IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,450,722
Granted Patent B2
US 8,450,722 · App. 13/183,968 · Granted May 28, 2013

Magnetoresistive random access memory and method of making the same

Inventors: Ming-Te Liu (Taipei, TW); Tien-Wei Chiang (Hsinchu, TW); Ya-Chen Kao (Fuxing Township, TW); Wen-Cheng Chen (Hsinchu, TW)
Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,450,722
App. No.
13/183,968
Granted
May 28, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) cell includes a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ), a top electrode disposed over the MTJ, a bottom electrode disposed below the MTJ, and an induction line disposed to one side of the MTJ. The induction line is configured to induce a perpendicular magnetic field at the MTJ.

Claims (37)

1. A magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) cell, comprising:

a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ);

a top electrode disposed over the MTJ;

a bottom electrode disposed below the MTJ; and

an induction line disposed to one side of the MTJ,

wherein the induction line is configured to induce a perpendicular magnetic field at the MTJ.

2. The MRAM cell of claim 1 , wherein the induction line is formed in the same layer as the top electrode.

3. The MRAM cell of claim 1 , wherein the induction line is formed in the same layer as the bottom electrode.

4. The MRAM cell of claim 1 , wherein the induction line is formed in the same layer as the MTJ.

5. The MRAM cell of claim 1 , wherein the MTJ comprises a free layer, a fixed layer, and an insulator disposed between the free layer and the fixed layer, the fixed layer has a fixed magnetic polarity, and the free layer has a changeable magnetic polarity.

6. The MRAM cell of claim 5 wherein the free layer comprises CoFeB or NiFe.

7. The MRAM cell of claim 5 , wherein the fixed layer comprises CoFe or CoFeB.

8. The MRAM cell of claim 5 wherein the insulator comprises MgO or Al 2 O 3 .

9. The MRAM cell of claim 1 , wherein the MTJ has an oval or elliptic shape.

10. The MRAM cell of claim 1 , wherein the MRAM cell is a spin transfer torque (STT) MRAM cell.

11. A method of fabricating a magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) cell, comprising:

forming a bottom electrode over a substrate;

forming a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) over the bottom electrode;

forming a top electrode over the MTJ; and

forming an induction line disposed to one side of the MTJ, wherein the induction line is configured to induce a perpendicular magnetic field at the MTJ.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the induction line is formed in the same layer as the top electrode.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the induction line is formed in the same layer as the bottom electrode.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the induction line is formed in the same layer as the MTJ.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein forming the MTJ comprises:

forming a fixed layer having a fixed magnetic polarity over the bottom electrode;

forming an insulator over the fixed layer; and

forming a free layer over the insulator having a Changeable magnetic polarity.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the free layer comprises CoFeB or NiFe.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the fixed layer comprises CoFe or CoFeB.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the insulator comprises MgO or Al 2 O 3 .

19. A magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) cell, comprising:

a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) including a free layer, a fixed layer, and an insulator disposed between the free layer and the fixed layer, wherein the fixed layer has a fixed magnetic polarity, and the free layer has a changeable magnetic polarity;

a top electrode disposed over the MTJ;

a bottom electrode disposed below the MTJ; and

an induction line disposed to one side of the MTJ,

wherein the induction line is configured to induce a perpendicular magnetic field at the MTJ and the MTJ has an oval or elliptic shape.

20. The MRAM cell of claim 19 , wherein the MTJ is above a via.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2011
From: LIU, MING-TE; CHIANG, TIEN-WEI; KAO, YA-CHEN; CHEN, WEN-CHENG
To: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 026600/0504 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130015538A1 · Jan 17, 2013