Magnetic Thin Film Patents (Class 365/171)
  • Patent number: 12096697
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first MTJ structure, a second MTJ structure, an interconnection structure including a first metal interconnection and a second metal interconnection disposed on and contacting the first metal interconnection, a fifth metal interconnection, and a sixth metal interconnection. The first MTJ structure, the second MTJ structure, and the interconnection structure are disposed on the substrate. The interconnection structure is located between the first MTJ structure and the second MTJ structure in a first horizontal direction. The fifth metal interconnection and the sixth metal interconnection are disposed under and contact the first MTJ structure and the second MTJ structure, respectively. The fifth metal interconnection includes a barrier layer and a metal layer disposed on the barrier layer. A length of the first MTJ structure in the first horizontal direction is greater than a length of the metal layer in the first horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Chih-Wei Kuo, Chia-Chang Hsu
  • Patent number: 12094509
    Abstract: Disclosed is a memory device including a magnetic storage element. The memory device includes a memory cell array, a voltage generator, and a write driver. The memory cell array includes a first region and a second region. The memory device is configured to store a value of a first read current determined based on a value of a reference resistance for distinguishing a parallel state and an anti-parallel state of a programmed memory cell. The sensing circuit is configured to generate the first read current based on the value of the first read current and to perform a read operation on the first region based on the first read current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daeshik Kim
  • Patent number: 12075633
    Abstract: A device structure includes at least one selector device. Each selector device includes a vertical stack including, from bottom to top, a bottom electrode, a metal oxide semiconductor channel layer, and a top electrode and located over a substrate, a gate dielectric layer contacting sidewalls of the bottom electrode, the metal oxide semiconductor channel layer, and the top electrode, and a gate electrode formed within the gate dielectric layer and having a top surface that is coplanar with a top surface of the top electrode. Each top electrode or each bottom electrode of the at least one selector device may be contacted by a respective nonvolatile memory element to provide a one-selector one-resistor memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Yong-Jie Wu, Yen-Chung Ho, Mauricio Manfrini, Chung-Te Lin, Pin-Cheng Hsu
  • Patent number: 12075629
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic memory device including a stacked structure including a first magnetic layer having a variable magnetization direction, a second magnetic layer having a fixed magnetization direction, and a nonmagnetic layer provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer, and containing magnesium (Mg) and oxygen (O). The nonmagnetic layer further contains a first additive element and a second additive element, the first additive element is at least one element selected from sulfur (S), gallium (Ga), aluminum (Al), titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), hydrogen (H), fluorine (F), manganese (Mn), lithium (Li), nitrogen (N) and magnesium (Mg), and the second additive element is lithium (Li).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Kioxia Corporation
    Inventors: Tadaomi Daibou, Yasushi Nakasaki, Tadashi Kai, Hiroki Kawai, Takamitsu Ishihara, Junichi Ito
  • Patent number: 12057153
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a probabilistic random number generator. The probabilistic random number generator includes a memory cell comprising a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ), and an access transistor coupled to the MTJ of the memory cell. A variable current source is coupled to the access transistor and is configured to provide a plurality of predetermined current pulse shapes, respectively, to the MTJ to generate a bit stream that includes a plurality of probabilistic random bits, respectively, from the MTJ. The predetermined current pulse shapes have different current amplitudes and/or pulse widths corresponding to different switching probabilities for the MTJ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming Yuan Song
  • Patent number: 12009018
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided which comprises: a stack comprising a magnetic insulating material (MI such as EuS, EuO, YIG, TmIG, or GaMnAs) and a transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD such as MoS2, MoSe2, WS2, WSe2, PtS2, PtSe2, WTe2, MoTe2, or graphene), wherein the magnetic insulating material has a first magnetization; a magnet with a second magnetization, wherein the magnet is adjacent to the TMD of the stack; and an interconnect comprising a spin orbit material, wherein the interconnect is adjacent to the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Chia-Ching Lin, Sasikanth Manipatruni, Tanay Gosavi, Dmitri Nikonov, Benjamin Buford, Kaan Oguz, John J. Plombon, Ian A. Young
  • Patent number: 11942131
    Abstract: A processing apparatus includes a bit-cell array including at least one bit-cell line including a plurality of bit-cells electrically connected to each other in series, wherein each of the plurality of bit-cells includes: a first magnetic resistor that is configured to store a first resistance value based on a movement of a location of a magnetic domain-wall; a second magnetic resistor that is configured to store a second resistance value, wherein the second resistance value is equal to or less than the first resistance value; a first switching element configured to switch an electrical signal applied to the first magnetic resistor; and a second switching element configured to switch an electrical signal applied to the second magnetic resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Unghwan Pi
  • Patent number: 11937513
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a magnon spin valve device, a magnon sensor, a magnon field effect transistor, a magnon tunnel junction and a magnon memory. A magnon spin valve device may comprise a first ferromagnetic insulation layer, a non-magnetic conductive layer disposed on the first ferromagnetic insulation layer, and a second ferromagnetic insulation layer disposed on the non-magnetic conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Xiufeng Han, Ping Tang, Chenyang Guo, Caihua Wan
  • Patent number: 11894172
    Abstract: A domain wall moving type magnetic recording element includes: a domain wall moving layer in which first layers containing a rare earth metal and second layers containing a transition metal are alternately stacked in a first direction; and a first electrode and a second electrode which face the domain wall moving layer and are arranged to be away from each other. The domain wall moving layer has SOT suppression parts which are positioned in one of interfaces between the first layers and the second layers and contain a non-magnetic metal. The SOT suppression parts are locally distributed at the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tetsuhito Shinohara
  • Patent number: 11842781
    Abstract: A layout method includes: forming a layout structure of a memory array having first and second rows, each including a plurality of storage cells, wherein at least one of the storage cells includes a fuse; disposing a word line between the first and second rows; disposing a plurality of control electrodes across the word line for connecting the storage cells of the first row and the storage cells of the second row respectively; disposing a first cut layer on a first control electrode of the control electrodes located on a first side of the word line; and disposing a second cut layer on a second control electrode of the control electrodes located on a second side of the word line; wherein the first side of the word line is opposite to the second side of the word line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Meng-Sheng Chang, Yao-Jen Yang, Shao-Yu Chou, Yih Wang
  • Patent number: 11832527
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) structure, a second MTJ structure, and an interconnection structure. The first MTJ structure, the second MTJ structure, and the interconnection structure are disposed on the substrate. The interconnection structure is located between the first MTJ structure and the second MTJ structure in a first horizontal direction, and the interconnection structure includes a first metal interconnection and a second metal interconnection. The second metal interconnection is disposed on and contacts the first metal interconnection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Chih-Wei Kuo, Chia-Chang Hsu
  • Patent number: 11817134
    Abstract: This magnetic recording head includes a main magnetic pole, a write shield, and an element. The element has a first portion, a second portion, and a non-magnetic conductive layer disposed therebetween. The element has a first current path connecting the main magnetic pole and the non-magnetic conductive layer to each other, and a second current path connecting the write shield and the non-magnetic conductive layer to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Zhenyao Tang
  • Patent number: 11812667
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) structure, a second MTJ structure, and an interconnection structure. The first MTJ structure, the second MTJ structure, and the interconnection structure are disposed on the substrate. The interconnection structure is located between the first MTJ structure and the second MTJ structure in a first horizontal direction, and the interconnection structure includes a first metal interconnection and a second metal interconnection. The second metal interconnection is disposed on and contacts the first metal interconnection. A material composition of the second metal interconnection is different from a material composition of the first metal interconnection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Chih-Wei Kuo, Chia-Chang Hsu
  • Patent number: 11798630
    Abstract: A memory device includes programmable memory cells and a programming circuit for programming a selected memory cell to a target logic state by applying one or more programming current pulses. A temperature sensor operates to sense a temperature of the memory device. A reading circuit reads a current logic state of the selected memory cell after a predetermined programming current pulse of the programming current pulses. The reading circuit includes a sensing circuit that senses a current logic state of the selected memory cell according to a comparison between a reading electric current depending on the current logic state of the selected memory cell and a reference current. An adjusting circuit adjusts one or the other of the reading electric current and the reference electric current to be provided to the sensing circuit according to the temperature of the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Marcella Carissimi, Fabio Enrico Carlo Disegni, Chantal Auricchio, Cesare Torti, Davide Manfre', Laura Capecchi, Emanuela Calvetti, Stefano Zanchi
  • Patent number: 11789796
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to selectively performing a read with increased accuracy, such as a self-reference read, from a memory. In one aspect, data is read from memory cells, such as magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) cells, of a memory array. In response to detecting a condition associated with reading from the memory cells, a self-reference read can be performed from at least one of the memory cells. For instance, the condition can indicate that data read from the memory cells is uncorrectable via decoding of error correction codes (ECC). Selectively performing self-reference reads can reduce power consumption and/or latency associated with reading from the memory compared to always performing self-reference reads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Ovonyx Memory Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Wayne Kinney, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 11776595
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are related to a memory device including a set of memory cells and a memory controller. In one aspect, each of the set of memory cells includes a select transistor and a storage element connected in series between a corresponding bit line and a corresponding source line. In one aspect, the memory controller is configured to apply a first write voltage to a bit line coupled to a selected memory cell, apply a second write voltage to a word line coupled to a gate electrode of a select transistor of the selected memory cell during a first time period, and apply a third write voltage to a source line coupled to the selected memory cell. The second write voltage may be between the first write voltage and the third write voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Perng-Fei Yuh, Yih Wang
  • Patent number: 11762552
    Abstract: The present disclosure is drawn to, among other things, a method of managing a magnetoresistive memory (MRAM) device. In some aspects, the method includes receiving a configuration bit from a write mode configuration register. In response to determining the configuration bit is a first value, the MRAM device is operated in a NOR emulation mode. In response to determining the configuration bit is a second value, the MRAM device is operated in a persistent memory mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: EVERSPIN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Syed M. Alam, Cristian P. Masgras
  • Patent number: 11729969
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of operating the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes a transistor and a fuse structure electrically connected to the transistor. The fuse structure includes a first fuse element, a second fuse element, and a fuse medium. The second fuse element at least partially overlaps the first fuse element. The fuse medium connects the first fuse element and the second fuse element. The fuse medium includes an electrically conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Hsiang-Wei Liu, Wei-Chen Chu, Chia-Tien Wu
  • Patent number: 11706996
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a substrate comprising a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) region and a logic region; a first MTJ on the MTJ region; a first metal interconnection on the logic region; and a cap layer extending from a sidewall of the first MTJ to a sidewall of the first metal interconnection. Preferably, the cap layer on the MTJ region and the cap layer on the logic region comprise different thicknesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Hui-Lin Wang, Yu-Ping Wang, Chen-Yi Weng, Chin-Yang Hsieh, Si-Han Tsai, Che-Wei Chang, Jing-Yin Jhang
  • Patent number: 11656300
    Abstract: Various means for improvement in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for a magnetic field sensor are disclosed for low power and high resolution magnetic sensing. The improvements may be done by reducing parasitic effects, increasing sense element packing density, interleaving a Z-axis layout to reduce a subtractive effect, and optimizing an alignment between a Z-axis sense element and a flux guide, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: EVERSPIN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Phillip G. Mather, Anuraag Mohan
  • Patent number: 11640839
    Abstract: A 1S-1T ferroelectric memory cell is provided that include a transistor and a two-terminal selector device. The transistor exhibits a low conductive state and a high conductive state (channel resistance), depending on drive voltage. The two-terminal selector device exhibits one of an ON-state and an OFF-state depending upon whether the transistor is in its low conductive state or its high conductive state. The transistor may be, for instance, a ferroelectric gate vertical transistor. Modulation of a polarization state of ferroelectric material of the vertical transistor may be utilized to switch the state of the selector device. The memory cell may thus selectively be operated in one of an ON-state and an OFF-state depending upon whether the selector device is in its ON-state or OFF-state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Abhishek A. Sharma, Brian S. Doyle, Ravi Pillarisetty, Prashant Majhi, Elijah V. Karpov
  • Patent number: 11569439
    Abstract: A memory device that includes a first magnetic insulating tunnel barrier reference layer present on a first non-magnetic metal electrode, and a free magnetic metal layer present on the first magnetic insulating tunnel barrier reference layer. A second magnetic insulating tunnel barrier reference layer may be present on the free magnetic metal layer, and a second non-magnetic metal electrode may be present on the second magnetic insulating tunnel barrier. The first and second magnetic insulating tunnel barrier reference layers are arranged so that their magnetizations are aligned to be anti-parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daniel C. Worledge
  • Patent number: 11552068
    Abstract: A method includes forming a cell layer including first and second cells, each of which is configured to perform a circuit function; forming a first metal layer above the cell layer and including a first conductive feature and a second conductive feature extending along a first direction, in which the first conductive feature extends from the first cell into the second cell, and in which a shortest distance between a center line of the first conductive feature and a center line of the second conductive feature along a second direction is less than a width of the first conductive feature, and the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction; forming a first conductive via interconnecting the cell layer and the conductive feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fong-Yuan Chang, Kuo-Nan Yang, Chung-Hsing Wang, Lee-Chung Lu, Sheng-Fong Chen, Po-Hsiang Huang, Hiranmay Biswas, Sheng-Hsiung Chen, Aftab Alam Khan
  • Patent number: 11538610
    Abstract: The invention relates to hard magnets that include an intermetallic compound having the general composition XaX?bYcZd where X and X? independently from one another are representative of a 3d transition metal with unpaired electrons; Y is a 4d or 5d transition metal of groups 5, 8, 9, or 10 Z is a main group element of groups 13, 14 or 15; a and d independently from one another represent a number between 0.1 and 2.0; and b and c independently from one another represent a number between 0.0 and 2.0; such that a+b+c+d is between 3.0 and 4.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: MAX PLANCK GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FÖRDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN EV
    Inventors: Rolf Stinshoff, Roshnee Sahoo, Claudia Felser
  • Patent number: 11538526
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses, methods, and systems for charge separation for memory sensing. An embodiment includes applying a sensing voltage to a memory cell, and determining a data state of the memory cell based, at least in part, on a comparison of an amount of charge discharged by the memory cell while the sensing voltage is being applied to the memory cell before a particular reference time and an amount of charge discharged by the memory cell while the sensing voltage is being applied to the memory cell after the particular reference time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Umberto Di Vincenzo, Riccardo Muzzetto, Ferdinando Bedeschi
  • Patent number: 11525873
    Abstract: A magnetoresistance effect element includes a first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, a first non-magnetic layer; and a second non-magnetic layer, wherein, the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer are formed so that at least one of them includes a Heusler alloy layer, the first non-magnetic layer is provided between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer, the second non-magnetic layer is in contact with any surface of the Heusler alloy layer and has a discontinuous portion with respect to a lamination surface, and the second non-magnetic layer is made of a material different from that of the first non-magnetic layer and is a (001)-oriented oxide containing Mg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinto Ichikawa, Kazuumi Inubushi, Katsuyuki Nakada
  • Patent number: 11521776
    Abstract: A spin-orbit-torque magnetization rotational element includes: a spin-orbit torque wiring layer which extends in an X direction; and a first ferromagnetic layer which is laminated on the spin-orbit torque wiring layer, wherein the first ferromagnetic layer has shape anisotropy and has a major axis in a Y direction orthogonal to the X direction on a plane in which the spin-orbit torque wiring layer extends, and wherein the easy axis of magnetization of the first ferromagnetic layer is inclined with respect to the X direction and the Y direction orthogonal to the X direction on a plane in which the spin-orbit torque wiring layer extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Sasaki, Yohei Shiokawa
  • Patent number: 11502244
    Abstract: A magnetic element is provided. The magnetic element includes a free magnetization layer having a surface area that is approximately 1,600 nm2 or less, the free magnetization layer including a magnetization state that is configured to be changed; an insulation layer coupled to the free magnetization layer, the insulation layer including a non-magnetic material; and a magnetization fixing layer coupled to the insulation layer opposite the free magnetization layer, the magnetization fixing layer including a fixed magnetization so as to be capable of serving as a reference of the free magnetization layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazutaka Yamane, Masanori Hosomi, Hiroyuki Ohmori, Kazuhiro Bessho, Yutaka Higo, Tetsuya Asayama, Hiroyuki Uchida
  • Patent number: 11488647
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) structures comprising multiple MTJ bits connected in series. For example, a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) stack according to the present disclosure may include at least a first MTJ bit and a second MTJ bit stacked above the first MTJ bit, and a resistance state of the MTJ stack may be read by passing a single read current through both the first MTJ bit and the second MTJ bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Everspin Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jijun Sun, Frederick Mancoff, Jason Janesky, Kevin Conley, Lu Hui, Sumio Ikegawa
  • Patent number: 11462680
    Abstract: A magnetic storage device includes a magnetoresistive effect element. The magnetoresistive effect element includes a first ferromagnetic layer; a second ferromagnetic layer; a non-magnetic layer between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer; and a first layer provided at a side of the first ferromagnetic layer opposite to a side of the first ferromagnetic layer at which the non-magnetic layer is provided. The first layer includes a rare-earth element and the first layer has a region including boron (B) at a proportion higher than a proportion of boron (B) in the first ferromagnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: KIOXIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Watanabe, Toshihiko Nagase
  • Patent number: 11437077
    Abstract: Provided herein may be a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device may include a stack including word lines, a bit line penetrating the stack, a global bit line disposed above the stack, global word lines disposed above the stack, a common select line disposed above the stack, a first contact plug coupling the global bit line and the bit line to each other and penetrating the common select line, and second contact plugs coupling the global word lines and the word lines to each other respectively and penetrating the common select line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Jae Hyun Han
  • Patent number: 11366949
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose an MRAM cell layout for 32 nm, 45 nm, and 65 nm CMOS process technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: III HOLDINGS 1, LLC
    Inventor: Krishnakumar Mani
  • Patent number: 11355694
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic memory device includes a stacked structure including a first magnetic layer having a variable magnetization direction, a second magnetic layer having a fixed magnetization direction, and a nonmagnetic layer provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer, and containing magnesium (Mg) and oxygen (O). The nonmagnetic layer further contains an additive element selected from fluorine (F), sulfur (S), hydrogen (H) and lithium (Li).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: KIOXIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadaomi Daibou, Yasushi Nakasaki, Tadashi Kai, Hiroki Kawai, Takamitsu Ishihara, Junichi Ito
  • Patent number: 11315616
    Abstract: To provide a control circuit capable of not only suppressing an increase in power consumption with a simple configuration but also preventing erroneous writing and destruction of a memory element. Provided is a control circuit that outputs a signal for discharging charges accumulated in a source line and a bit line according to activation of a word line, and outputs a signal for making the source line and the bit line be in a floating state by a start of writing or reading, with respect to a memory cell including the source line, the bit line, a transistor that is provided between the source line and the bit line, and switches on and off by a potential of the word line, and a memory element connected to the transistor in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Tezuka
  • Patent number: 11280639
    Abstract: A system includes a multiturn counter that can store a magnetic state associated with a number of accumulated turns of a magnetic field. The multiturn counter includes a plurality of magnetoresistive elements electrically coupled in series with each other. A matrix of electrical connections is arranged to connect magnetoresistive elements of the plurality of magnetoresistive elements to other magnetoresistive elements of the plurality of magnetoresistive elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Analog Devices International Unlimited Company
    Inventor: Jochen Schmitt
  • Patent number: 11283010
    Abstract: A magnetic memory element having a magnetic free layer and a magnetic reference layer with a non-magnetic barrier layer between the magnetic reference layer and the magnetic free layer. A spin current layer (which may be a precessional spin current layer) is located adjacent to the magnetic free layer and is separated from the magnetic free layer by a non-magnetic coupling layer. A material layer adjacent to and in contact with the spin current layer, has a material composition and thickness that are chosen to provide a desired effective magnetization in the spin current layer. The material layer, which may be a capping layer or a seed layer, can be constructed of a material other than tantalum which may include one or more of Zr, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Hf, W, Ir, Pt and/or alloys and/or nitrides of these elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Integrated Silicon Solution, (Cayman) Inc.
    Inventors: Jorge Vasquez, Bartlomiej Adam Kardasz, Cheng Wei Chiu, Mustafa Pinarbasi
  • Patent number: 11264562
    Abstract: A magnetic memory device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a layer stack located between the first electrode and the second electrode. The layer stack includes a reference layer, a tunnel barrier layer, a free layer, and a magnetoelectric multiferroic layer including at least one crystalline grain. The magnetization of the magnetoelectric multiferroic layer may be axial, canted, or in-plane. For axial or canted magnetization of the magnetoelectric multiferroic layer, a deterministic switching of the free layer may be achieved through coupling with the axial component of magnetization of the magnetoelectric multiferroic layer. Alternatively, the in-plane magnetization of the magnetoelectric multiferroic layer may be employed to induce precession of the magnetization angle of the free layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Bhagwati Prasad, Alan Kalitsov, Neil Smith
  • Patent number: 11233192
    Abstract: A hall bar device for a memory or logic application can include a gate electrode, a boron-doped chromia layer on the gate electrode; and a hall bar structure with four legs on the boron-doped chromia layer. For a memory application, the hall bar device can be written to by applying a pulse voltage across the gate electrode and one leg of the hall bar structure in the absence of an applied magnetic field; and can be read from by measuring a voltage across the one leg of the hall bar structure and its opposite leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
    Inventors: Christian Binek, Ather Mahmood, William Echtenkamp
  • Patent number: 11232894
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for generating, from a first electric current having a first frequency, a plurality of second currents each having a second respective frequency component, the method including the following steps: supplying a frequency distributor including a first set of pillars including a layer made from a first magnetic material and having a resonance frequency; exciting each pillar of the first set with an electromagnetic field having the first frequency, the ratio between twice the resonance frequency of each pillar of the first set and the first frequency being equal, to within ten percent, to a first natural integer; and generating, by each pillar of the first set, a second frequency component in the second respective current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignees: THALES, CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE
    Inventors: Paolo Bortolotti, Julien Kermorvant, Vincent Cros, Bruno Marcilhac, Romain Lebrun
  • Patent number: 11227892
    Abstract: A method is presented for preventing excessive cap dielectric loss in memory areas and logic areas of a device. The method includes forming a first conductive line with top via and a conductive pad over a dielectric layer, wherein the conductive pad includes a microstud, depositing a dielectric cap in direct contact with the first conductive line and the conductive pad, and constructing a top electrode, a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) stack, and a bottom electrode in vertical alignment with the microstud of the conductive pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ashim Dutta, Chih-Chao Yang, Ekmini A. De Silva, Dominik Metzler
  • Patent number: 11201282
    Abstract: Magnetic memory devices and methods are provided. In one aspect, a memory device may comprise a control circuitry and at least one array of memory structures. Each memory structure may comprise a metal layer and a first magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) disposed on the metal layer. The metal layer may include a first region and a second region. Electrical resistivity of at least a first part of the first region is different from electrical resistivity of the second region. The first magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) may comprise a first free layer adjacent to the metal layer, a first barrier layer adjacent to the first free layer, and a first reference layer adjacent to the first barrier layer. The first free layer is in contact with the first region of the metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Yangtze Memory Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dan Yu
  • Patent number: 11171605
    Abstract: A spin torque oscillator includes a first electrode, a second electrode and a device layer stack located between the first electrode and the second electrode. The device layer stack includes a spin polarization layer including a first ferromagnetic material, an assist layer including a third ferromagnetic material, a ferromagnetic oscillation layer including a second ferromagnetic material located between the spin polarization layer and the assist layer, a nonmagnetic spacer layer located between the spin polarization layer and the ferromagnetic oscillation, and a nonmagnetic coupling layer located between the ferromagnetic oscillation layer and the assist layer. The assist layer is antiferromagnetically coupled to the ferromagnetic oscillation layer through the non-magnetic coupling layer, and the assist layer has a magnetization that is coupled to a magnetization of the ferromagnetic oscillation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yuankai Zheng, Zheng Gao, Susumu Okamura, James Freitag
  • Patent number: 11151296
    Abstract: A memory cell array includes a first column of memory cells, a second column of memory cells, a first bit line, a second bit line and a source line. The second column of memory cells is separated from the first column of memory cells in a first direction. The first column of memory cells and the second column of memory cells are arranged in a second direction. The first bit line is coupled to the first column of memory cells, and extends in the second direction. The second bit line is coupled to the second column of memory cells, and extends in the second direction. The source line extends in the second direction, is coupled to the first column of memory cells and the second column of memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chi-Hsiang Weng, Yu-Der Chih
  • Patent number: 11133041
    Abstract: Embodiments of a memory, and calibration and operation methods thereof for reading data in memory cells are disclosed. In an example, an apparatus comprises transistors, and a charge sharing circuit coupled to the transistors through gate terminals of the transistors. The charge sharing circuit comprises a programmable electrical source, a first switch coupled to the programmable electrical source, a capacitor coupled to the first switch, and a second switch coupled to the capacitor, the first switch, and the gate terminals of the transistors. The programmable electrical source is configured to provide electrical charges to the capacitor when the first switch is turned on and the second switch is turned off. The capacitor is configured to provide at least a portion of the electrical charges to the gate terminals of the transistors when the first switch is turned off and the second switch is turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: WUXI PETABYTE TECHNOLOGIES CO, LTD.
    Inventor: Feng Pan
  • Patent number: 11094877
    Abstract: This invention is about a method to make an MRAM element with small dimension, by making an MTJ as close as possible to the via, ideally aligning the MTJ and the via in a direction perpendicular to the wafer surface, for making the MRAM element dimension as small as possible. The invention provides a process scheme to flatten the interface of bottom electrode during film deposition, which ensures a good deposition of atomically smooth MTJ multilayer as close as possible to an associated via which otherwise might be atomically rough. The flattening scheme is first to deposit a thin amorphous conducting layer in the middle of BE deposition and immediately to bombard the amorphous layer by low energy ions to provide kinetic energy for surface atom diffusion to move from high point to low kinks. With such surface flattening scheme, not only the MRAM element can be made extremely small, but its device performance and magnetic stability can also be greatly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: T3Memory USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Rongfu Xiao
  • Patent number: 11087811
    Abstract: An analog Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (MRAM) cell is provided. The analog MRAM cell includes a magnetic free layer having a first domain having a first magnetization direction, a second domain having a second magnetization direction opposite to the first magnetization direction and a domain wall located between the first domain and the second domain. The analog MRAM cell further includes a magnetically pinned layer. The analog MRAM cell also includes an insulating tunnel barrier between the magnetic free layer and the magnetically pinned layer. The analog MRAM cell additionally includes an electrode located adjacent to the magnetic free layer configured to generate heat by supplying current to decrease a conductance of the magnetic free layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akiyo Iwashina, Atsuya Okazaki, Takeo Yasuda
  • Patent number: 11074950
    Abstract: A metamagnetic tunneling-based spin valve device for multistate magnetic memory comprising an electronic memory logic element with four stable resistance states. A metamagnetic tunneling-based spin valve device for multistate magnetic memory comprising a layer of a metamagnetic material, a layer of a nonmagnetic material on the layer of a metamagnetic material, and a layer of a ferromagnetic material on the layer of a nonmagnetic material. A method of making a metamagnetic tunneling-based spin valve device for multistate magnetic memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Olaf M. J. van 't Erve, Steven P. Bennett, Adam L. Friedman
  • Patent number: 11056642
    Abstract: A magnetoresistance effect element has a first ferromagnetic metal layer, a second ferromagnetic metal layer, and a tunnel barrier layer that is sandwiched between the first and second ferromagnetic metal layers, and the tunnel barrier layer has a spinel structure represented by a composition formula of AIn2Ox(0<x?4), and an A-site is a non-magnetic divalent cation which is one or more selected from a group consisting of magnesium, zinc and cadmium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Sasaki, Katsuyuki Nakada, Tatsuo Shibata
  • Patent number: 11038099
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided which comprises: a first magnet with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA); a stack of layers, a portion of which is adjacent to the first magnet, wherein the stack of layers is to provide an inverse Rashba-Bychkov effect; a second magnet with PMA; a magnetoelectric layer adjacent to the second magnet; and a conductor coupled to at least a portion of the stack of layers and the magnetoelectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Sasikanth Manipatruni, Dmitri E. Nikonov, Ian A. Young
  • Patent number: 11037715
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes a plurality of magnetic detection elements, and a plurality of magnetic field generators associated with the plurality of magnetic detection elements. Each of the plurality of magnetic field generators includes a first ferromagnetic material section and a first antiferromagnetic material section. The first antiferromagnetic material section is in contact with and exchange-coupled to the first ferromagnetic material section. The first ferromagnetic material section has an overall magnetization. The plurality of magnetic field generators includes first and second magnetic field generators configured so that the overall magnetization of the first ferromagnetic material section of the first magnetic field generator is in a different direction from the overall magnetization of the first ferromagnetic material section of the second magnetic field generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yosuke Komasaki