Magnetic of forming magnetic tunnel junction device using protective mask
US11387406B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 17, 2020 |
| Grant date | Jul 12, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 2, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10B61/22
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In an embodiment, a method includes: forming a first inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layer over a semiconductor substrate; forming a bottom electrode layer over the first IMD layer; forming a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) film stack over the bottom electrode layer; forming a first top electrode layer over the MTJ film stack; forming a protective mask covering a first region of the first top electrode layer, a second region of the first top electrode layer being uncovered by the protective mask; forming a second top electrode layer over the protective mask and the first top electrode layer; and patterning the second top electrode layer, the first top electrode layer, the MTJ film stack, the bottom electrode layer, and the first IMD layer with an ion beam etching (IBE) process to form a MRAM cell, where the protective mask is etched during the IBE process.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.