Abstract: A method and system for programming a magnetic memory is disclosed. The method and system further include turning on a word line current and turning on a bit line current. The word line current is for generating at least one hard axis field. The bit line current is for generating at least one easy axis field. In one aspect, the method and system further include turning off the word line current and the bit line current such that a state of the at least one magnetic memory cell is repeatably obtained. In another aspect, the word line current is turned off after the bit line current is turned off.

Abstract: A method and system for providing magnetic memory cells in a magnetic memory is disclosed. The method and system include providing each magnetic memory element, providing a first write line and a second write line for each magnetic memory element. The magnetic memory element has a top portion and a bottom portion. The first write line is below the magnetic memory element and is electrically connected with the bottom portion of the magnetic memory element. The second write line is above the magnetic memory element. The second write line is electrically isolated from the magnetic memory element and oriented at an angle to the first write line. The magnetic memory cell allows for a simplified fabrication process, a reduced cell size, and an improved programming efficiency.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a magnetic memory including magnetic memory cells associated with a word line segment is disclosed. The magnetic memory cell includes a magnetic storage device and an isolation device. The isolation device is coupled to the magnetic tunneling junction and with a combined word line for reading and writing to the magnetic memory cell. The magnetic storage device and the isolation device are configured such that no direct current path to ground exists during the writing to the magnetic memory cell. In one aspect, in a write mode, the combined word line associated with the word line segment and the word line segment are activated. In the read mode, at least a portion of the memory cells associated with the word line segment are selected using the combined word line.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a magnetic element and a magnetic memory using the magnetic element are disclosed. The magnetic memory includes a plurality of magnetic elements. The method and system include providing a plurality of layers and a passivation layer for each of the plurality of magnetic elements. A portion of the layers in the magnetic element includes at least one magnetic layer. The plurality of layers also has a top and a plurality of sides. The passivation layer covers at least a portion of the plurality of sides.

Abstract: A method and system for programming a magnetic memory including a plurality of magnetic elements is disclosed. The method and system include sensing a temperature of the magnetic memory and providing an indication of the temperature of the magnetic memory. The method and system also include providing a current that is based on the indication of temperature of the magnetic memory. The current is temperature dependent and can be used in programming at least a portion of the magnetic elements without the addition of a separately generated current. In addition, the method and system include carrying for at least a portion of the plurality of magnetic elements. The temperature is preferably sensed by at least one temperature sensor, while the current is preferably provided by a current source coupled with the temperature sensor(s).

Abstract: A method and system for providing and using a magnetic memory are disclosed. The method and system include providing a plurality of magnetic memory cells, at least a first write line, and at least a second write line. Each of the magnetic memory cells includes a magnetic element having a top and a bottom. The first write line(s) are connected to the bottom of magnetic element of the first portion of the plurality of magnetic memory cells. The second write line(s) reside above the top of the magnetic element of each of a second portion of the magnetic memory cells. The second write line(s) are electrically insulated from the magnetic element of each of the second portion of the plurality of magnetic memory cells.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a magnetic memory are disclosed. The method and system include providing a plurality of magnetic memory cells and at least one programmable current source. Each of the plurality of magnetic memory cells includes a first magnetic element. The programmable current source(s) are for programming a portion of the plurality of magnetic memory cells. Each of the programmable current source(s) includes a controller and a current source coupled to the controller. The controller is for determining a current provided by the current source and includes at least a second magnetic element. The second magnetic element(s) are substantially the same as the first magnetic element. The controller determines the current provided by the current source based on the at least the second magnetic element.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a magnetic memory is disclosed. The method and system include providing a plurality of magnetic elements and a plurality of reference layers. Each of the magnetic elements includes a free layer and a spacer layer. Each of the reference layers is coupled with a corresponding portion of the magnetic elements. The reference layers are ferromagnetic. A portion of each reference layer functions as at least a portion of a pinned layer for each of the corresponding portion of the magnetic elements. The portion of each of the plurality of reference layers also functions as a write line for the corresponding portion of the plurality of magnetic elements. The spacer layer resides between the free layer of each of the plurality of magnetic elements and the reference layer.

Abstract: A method and system for providing and using a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) array are disclosed. The method and system include providing magnetic storage cells, global word lines and global word line segments, of global bit lines and bit line segments, and selection devices. Each word line segment is coupled with at least one global word line such that the word line segments are selectable. Each word line segment is also coupled to a portion of the magnetic storage cells. Each bit line segment is coupled with at least one global bit line such the bit line segments are selectable. Each bit line segment resides in proximity to and is used to write to a portion of the magnetic storage cells. The bit line segments and the word line segments are coupled with and selectable using the plurality of selection devices.

Abstract: A method and system for providing magnetic memory are disclosed. The method and system include providing a plurality of magnetic memory elements and providing at least one wrapped write line. Each wrapped write line includes a bottom write line and a top write line electrically connected to the bottom write line. The bottom write line resides below a portion of the plurality of magnetic elements, while the top write resides above the portion of the plurality of magnetic elements. The bottom write line carries a first current in a first direction, while the top write line carries a second current in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: A method and system for providing and using a magnetic random access memory are disclosed. The method and system include providing a plurality of magnetic memory cells, a first plurality of write lines, and a second plurality of write lines. The first plurality of write lines is a plurality of magnetic write lines. At least one of the plurality of magnetic lines and at least one of the second plurality of write lines each carrying a current for writing to at least one of the plurality of magnetic memory cells. Preferably, the plurality of magnetic write lines have soft magnetic properties and are preferably magnetic bit lines. For magnetic tunneling junction stacks within the magnetic memory cells, the magnetic bit lines are preferably significantly thicker than and closely spaced to the free layers of the magnetic memory cells.

Abstract: A method and system for providing and using a magnetic memory are disclosed. The method and system include providing a plurality of magnetic memory cells and providing at least one magnetic write line coupled with the plurality of magnetic memory cells. Each of the magnetic memory cells includes a magnetic element having a data storage layer. The data storage layer stores data magnetically. The magnetic write line(s) are magnetostatically coupled with at least the data storage layer of the magnetic element of the corresponding magnetic memory cells. Consequently, flux closure is substantially achieved for the data storage layer of each of the plurality of magnetic memory cells.

Abstract: A magnetic random access memory (MRAM) array and method for making the MRAM array are disclosed. The MRAM array includes magnetic storage cells, global word lines, magnetic word lines, read bit lines, selection devices, and write bit lines. Each magnetic word line has segments. Each segment is coupled with the global word line(s) such that each segment is separately selectable. Each segment is also coupled to a portion of the magnetic storage cells. The read bit lines are oriented at an angle with respect to the magnetic word lines. The read bit lines are coupled with the magnetic cells through the selection devices. The write bit lines are substantially parallel to the read bit lines. Preferably, the magnetic word lines include soft magnetic materials and are coupled to each magnetic storage cell through a thin, nonmagnetic layer. To reduce interference from currents in global word lines, the global word lines are also substantially parallel to the magnetic word lines.

Abstract: A method and system for reading a magnetic memory including a plurality of magnetic elements is disclosed. The method and system include determining a first resistance of at least one of the plurality of magnetic elements. The method and system also include applying a disturb magnetic field to the magnetic element(s) and determining a second resistance of the magnetic element(s) while the disturb magnetic field is applied. The method and system further include comparing the first resistance to the second resistance. Consequently, the state(s) of the magnetic element(s) can be determined without the use of a separate reference element.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a magnetic memory is disclosed. The magnetic memory includes a magnetic element. The magnetic element is written using a first write line and a second write line and resides at an intersection between the first and second write lines. The second write line is oriented at an angle to the first write line. The second write line has a top and at least one side. At least a portion of the second write line is covered by an insulating layer. A magnetic layer covers a portion of the insulating layer. The portion of the insulating layer resides between the magnetic layer and the second write line. The magnetic layer includes a soft magnetic material.

Abstract: A method and system for providing and using a magnetic memory are disclosed. The magnetic memory includes a plurality of magnetic memory cells, a plurality of magnetic write lines and a plurality of magnetic biasing structures. The plurality of magnetic write lines have a plurality of end regions. The plurality of magnetic biasing structures coupled to the plurality of end regions of the plurality of magnetic write lines.