Patent ID: 9502640
Filing Date: 2016-11-22
CPC Classification: G11C,H01L

Claim Text:
1. A magnetic random access memory (MRAM) device, comprising: a spacer disposed on an electrode; a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) disposed on the spacer, the MTJ comprising a reference layer, a free layer, and a tunnel barrier layer between the reference layer and the free layer, and the reference layer positioned in contact with the spacer; a hard mask disposed on the free layer of the MTJ; an interlayer dielectric (ILD) disposed on and around the hard mask, the MTJ, and the spacer; an insulating layer positioned along a sidewall of the hard mask, MTJ, and spacer; and a trench that extends through the ILD and comprises a metal that forms a contact electrode, the contact electrode positioned in contact with a surface of the hard mask, a sidewall of the hard mask, and a sidewall of a portion of the MTJ.