Abstract: A magnetoresistive-based device and method of manufacturing a magnetoresistive-based device using one or more hard masks. The process of manufacture, in one embodiment, includes patterning a mask, after patterning the mask, etching (a) through a first layer of electrically conductive material to form an electrically conductive electrode and (b) through a third layer of ferromagnetic material to provide sidewalls of the second synthetic antiferromagnetic structure. The process further includes providing insulating material on or over the sidewalls of the second synthetic antiferromagnetic structure and, thereafter, etching through (a) a second tunnel barrier layer to provide sidewalls thereof, (b) a second layer of ferromagnetic material to provide sidewalls thereof, (c) a first tunnel barrier layer to provide sidewalls thereof, and (d) a first layer of ferromagnetic material to provide sidewalls of the first synthetic antiferromagnetic structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure is drawn to, among other things, a method of fabricating an integrated circuit device having a magnetoresistive device. In some aspects, the method includes forming the magnetoresistive device on a first contact of a substrate, wherein the magnetoresistive device includes a fixed magnetic region and a free magnetic region separated by an intermediate region; depositing a first dielectric material over the magnetoresistive device; depositing a second dielectric material over the first dielectric material; polishing a surface of the second dielectric material; forming a first cavity through the polished surface of the second dielectric material to expose a surface of the magnetoresistive device; and depositing an electrically conductive material in the first cavity to form a via.

Abstract: In a spin-torque magnetic random access memory (MRAM) that includes local source lines, auto-booting of the word line is used to reduce power consumption by reusing charge already present from driving a plurality of bit lines during writing operations. Auto-booting is accomplished by first driving a global word line to a first voltage. Driving the global word line to a first voltage results in a second voltage passed to the word lines. Subsequent driving of the plurality of bit lines that are capacitively coupled to the word line causes the word line voltage to be increased to a level desired to allow sufficient current to flow through a selected memory cell to write information into the selected memory cell.

Abstract: A semiconductor process integrates three bridge circuits, each include magnetoresistive sensors coupled as a Wheatstone bridge on a single chip to sense a magnetic field in three orthogonal directions. The process includes various deposition and etch steps forming the magnetoresistive sensors and a plurality of flux guides on one of the three bridge circuits for transferring a “Z” axis magnetic field onto sensors orientated in the XY plane.

Abstract: The present disclosure is drawn to, among other things, a magnetic memory. The magnetic memory comprises a first common line, a second common line, and a memory cell. The magnetic memory further includes a bias voltage generation circuit and a voltage driver. The bias voltage generation circuit and the voltage driver are configured to provide driving voltages to the memory cell during access operations.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive device may include multiple magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) stacks separated from each other by one or more dielectric material layers and electrically conductive vias extending through the one more dielectric material layers. Each MTJ stack may include multiple MTJ bits arranged one on top of another and the electrically conductive vias may be configured to electrically access each MTJ bit of the multiple MTJ stacks.

Abstract: In some examples, a communications device includes a magnetic memory accessible by both a central processing unit and a digital signal processor to enable the central processing unit to assist the digital signal processor in establishing and maintaining a communication channel. The communication device is configured to re-establish communications in the event of an interruption in the communication channel or if the communication device experiences a power loss event.

Abstract: Techniques and circuits for testing and configuring bias voltage or bias current for write operations in memory devices are presented. Registers and nonvolatile storage is included on the memory devices for storing values used to control testing of the memory devices as well as for configuring parameters related to both testing and normal operation.

Abstract: A chopping technique, and associated structure, is implemented to cancel the magnetic 1/f noise contribution in a Tunneling Magnetoresistance (TMR) field sensor. The TMR field sensor comprises a first bridge circuit including multiple TMR elements to sense a magnetic field and a second circuit to apply a bipolar current pulse adjacent to each TMR element. The current lines are serially or sequentially connected to a current source to receive the bipolar current pulse. The field sensor has an output comprising a high output and a low output in response to the bipolar pulse. This asymmetric response allows a chopping technique for 1/f noise reduction in the field sensor.

Abstract: A memory having a delayed write-back to the array of data corresponding to a previously opened page allows delays associated with write-back operations to be avoided. After an initial activation opens a first page and the read/write operations for that page are complete, write-back of the open page to the array of memory cells is delayed until after completion of a subsequent activate operation that opens a new page. Techniques to force a write-back in the absence of another activate operation are also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems are disclosed for performing bit error correction on a data stream. In some aspects, the described systems and methods may include a plurality of memory devices, a first interface, and a field programmable gate array. The field programmable gate array may include a memory controller and a plurality of re-programmable gates. At least one of the re-programmable gates may be configured as a read-only memory (ROM) to store a syndrome decode memory table, wherein the syndrome decode memory table may be configured to perform bit error correction on the data stream being read and/or written to at least one memory device of the plurality of memory devices via the first interface.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive element (e.g., a spin-torque magnetoresistive memory element) includes a fixed magnetic layer, a free magnetic layer, having a high-iron alloy interface region located along a surface of the free magnetic layer, wherein the high-iron alloy interface region has at least 50% iron by atomic composition, and a first dielectric, disposed between the fixed magnetic layer and the free magnetic layer. The magnetoresistive element further includes a second dielectric, having a first surface that is in contact with the surface of the free magnetic layer, and an electrode, disposed between the second dielectric and a conductor. The electrode includes: (i) a non-ferromagnetic portion having a surface that is in contact with a second surface of the second dielectric, and (ii) a second portion having at least one ferromagnetic material disposed between the non-ferromagnetic portion of the electrode and the conductor.

Abstract: In some examples, a memory device includes memory arrays configured to store pages of data organized into multiple ECC words. The memory device also includes at least one input/output pad for each ECC word associated with a page, such that a first level of error correction may be performed by the memory device on each of the ECC words associated with a page and a second level of error correction may be performed on the data output by each of the input/output pads during a particular period of time. Each of the one or more input/output pads of the memory device may be configured to provide only one bit of data per ECC word to an external source during an access from an external source.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive memory device that stores data in the synthetic antiferromagnet (SAF) included in each spin-torque memory cell provides for more robust data storage. In normal operation, the memory cells use the free portion of the memory cell for data storage. Techniques for storing data in the reference portions of memory cells are presented, where an unbalanced SAF that includes ferromagnetic layers having different magnetic moments is used to lower the switching barrier for the SAF and allow for writing data values to the SAF using lower currents and magnetic fields than would be required for a balanced SAF.

Abstract: Once a delay locked loop has been locked to a clock signal, an omitted clock cycle is injected into the input of the delay locked loop without stopping the operation of the delay locked loop. The omitted cycle is later detected at an output of the delay locked loop, and the delay between the input and output is determined based on the time the omitted cycle requires to propagate through the delay locked loop. Once determined, the number of cycles of delay for the delay locked loop can be used in conjunction with an internal clock signal to launch data and/or data strobes from memory devices and memory controllers such that the proper phase alignment and clock cycle alignment is achieved.

Abstract: Spin-orbit-torque (SOT) segments are provided along the sides of free layers in magnetoresistive devices that include magnetic tunnel junctions. Current flowing through such SOT segments injects spin current into the free layers such that spin torque is applied to the free layers. The spin torque can be used as an assist to spin-transfer torque generated by current flowing vertically through the magnetic tunnel junction in order to improve the efficiency of the switching current applied to the magnetoresistive device.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a magnetoresistive device includes etching a magnetoresistive stack using a first etching process to form one or more sidewalls, and etching the stack using a second etching process after forming the one or more sidewalls. Wherein, the second etching process may be relatively more isotropic than the first etching process.

Abstract: A magnetically free region of magnetoresistive device includes at least a first ferromagnetic region and a second ferromagnetic region separated by a non-magnetic insertion region. At least one of the first ferromagnetic region and the second ferromagnetic region may include at least a boron-rich ferromagnetic layer positioned proximate a boron-free ferromagnetic layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure is drawn to, among other things, a magnetoresistive memory. The magnetoresistive memory comprises a first memory cell, a first clock-generating circuit, and a second clock-generating circuit. The first clock-generating circuit is configured to provide a first output signal and a second output signal. The second clock-generating circuit is configured to provide a third output signal and a fourth output signal. The first output signal, the second output signal, the third output signal, and the fourth output signal are configured for controlling access operations for the first memory cell.

Abstract: A memory device is configured to identify a set of bit cells to be changed from a first state to a second state. In some examples, the memory device may apply a first voltage to the set of bit cells to change a least a first portion of the set of bit cells to the second state. In some cases, the memory device may also identify a second portion of the bit cells that remained in the first state following the application of the first voltage. In these cases, the memory device may apply a second voltage having a greater magnitude, duration, or both to the second portion of the set of bit cells in order to set the second portion of bit cells to the second state.