Method for programming a semiconductor magnetic memory integrating a magnetic tunneling junction above a floating-gate memory cell

摘要

A semiconductor magnetic memory device has a magnetic tunneling junction formed over a memory cell. The memory cell has a control gate surrounded by a floating gate. The floating gate is coupled to the magnetic tunneling junction through a pinning layer that maintains the magnetic orientation of the lower magnetic layer of the junction. A current through a selected word line, coupled to the control gate, generates a first magnetic field. A current through a cell select line generates a second magnetic field that is orthogonal to the first magnetic field. This changes the magnetic orientation of the upper magnetic layer of the junction to lower its resistance, thus allowing a write/erase voltage on a program/erase line to program/erase the floating gate.