Patent · US Active

Air cell thermal isolation for a memory array formed of a programmable resistive material

US7816661B2 · kind B2 · utility

16Cited by
116References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 21, 2006
Grant dateOct 19, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 5, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH10B63/30
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A memory device includes, a first electrode element, generally planar in form, having an inner contact surface. Then there is a cylindrical cap layer, spaced from the first electrode element, and a phase change element having contact surfaces in contact with the first electrode contact surface and the cap layer, in which the lateral dimension of the phase change element is less than that of the first electrode element and the cylindrical cap layer. A second electrode element extends through the cap layer to make contact with the phase change element. Side walls aligned with the cap layer, composed of dielectric fill material, extend between the first electrode elements and the cap layer, such that the phase change element, the contact surface of the first electrode element and the side walls define a gas-filled thermal isolation cell adjacent the phase change element.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.