Patent · US Active

Decoupling of source line layout from access transistor contact placement in a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) memory bit cell to facilitate reduced contact resistance

US9721634B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
5References
36Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 22, 2015
Grant dateAug 1, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 22, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH10B61/22
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) memory bit cells that decouple source line layout from access transistor node size to facilitate reduced contact resistance are disclosed. In one example, an MTJ memory bit cell is provided that includes a source plate disposed above and in contact with a source contact for a source node of an access transistor. A source line is disposed above and in electrical contact with the source plate to electrically connect the source line to the source node. The source plate allows the source line to be provided in a higher metal level from the source and drain contacts of the access transistor such that the source line is not in physical contact with (i.e., decoupled from) the source contact. This allows pitch between the source line and drain column to be relaxed from the width of the source and drain nodes without having to increase contact resistance.

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