Spin dependent conduction device

Claim 2

A magnetic device comprising: first and second tunnel barrier layers, a first ferromagnetic layer disposed between the first and the second tunnel barrier layers, the first ferromagnetic layer having discrete energy levels, a second ferromagnetic layer disposed adjacent to one of the first and the second tunnel barrier layers so that said one of the first and the second tunnel barrier layers is between the first and the second ferromagnetic layers, and first and second electrodes coupled to another one of the first and second tunnel barrier layers and the second ferromagnetic layer, respectively.

Claim 3

A magnetic device, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a current detector detecting variations in tunnel current, the tunnel current flows via the discrete energy level, and the variations in tunnel current are due to change of magnetization direction of the first ferromagnetic layer or the second ferromagnetic layer.

Claim 4

A magnetic device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first ferromagnetic layer has a grain in a nonmagnetic material.

Claim 5

A magnetic device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first ferromagnetic layer has a plurality of grains scattered in a nonmagnetic material.

Claim 6

A magnetic device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the magnetic device has a spin polarization tunnel effect.

Claim 7

A magnetic device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second ferromagnetic layer is merged with one of the second electrodes.

Claim 8

A magnetic device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the pair of tunnel barrier layers is formed of dielectric material or semiconductor material.

Claim 9

A magnetic device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the magnetic device has spin dependent resonance tunnel effect.

Claim 10

A magnetic device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a magnetization direction of one of the first and the second ferromagnetic layer is fixed and a magnetization of another of the first and the second ferromagnetic layer is substantially rotatable.

Claim 11

A magnetic device, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a third tunnel barrier layer, and a third ferromagnetic layer disposed adjacent to the third tunnel barrier layer so as to sandwich the third tunnel carrier layer with the first ferromagnetic layer.

Claim 12

A magnetic device, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a third electrode separated from the first ferromagnetic layer through a third tunnel barrier layer.

Claim 13

A magnetic device, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the third electrode controls the discrete energy levels of the first ferromagnetic layer.

Claim 14

A magnetic device, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the magnetic device has a current gain function.

Claim 15

A magnetic device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the magnetic device has at least a 30% MR amplitude at room temperature, where the magnetoresistance amplitude is defined by ΔR/Rs, where ΔR is a resistance change of the device and Rs is a device resistance at saturation magnetization fields.

Claim 16

An integrated memory device comprising: a plurality of word lines, a plurality of data lines, a plurality of memory cells, each of the memory cells coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of word lines and to a corresponding one of the plurality of data lines, each of the memory cells having: first and second tunnel barrier layers, a first ferromagnetic layer disposed between the first and the second tunnel barrier layers and having discrete energy levels, a second ferromagnetic layer disposed adjacent to one of the first and the second tunnel barrier layers so that said one of the first and the second tunnel barrier layers is between the first and the second ferromagnetic layers, and first and second electrodes coupled to another one of the first and the second tunnel barrier layers and the second ferromagnetic layer respectively, each of the plurality of data lines connecting one of the first and second electrodes of a corresponding portion of the plurality of memory cells to a current detector for detecting variations in a tunnel current flow via the discrete energy level in the first ferromagnetic layer, the variations in tunnel current due to change of a magnetization direction of one of the first and the second ferromagnetic layers.

Claim 17

An integrated memory device comprising: a plurality of word lines, a plurality of data lines, a plurality of memory cells, each of the memory cells coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of word lines and to a corresponding one of the plurality of data lines, each of the memory cells having: first and second tunnel barrier layers, a first ferromagnetic layer disposed between the first and the second tunnel barrier layers and having discrete energy levels, a second ferromagnetic layer disposed adjacent to one of the first and the second tunnel barrier layers so that said one of the first and the second tunnel barrier layers is between the first and the second ferromagnetic layers, and first and second electrodes coupled to another one of the first and the second tunnel barrier layers and the second ferromagnetic layer respectively, each of the plurality of data lines connecting one of the first and second electrodes of a corresponding portion of the plurality of memory cells to a current detector for detecting variations in a tunnel current flow via the discrete energy level in the first ferromagnetic layer, the variations in tunnel current due to change of a magnetization direction of one of the first and the second ferromagnetic layers.

Claim 18

An integrated memory device, as set forth in claim 15, wherein the second ferromagnetic layer is merged with one of the first and the second electrodes.

Claim 19

A magnetic sensor, comprising: first and second tunnel barrier layers, a first ferromagnetic layer disposed between the first and the second tunnel barrier layers and having discrete energy levels, second and third ferromagnetic layers disposed adjacent to the first and the second tunnel barrier layers, respectively, so that the first and the second tunnel barrier layers are between the first ferromagnetic layer and the respective second and third ferromagnetic layers, and a pair of electrodes coupled to the first and the second tunnel barrier layers and the second ferromagnetic layer, and a current detector for detecting variations in tunnel current flow, the tunnel current flow being via the discrete energy level in the first ferromagnetic layer, the variations in tunnel current due to change of magnetization direction of one of the first and the second ferromagnetic layers.

Claim 20

A magnetic sensor, comprising: first and second tunnel barrier layers, a first ferromagnetic layer disposed between the first and the second tunnel barrier layers and having discrete energy levels, second and third ferromagnetic layers disposed adjacent to the first and the second tunnel barrier layers, respectively, so that the first and the second tunnel barrier layers are between the first ferromagnetic layer and the respective second and third ferromagnetic layers, and a pair of electrodes coupled to the first and the second tunnel barrier layers and the second ferromagnetic layer, and a current detector for detecting variations in tunnel current flow, the tunnel current flow being via the discrete energy level in the first ferromagnetic layer, the variations in tunnel current due to change of magnetization direction of one of the first and the second ferromagnetic layers.

Claim 21

A magnetic sensor, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the second ferromagnetic layer is merged with one of the pair of electrodes.

Claim 22

A magnetic head comprising: a pair of tunnel barrier layers, a first ferromagnetic layer disposed between the first and the second tunnel barrier layers, and having discrete energy levels, second and third ferromagnetic layers disposed adjacent to a respective one of the pair of tunnel barrier layers so that said respective one of the pair of tunnel barrier layers is between the first and the corresponding one of the second and third ferromagnetic layers, and an antiferromagnetic layer coupled to the third ferromagnetic layer.

Claim 23

A magnetic head comprising: a pair of tunnel barrier layers, a first ferromagnetic layer disposed between the first and the second tunnel barrier layers, and having discrete energy levels, second and third ferromagnetic layers disposed adjacent to a respective one of the pair of tunnel barrier layers so that said respective one of the pair of tunnel barrier layers is between the first and the corresponding one of the second and third ferromagnetic layers, and an antiferromagnetic layer coupled to the third ferromagnetic layer.

Claim 24

A magnetic head, as set forth in claim 19, further comprising a current detector for detecting variations in tunnel current flow, the tunnel current flow being via the discrete energy level in the first ferromagnetic layer, the variations in tunnel current due to change of magnetization direction of one of the first, the second, or third ferromagnetic layers.

Claim 25

A magnetic head, as set forth in claim 19, further comprising another antiferromagnetic layer coupled to another of the second and third ferromagnetic layers.

Claim 26

A magnetic disk system comprising: a magnetic disk, a magnetic head for communicating information with the magnetic disk, and comprising: first and second tunnel barrier layers, a first ferromagnetic layer disposed between the first and the second tunnel barrier layers and having discrete energy levels, a second ferromagnetic layer disposed adjacent to one of the first and second tunnel barrier layers so that said one of the first and the second tunnel barrier layers is between the first and the second ferromagnetic layers, first and second electrodes coupled to another one of the first and second tunnel barrier layers and the second ferromagnetic layer, respectively, and a current detector for detecting variations in tunnel current flow, the tunnel current flow being via the discrete energy level in the first ferromagnetic layer, the variations in tunnel current due to change of magnetization direction of one of the first and the second ferromagnetic layers.

Claim 27

A magnetic disk system comprising: a magnetic disk, a magnetic head for communicating information with the magnetic disk, and comprising: first and second tunnel barrier layers, a first ferromagnetic layer disposed between the first and the second tunnel barrier layers and having discrete energy levels, a second ferromagnetic layer disposed adjacent to one of the first and second tunnel barrier layers so that said one of the first and the second tunnel barrier layers is between the first and the second ferromagnetic layers, first and second electrodes coupled to another one of the first and second tunnel barrier layers and the second ferromagnetic layer, respectively, and a current detector for detecting variations in tunnel current flow, the tunnel current flow being via the discrete energy level in the first ferromagnetic layer, the variations in tunnel current due to change of magnetization direction of one of the first and the second ferromagnetic layers.

Claim 28

A magnetic disk system, as set forth in claim 21, wherein the second ferromagnetic layer is merged with one of the first and the second electrodes.

Claim 29

A magnetic device comprising: a first ferromagnetic layer having discrete energy levels; first and second dielectric layers disposed adjacent to and on opposite sides of the first ferromagnetic layer; and first and second electrodes disposed adjacent to the first and second dielectric layers, respectively.

Claim 30

A magnetic device comprising: a first ferromagnetic layer having discrete energy levels; first and second dielectric layers disposed adjacent to and on opposite sides of the first ferromagnetic layer; and first and second electrodes disposed adjacent to the first and second dielectric layers, respectively.

Claim 31

The magnetic device of claim 24, wherein a second ferromagnetic layer is disposed between the second electrode and the second dielectric layer.

Claim 32

The magnetic device of claim 25 wherein the first and second ferromagnetic layers each have a spin direction, the spin directions being substantially perpendicular to each other.

Claim 33

The magnetic device of claim 24 wherein a magnetization direction of one of the first and second ferromagnetic layers is fixed and the magnetization direction of another one of the first and second ferromagnetic layers is rotatable.

Claim 34

The magnetic device of claim 24 further comprising a third electrode coupled to the first ferromagnetic layer to control the discrete energy level of the first ferromagnetic layer.

Claim 35

The magnetic device of claim 24 wherein the first ferromagnetic layer may be formed of a soft magnetic material.

Claim 36

The magnetic device of claim 29 wherein the soft magnetic material may be selected from the group of a Ni-Fe alloy, a half-metal material, a perovskite oxide half-metal, and an amorphous alloy.

Claim 37

The magnetic device of claim 24 further comprising second and third ferromagnetic layers disposed between the first dielectric layer and the first electrode and between the second dielectric layer and the second electrode, respectively, and wherein at least one of the first and second electrodes includes an antiferromagnetic layer adjacent to the corresponding one of the second and third ferromagnetic layers.