Patent ID: 8513638

Claim:
A semiconductor device comprising: a first insulating film; a second insulating film over the first insulating film; a first memory structure between the first and second insulating films, the first memory structure comprising: a heater electrode; and a phase-change memory element between the heater electrode and the second insulating film, the phase-change memory element contacting the heater electrode; and a third insulating film between the first and second insulating films, the third insulating film covering at least a side surface of the phase-change memory element, and empty space being positioned adjacent to at least one of the heater electrode and the third insulating film, wherein the first memory structure further comprises: a lower contact plug penetrating the first insulating film, the lower contact plug contacting the heater electrode; an upper electrode over the phase-change memory element; and an upper contact plug over the upper electrode, the upper contact plug penetrating the second insulating film.