Patent ID: 9246089
Filing Date: 2016-01-26
CPC Classification: G11C,H01L

Claim Text:
1. A programmable memory cell comprising: a first conductor extending in a first direction; a vertical pillar consisting essentially of semiconductor material and conductivity-enhancing dopants and having a top surface and a bottom surface; and a second conductor above the first conductor extending in a second direction different from the first direction, wherein: the vertical pillar is disposed between the first and second conductors, the top surface and the bottom surface are in electrical contact with the first and second conductors, the vertical pillar comprises a silicon-germanium alloy and has a bottom region and a center region, the bottom region having a higher ratio of silicon to germanium than the center region, no dielectric rupture antifuse is disposed between the first and second conductors, and the programmable memory cell has a high impedance state and conducts unprogrammed current during application of a read voltage and has a low impedance state and conducts programmed current after application of a programming voltage and then the read voltage.