IP Library Granted Patent US 8,338,812
Granted Patent B2
US 8,338,812 · App. 12/014,867 · Granted Dec 25, 2012

Vertical spacer electrodes for variable-resistance material memories and vertical spacer variable-resistance material memory cells

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,338,812
App. No.
12/014,867
Granted
Dec 25, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

Variable-resistance memory material cells are contacted by vertical bottom spacer electrodes. Variable-resistance material memory spacer cells are contacted along the edge by electrodes. Processes include the formation of the bottom spacer electrodes as well as the variable-resistance material memory spacer cells. Devices include the variable-resistance memory cells.

Claims (32)

1. A process comprising:

forming a dielectric mesa above a semiconductive substrate;

forming a bottom spacer electrode against the dielectric mesa;

forming an isolated variable-resistance material memory (VRMM) cell in contact with the bottom spacerelectrode, wherein a minor-axis surface of the bottom spacerelectrode forms an interface with the isolated variable-resistance material memory (VRMM) cell; and

forming a top electrode in contact with the VRMM cell.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein forming the VRMM cell includes forming an isolated variable-resistance material memory (VRMM) cell in contact with the bottom spacerelectrode, wherein a minor-axis surface of the bottom spacerelectrode forms an interface with a contact pad.

3. The process of claim 1 , further including:

forming a plurality of gate stacks upon the semiconductive substrate;

coupling the semiconductive substrate to a plurality of contacts;

coupling at least some of the contacts each to one of a plurality of contact pads; and

forming the bottom spacer electrode in contact with one of the plurality of contact pads.

4. The process of claim 1 , further including coupling the VRMM cell to portions in the semiconductive substrate, the semiconductive substrate including an n-channel periphery, a p-channel periphery, and an array region.

5. The process of claim 1 , further including coupling the VRMM cell to portions in the semiconductive substrate, the semiconductive substrate including an n-channel periphery, a p-channel periphery, and an array region for a VRMM device.

6. A process comprising:

forming an isolated variable-resistance material memory (VRMM) spacer cell above a semiconductive substrate;

forming a first electrode electrically coupled between the VRMM spacer cell and the semiconductive substrate, wherein a minor-axis surface of the first electrode forms an interface with the isolated variable-resistance material memory (VRMM) cell; and

forming a second electrode in contact with the VRMM spacer cell and across from the first electrode.

7. The process of claim 6 , further including coupling the VRMM spacer cell to portions in the semiconductive substrate including an n-channel periphery, a p-channel periphery, and an array region.

8. The process of claim 6 , further including coupling the VRMM spacer cell to portions in the semiconductive substrate including an n-channel periphery, a p-channel periphery, and an array region for a VRMM device.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a bottom spacer electrode in contact with a contact pad that is disposed upon a semiconductive substrate;

an isolated variable-resistance material memory (VRMM) cell coupled to the bottom spacer electrode, wherein a minor-axis surface of the bottom spacerelectrode forms an interface with the isolated variable-resistance material memory (VRMM) cell; and

a top electrode coupled to the VRMM cell.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the VRMM cell includes a bottom spacerelectrode, wherein a minor-axis surface of the bottom spacerelectrode forms an interface with the contact pad.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein a variable-resistance material is selected from an alloy, a quasi-metal composition, a metal oxide, and a chalcogenide.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the VRMM cell includes contact with the bottom spacer electrode along a minor-axis dimension and along a major-axis dimension, and wherein the variable-resistance material is selected from an alloy, a quasi-metal composition, a metal oxide, and a chalcogenide.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the VRMM cell is coupled to portions in the semiconductive substrate including an n-channel periphery, a p-channel periphery, and an array region.

14. An apparatus comprising:

an isolated variable-resistance material memory (VRMM) cell coupled to a first electrode and a contact that is disposed upon a semiconductive substrate, wherein a minor-axis surface of the isolated variable-resistance material memory (VRMM) cell forms an interface with the first electrode; and

a second electrode coupled to the VRMM cell.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein a variable-resistance material is selected from an alloy, a quasi-metal composition, a metal oxide, and a chalcogenide.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the VRMM spacer cell is coupled to portions in the semiconductive substrate including an n-channel periphery, a p-channel periphery, and an array region.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 1, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC
To: OVONYX MEMORY TECHNOLOGY, LLC
Reel/Frame 039974/0496 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 7, 2008
From: LIU, JUN
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 020620/0266 →