Patent ID: 9269894
Filing Date: 2016-02-23
CPC Classification: G11B,G11C,H01L,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A method of manufacturing a magnetoresistive device that includes a magnetoresistive stack, comprising: etching a first portion of the magnetoresistive stack with a non-reactive etch to produce an etched first portion of the magnetoresistive stack having sidewalls, where the first portion of the magnetoresistive stack includes a first dielectric layer corresponding to a tunnel barrier layer for the device and at least one layer of magnetic material, wherein etching the first portion with the non-reactive etch prevents oxidation or other degradation of the tunnel barrier layer and the at least one layer of magnetic material during the etching of the first portion; after etching the first portion of the magnetoresistive stack, encapsulating the sidewalls of the etched first portion of the magnetoresistive stack; and after encapsulating the sidewalls of the etched first portion of the magnetoresistive stack, etching a second portion of the magnetoresistive stack with a reactive, corrosive etch to produce an etched second portion of the magnetoresistive stack, wherein the second portion of the magnetoresistive stack includes a layer of antiferromagnetic material, and where the first portion of the magnetoresistive stack is over the second portion of the magnetoresistive stack.