Design of logic module based on magnetic-tunnel-junction elements for nonvolatile field-programmable gate array

Abstract

Magnetologic using a magnetic-tunnel-junction (MTJ) element is a very hopeful candidate for universal logic technology because it can be used to build both logic circuits and nonvolatile memories. A structure of single-layer (SL) MTJ with a novel current driver previously presented by the authors improved both functional flexibility and uniformity of magnetologic. In this paper, the design of a nonvolatile logic module using SL MTJ is presented, which can be used as a basic logic cell for nonvolatile field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). The Smodule is a basic logic cell for Act3 family of FPGAs by Actel, which can implement arbitrary five-input logic functions. We designed an Smodule using SL MTJ elements such that it can work as a programmable logic module with nonvolatility. The functional verification has been carried out by HSPICE simulator on the basis of a macro-model of SL MTJ. © 2009 The Japan Society of Applied Physics.