The present invention provides a storage apparatus including a variable resistance element having a recording layer between two electrodes. In the variable resistance element, a resistance value of the recording layer is reversibly changed to one of a value in a high-resistance state and a value in a low-resistance state by applying potentials of different polarities to the two electrodes. An absolute value of a threshold value of an applied signal at a time of change from the high-resistance state to the low-resistance state and an absolute value of a threshold value of an applied signal at a time of change from the low-resistance state to the high-resistance state differ from each other. A reading signal for detecting the resistance value of the recording layer in the variable resistance element is applied with a polarity of one of the threshold values of the applied signals which one has a higher absolute value and with a value lower than the absolute value.

A low-power memory device that uses hole-mediated ferromagnetism creates substantial advantages over conventional systems. Some of these advantages include reducing power consumption by several orders of magnitude and facilitating wireless monitoring of memory cells. In one implementation, an electronic device is described that includes a plurality of memory cells. Each of the memory cells has a material with first and second magnetic states. The material is in the first magnetic state when a contact associated with the material is at a first voltage, and the material is in the second magnetic state when the contact is at a second voltage. A conductor is positioned proximate to and extending around the plurality of memory cells. An inductive voltage across the conductor varies when at least one of the memory cells changes magnetic state. A detection device determines the magnetic state of the memory cells based on an inductive voltage measurement.

A magnetic cell includes: a first ferromagnetic layer whose magnetization is substantially fixed in a first direction; a second ferromagnetic layer whose magnetization is substantially fixed in a second direction opposite to the first direction; a third ferromagnetic layer provided between the first and the second ferromagnetic layers, a direction of magnetization of the third ferromagnetic layer being variable; a first intermediate layer provided between the first and the third ferromagnetic layers; and a second intermediate layer provided between the second and the third ferromagnetic layers. The direction of magnetization of the third ferromagnetic layer can be determined under an influence of spin-polarized electrons upon the third ferromagnetic layer by passing a current between the first and the second ferromagnetic layers.

A magnetic cell includes a first magnetically fixed part including a laminated structure where a first ferromagnetic layer, a nonmagnetic layer and a second ferromagnetic layer are laminated, a second magnetically fixed part including a third ferromagnetic layer, a fourth ferromagnetic layer provided between the first and the second magnetically fixed parts, a first intermediate layer provided between the first magnetically fixed part and the fourth ferromagnetic layer, and a second intermediate layer provided between the second magnetically fixed part and the fourth ferromagnetic layer, a direction of magnetization of the fourth ferromagnetic layer being determined under an influence of spin-polarized electrons upon the fourth ferromagnetic layer by passing a current between the first and the second magnetically fixed parts.

A magnetic cell includes a first ferromagnetic layer whose magnetization is substantially fixed in a first direction; a second ferromagnetic layer whose magnetization is substantially fixed in a second direction opposite to the first direction; a third ferromagnetic layer provided between the first and the second ferromagnetic layers, a direction of magnetization of the third ferromagnetic layer being variable; a first intermediate layer provided between the first and the third ferromagnetic layers; and a second intermediate layer provided between the second and the third ferromagnetic layers. The direction of magnetization of the third ferromagnetic layer can be determined under an influence of spin-polarized electrons upon the third ferromagnetic layer by passing a current between the first and the second ferromagnetic layers.