Patent ID: 8148174

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a magnetic memory element comprising: first etching an oxide layer, using a first photo-resist, to leave a portion of the oxide layer, the portion of the oxide layer having a length and a width, the oxide layer formed on top of a contact layer, the contact layer formed on top of a free layer, the free layer formed on top of a barrier layer, the barrier layer formed on top of a fixed layer, the fixed layer formed on top of a metal layer that is deposited along the plane of a substrate, the free layer, barrier layer and fixed layer defining a magneto tunnel junction (MTJ), the MTJ and contact layer defining a MTJ stack, the width of the portion of the oxide layer being defined along the plane of the substrate and having a size that is substantially the size of a desired width of the free layer after manufacturing of the magnetic memory element, the length of the portion of the oxide layer being substantially perpendicular to the width thereof, wherein the length of the portion of the oxide layer extends from the top of the contact layer to the bottom of the first photo-resist; Depositing a second photo-resist on top of and around the portion of the oxide layer; and second etching the MTJ stack, using the second photo-resist, to leave a portion of the contact layer, a portion of the free layer and a portion of the barrier layer, each of the portion of the contact layer, free layer and barrier layer having a width equal to the width of the second photo-resist; and third etching the MTJ stack, using the portion of the oxide layer, to leave a second portion of the contact layer, a second portion of the free layer and a second portion of the barrier layer, each of the second portion of the contact layer, free layer and barrier layer having a width equal to the width of the portion of the oxide layer.