Patent ID: 8970213
Filing Date: 2015-03-03
Classification: G11C,H01L

Abstract:
1. A method for manufacturing a magnetoresistance effect element, the magnetoresistance effect element comprising: an underlayer as a single layer film or a multilayer film made of any of tantalum, titanium, aluminum, silicon, ruthenium, tantalum nitride, titanium nitride, ruthenium oxide, ruthenium nitride, tantalum carbide, and titanium carbide; a patterned multilayer film comprising an antiferromagnetic layer, a magnetization fixed layer, a barrier layer, and a magnetization free layer formed on a first region of the underlayer; and a patterned cap layer formed on the multilayer film, and the method comprising: a protective film forming step of forming a protective film on a surface of a second region outside the first region of the underlayer, a sidewall of the multilayer film, and a surface of the cap layer; and an electrode forming step of forming an upper electrode and a lower electrode in one etching process which etches at least a portion of each of (a) the protective film formed on the surface of the second region of the underlayer, (b) the protective film formed on the surface of the cap layer, and (c) the second region of the underlayer, so that the cap layer is exposed to provide the upper electrode and the first region of the underlayer is exposed to provide the lower electrode.