Patent ID: 9553257
Date: 2017-01-24
CPC Classifications: G11C,H01L

Claim:
1. A method of forming a linear magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) device, the method comprising: forming a contact layer comprising alternating stripes of conductive material and non-conducting material extending in parallel, the contact layer being formed on top of a substrate; depositing a magnetic tunnel junction layer on top of the contact layer; etching grooves in both the magnetic tunnel junction layer and the contact layer stopping at the substrate, wherein etching the grooves: forms a plurality of linear magnetic tunnel junction structures out of the magnetic tunnel junction layer, wherein the plurality of linear magnetic tunnel junction structures includes a non-magnetic tunnel barrier on top of a free layer and a reference layer on top of the non-magnetic tunnel barrier; forms a plurality of bottom contacts underneath the plurality of linear magnetic tunnel junction structures, the plurality of bottom contacts formed out of the contact layer by etching the grooves and non-conducting material to form islands of dielectric; and forms the plurality of bottom contacts separated from one another by the grooves in a first direction and by the islands of dielectric in a second direction, while the plurality of bottom contacts are self-aligned to the plurality of linear magnetic tunnel junction structures, wherein the plurality of bottom contacts abut a bottom of the plurality of linear magnetic tunnel junction structures; and forming a plurality of magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) devices by having non-conducting parts of the free layer isolating individual interfaces between the plurality of bottom contacts and the free layer, the plurality of MRAM devices being formed in lines corresponding to the plurality of linear magnetic tunnel junction structures.