IP Library Granted Patent US 7,679,074
Granted Patent B2
US 7,679,074 · App. 11/766,822 · Granted Mar 16, 2010

Integrated circuit having multilayer electrode

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,679,074
App. No.
11/766,822
Granted
Mar 16, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

An integrated circuit includes a contact and a first electrode coupled to the contact. The first electrode includes at least two electrode material layers. The at least two electrode material layers include different materials. The integrated circuit includes a second electrode and a resistivity changing material between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Claims (38)

1. An integrated circuit comprising:

a contact;

a first electrode coupled to the contact, the first electrode including at least two electrode material layers, the at least two electrode material layers comprising different materials:

a second electrode; and

a resistivity changing material between the first electrode and the second electrode,

wherein the first electrode comprises a first electrode material layer contacting a second electrode material layer, and a third electrode material layer contacting the second electrode material layer, the first electrode material layer comprising a same material as the third electrode material layer, and the first electrode material layer comprising a different material from the second electrode material layer.

2. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the second electrode material layer comprises one of TiN, TaN, W, WN, TiSiN, TiAlN, TaSiN, TaCN, TaAlN, C, Si, Ge, and a phase change material.

3. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode material layer comprises one of TiN, TaN, W, WN, TiSiN, TiAlN, TaSiN, TaCN, TaAlN, and C.

4. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the resistivity changing material comprises phase change material.

5. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode thermally insulates the contact from the resistivity changing material.

6. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the resistivity changing material comprises a first portion having a first cross-sectional width and a second portion having a second cross-sectional width different from the first cross-sectional width.

7. The integrated circuit of claim 6 , wherein the first portion is tapered and contacts the first electrode.

8. The integrated circuit of claim 6 , wherein the second portion contacts the second electrode, and

wherein the second cross-sectional width is equal to a cross-sectional width of the second electrode.

9. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the contact comprises one of TiN, TaN, W, Al, Ti, Ta, TiSiN, TaSiN, TaCN, TiAlN, TaAlN, Cu, WN, and C.

10. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the resistivity changing material provides a storage location for storing one or more bits of data.

11. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , further comprising:

dielectric material laterally surrounding the contact, the first electrode, the second electrode, and the resistivity changing material.

12. The integrated circuit of claim 11 , wherein the dielectric material comprises one of SiO 2 , SiO x , SiN, fluorinated silica glass (FSG), boro-phosphorous silicate glass (BPSG), and boro-silicate glass (BSG).

13. An integrated circuit comprising:

a contact;

a first electrode coupled to the contact, the first electrode including at least three electrode material layers, at least two of the at least three electrode material layers comprising different materials;

a second electrode; and

a resistivity changing material between the first electrode and the second electrode.

14. An integrated circuit of claim 13 , wherein the first electrode comprises at least four electrode material layers.

15. An integrated circuit of claim 13 , wherein the first electrode comprises at least five electrode material layers.

16. The integrated circuit of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the electrode material layers comprises one of TiN, TaN, W, WN, TiSiN, TiAlN, TaSiN, TaCN, TaAlN, C, Si, Ge, and a phase change material.

17. The integrated circuit of claim 13 , wherein the resistivity changing material comprises phase change material.

18. The integrated circuit of claim 13 , wherein the first electrode thermally insulates the contact from the resistivity changing material.

19. The integrated circuit of claim 13 , wherein the resistivity changing material comprises a first portion having a first cross-sectional width and a second portion having a second cross-sectional width different from the first cross-sectional width.

20. The integrated circuit of claim 19 , wherein the first portion is tapered and contacts the first electrode.

21. The integrated circuit of claim 19 , wherein the second portion contacts the second electrode, and

wherein the second cross-sectional width is equal to a cross-sectional width of the second electrode.

22. The integrated circuit of claim 13 , wherein the contact comprises one of TiN, TaN, W, Al, Ti, Ta, TiSiN, TaSiN, TaCN, TiAlN, TaAlN, Cu, WN, and C.

23. The integrated circuit of claim 13 , wherein the resistivity changing material provides a storage location for storing one or more bits of data.

24. The integrated circuit of claim 13 , further comprising:

dielectric material laterally surrounding the contact, the first electrode, the second electrode, and the resistivity changing material.

25. The integrated circuit of claim 24 , wherein the dielectric material comprises one of SiO 2 , SiO x , SiN, fluorinated silica glass (FSG), boro-phosphorous silicate glass (BPSG), and boro-silicate glass (BSG).

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2015
From: QIMONDA AG
To: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
Reel/Frame 035623/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2011
From: QIMONDA NORTH AMERICA CORP
To: QIMONDA AG
Reel/Frame 026138/0613 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 7, 2007
From: PHILIPP, JAN BORIS; HAPP, THOMAS
To: QIMONDA NORTH AMERICA CORP.
Reel/Frame 019655/0708 →