Patent ID: 9166155
Filing Date: 2015-10-20
Classification: G11B,G11C,H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of manufacturing a spin-torque magnetoresistive device, the method comprising: forming a first electrically conductive electrode layer over a substrate, forming at least one layer of first magnetic material over the first electrically conductive electrode; forming a first tunnel barrier layer over the at least one layer of first magnetic material; forming at least one layer of second magnetic material over the first tunnel barrier layer; forming a second electrically conductive electrode layer over the at least one layer of second magnetic material; forming a first hard mask over a portion of the second electrically conductive electrode layer; performing a first etch, after forming the first hard mask, through the second electrically conductive electrode layer and the at least one layer of second magnetic material to form a second electrically conductive electrode and provide sidewalls of the at least one layer of second magnetic material; forming a second hard mask over the second electrically conductive electrode and the sidewalls of the at least one layer of second magnetic material; performing a second etch, after forming the second hard mask, through the first tunnel barrier layer to form the first tunnel barrier, wherein the first tunnel barrier includes sidewalls; after performing the second etch, forming a third hard mask; and performing a third etch, after forming the third hard mask, through the first electrically conductive electrode layer to form the first electrically conductive electrode.