Patent ID: 9159910
Filing Date: 2015-10-13
Classification: G11C,H01L

Abstract:
1. A method for integrating a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) device into an integrated circuit comprising: providing in a semiconductor process flow a substrate having a first interlevel dielectric layer and a first metal interconnect extending through a top surface and a bottom surface of the first interlevel dielectric layer; depositing on the first interlevel dielectric layer and the first metal interconnect a magnetic tunnel junction structure, the magnetic tunnel junction structure including a plurality of MTJ material layers and a first electrode layer, the first electrode layer deposited directly on the first metal interconnect and on the first interlevel dielectric layer; defining from all of the magnetic tunnel junction structure a magnetic tunnel junction stack coupled to the first metal interconnect using only a single mask process, the magnetic tunnel junction stack being integrated into the integrated circuit; and depositing a first dielectric passivation barrier layer on the magnetic tunnel junction stack and directly on the first interlevel dielectric layer.