Patent ID: 8513637
Filing Date: 2013-08-20
Classification: G11C,H01L

Abstract:
1. An array of memory cells on a semiconductor substrate, the array comprising: a plurality of at least three substantially equally spaced word lines on the semiconductor substrate extending in a first direction, the word lines having word line widths, word line top surfaces, and respective sidewall surfaces; sidewall dielectric elements on the sidewall surfaces; a plurality of pairs of doped regions in the substrate between adjacent word lines, wherein pairs include respective first and second doped regions; a plurality of sidewall bottom electrodes, the sidewall bottom electrodes being conformal layer electrodes of conformably formed electrode material on the sidewall dielectric elements, first and second sidewall bottom electrodes in the plurality of bottom electrodes: the bottom surfaces of the first and second sidewall bottom electrodes being below the word line top surfaces of said adjacent word lines; a memory material layer comprising a programmable resistive material; the memory material layer being continuous along the top surfaces of the sidewall bottom electrodes; the memory material layer comprising a plurality of memory elements, the memory elements in electrical contact with top surfaces of corresponding bottom electrodes; a plurality of top electrode structures positioned over and along the memory material layer and in electrical contact with memory elements in the plurality of memory elements, the top electrode structures having sides extending in a second direction, and wherein the bottom electrodes in the plurality of bottom electrodes have sides aligned with the sides of the corresponding top electrode structures; wherein the memory elements are vertically aligned with both the bottom electrodes and the top electrode structures; and a plurality of dielectric isolation structures, wherein the dielectric isolation structures isolate respective pairs of the first and second doped regions between adjacent word lines.