IP Library Granted Patent US 7,825,478
Granted Patent B2
US 7,825,478 · App. 12/407,823 · Granted Nov 2, 2010

Polarity dependent switch for resistive sense memory

Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,825,478
App. No.
12/407,823
Granted
Nov 2, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

Polarity dependent switches for resistive sense memory are described. A memory unit includes a resistive sense memory cell configured to switch between a high resistance state and a low resistance state upon passing a current through the resistive sense memory cell and a semiconductor transistor in electrical connection with the resistive sense memory cell. The semiconductor transistor includes a gate element formed on a substrate. The semiconductor transistor includes a source contact and a bit contact. The gate element electrically connects the source contact and the bit contact. The resistive sense memory cell electrically connects to the bit contact. The source contact and the bit contact are asymmetrically implanted with dopant material.

Claims (23)

1. A memory unit, comprising:

a resistive sense memory cell configured to switch between a high resistance state and a low resistance state upon passing a current through the resistive sense memory cell;

a semiconductor transistor in electrical connection with the resistive sense memory cell, the semiconductor transistor comprising a gate element formed on a substrate, the semiconductor transistor comprises a source contact and a bit contact, the gate element electrically connecting the source contact and the bit contact, the resistive sense memory cell electrically connected to the bit contact, the source contact and the bit contact being asymmetrically implanted with dopant material, the source contact is halo implanted with a dopant material and the bit contact is not halo implanted with a dopant material.

2. A memory unit according to claim 1 , wherein the amount of dopant material in the source contact is greater than the amount of dopant material in the bit contact.

3. A memory unit according to claim 1 , wherein the dopant material is boron.

4. A memory unit according to claim 1 , wherein the bit contact includes a lightly doped drain region.

5. A memory unit according to claim 1 , wherein the resistive sense memory cell comprises a spin-torque transfer memory cell.

6. A memory unit according to claim 1 , wherein a write current in an easy direction passes through the source contact before the bit contact, and a write current in a hard direction passes through the bit contact before the source contact.

7. A memory unit according to claim 1 , wherein the memory unit includes only a single semiconductor transistor in electrical connection with a single resistive sense memory cell.

8. A memory unit according to claim 1 , wherein the memory unit further includes a second semiconductor transistor in electrical connection with the resistive sense memory cell.

9. A memory unit, comprising:

a resistive sense memory cell configured to switch between a high resistance state and a low resistance state upon passing a current through the resistive sense memory cell;

a first switching device in electrical connection with the resistive sense memory cell, the first switching device comprising a first gate element formed on a substrate, the first switching device comprises a first source contact and a common bit contact, the first gate element electrically connecting the first source contact and the common bit contact, the resistive sense memory cell electrically connected to the common bit contact, the first source contact and the common bit contact being asymmetrically implanted with dopant material; and

a second switching device in electrical connection with the resistive sense memory cell, the second switching device comprising a second gate element formed on the substrate, the second switching device comprises a second source contact and the common bit contact, the second gate element electrically connecting the second source contact and the common bit contact, the resistive sense memory cell electrically connected to the common bit contact, the second source contact and the common bit contact being asymmetrically implanted with dopant material;

wherein the first source contact and the second source contact are more heavily implanted with dopant material than the common bit contact.

10. A memory unit according to claim 9 , wherein the first source contact and second source contact is halo implanted with a dopant material.

11. A memory unit according to claim 10 , wherein the common bit contact includes a lightly doped drain region.

12. A memory unit according to claim 11 , wherein the common bit contact is not halo implanted with a dopant material.

13. A memory unit according to claim 9 , wherein the resistive sense memory cell comprises a spin-torque transfer memory cell.

14. A memory unit according to claim 9 , wherein the first source contact and the second source contact are electrically connected to a common source line.

15. A memory unit according to claim 9 , wherein the first gate contact and second gate contact are electrically connected to a common word line.

16. A select device comprising;

a semiconductor transistor comprising a gate element formed on a substrate, the semiconductor transistor comprises a source contact and a bit contact, the gate element electrically connecting the source contact and the bit contact, the source contact and the bit contact being asymmetrically implanted with dopant material, the source contact is halo implanted with a dopant material and the bit contact is not halo implanted with a dopant material.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 23, 2025
From: THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA
To: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY HDD HOLDINGS; I365 INC.; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL; SEAGATE HDD CAYMAN; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY (US) HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 072193/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 25, 2019
From: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
To: EVERSPIN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 050483/0188 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Jul 19, 2013
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND SECOND PRIORITY REPRESENTATIVE
To: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC; EVAULT INC. (F/K/A I365 INC.); SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY US HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 030833/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 24, 2011
From: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 026010/0350 →
RELEASE Recorded Jan 19, 2011
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY HDD HOLDINGS; MAXTOR CORPORATION; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
Reel/Frame 025662/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 15, 2009
From: MAXTOR CORPORATION; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND FIRST PRIORITY REPRESENTATIVE; WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND SECOND PRIORITY REPRESENTATIVE
Reel/Frame 022757/0017 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 20, 2009
From: JUNG, CHULMIN; KHOURY, MAROUN GEORGES; LU, YONG; PIL, YOUNG
To: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 022426/0172 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 6111227500 · Nov 7, 2008
Related Publication 20100117160A1 · May 13, 2010