Patent ID: 7799596

Claim:
A method for manufacturing a phase change memory device comprising the steps of: forming a first oxide layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming a lower electrode inside the first oxide layer in a damascene process; forming a second oxide layer on the first oxide layer so as to cover the lower electrode; etching the second oxide layer to form a hole for exposing a part of the lower electrode; forming a phase change layer on a surface of the hole and on the second oxide layer with a uniform thickness, the surface of the hole including the exposed part of the lower electrode; applying a photosensitive layer on the phase change layer so as to fill the hole; removing the phase change layer and the photosensitive layer on the second oxide layer by chemical mechanical polishing; removing the photosensitive layer remaining in the hole; depositing a conductive layer on the remaining phase change layer and the second oxide layer so as to fill the hole; and etching the conductive layer to form an upper electrode.