INTEGRATED CIRCUIT WITH SENSING UNIT AND METHOD FOR USING THE SAME

摘要

Integrated circuit comprising a sensing unit that includes a sensing circuit, two conductors and a magnetic storage element. The sensing circuit monitors a voltage drop across the element when a current is passed between the conductors with the element in between. The voltage drop is pre-calibrated to indicate a change in conductivity in the element that is caused by an external magnetic field. Advantageously, this indication is usable particularly for assessing a possible data corruption in a magnetic memory circuit in the integrated circuit, due to stray and external magnetic fields. Methods of using the sensing unit are also proposed.

主权项

1. A circuit comprising:
a first conductor; a second conductor; a magnetic storage element disposed between the said first and second conductors; and a sensing circuit configured to monitor a voltage drop across the magnetic storage element when a constant current is passed from the first conductor to the second conductor, thereby passing through the magnetic storage element.