein

the antiferromagnetic layer exchange-couples the third magnetic layer such that a magnetization of the magnetic layer is oriented substantially parallel to the direction of the external magnetic field.

7. The MLU cell according to claim 6 , wherein

the magnetic layer comprises a CoFe-based alloy.

8. The MLU cell according to claim 6 , wherein

the antiferromagnetic layer comprises a PtMn-based alloy.

9. The MLU cell according to claim 6 , wherein

the biasing layer comprises a plurality of multilayer comprising the magnetic layer and antiferromagnetic layer.

10. MLU amplifier comprising a plurality of MLU cells, each MLU cell comprising: a first magnetic tunnel junction and a second magnetic tunnel junction, each magnetic tunnel junction comprising a first magnetic layer having a first magnetization, a second magnetic layer having a second magnetization, and a barrier layer between the first and second magnetic layers; a strap, electrically connecting the magnetic tunnel junction in series with the second magnetic tunnel junction; and a field line for passing a field current such as to generate an external magnetic field adapted to adjust the first magnetization; the first and second magnetic layers and the barrier layer being arranged such that the first magnetization is magnetically coupled antiparallel with the second magnetization through the barrier layer; the MLU cell further comprising a biasing device arranged for applying a static biasing magnetic field oriented substantially parallel to the external magnetic field such as to orient the first magnetization at about 90° relative to the second magnetization, the first and second magnetizations being oriented symmetrically relative to the direction of the external magnetic field;

wherein the MLU cells are electrically connected in series via a current line.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 18, 2024
From: CROCUS TECHNOLOGY SA
To: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 066350/0669 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 30, 2023
From: LLC "SBERBANK INVESTMENTS"
To: CROCUS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 064783/0420 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: CROCUS TECHNOLOGY SA
To: CROCUS TECHNOLOGY SA
Reel/Frame 064658/0730 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 13, 2018
From: CROCUS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: LLC "SBERBANK INVESTMENTS"
Reel/Frame 045938/0810 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2015
From: PREJBEANU, IOAN LUCIAN; DIENY, BERNARD; MACKAY, KENNETH; CAMBOU, BERTRAND
To: CROCUS TECHNOLOGY SA
Reel/Frame 036077/0353 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 12290316 · Sep 25, 2012 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150270479A1 · Sep 24, 2015