Patent ID: 8575588

Claim:
A circuit including a phase change memory device, the circuit comprising: a phase change memory cell, the phase change memory cell including: a phase change memory structure, the phase change memory structure including material over an insulating layer, the material exhibiting a first resistive value when in a first phase state and exhibiting a second resistive value when in a second phase state; a heater electrically coupled to the phase change memory structure, wherein the heater includes a silicide structure for producing heat when current flows through the silicide structure for changing a phase state of the phase change memory structure, wherein: the silicide structure having a bottom surface directly on the insulating layer and a top surface above the bottom surface that comprises a first silicided region narrowing to a first pointed edge extending from the bottom surface directly on the insulating layer to the top surface and a second silicided region narrowing to a second pointed edge extending from the bottom surface directly on the insulating layer to the top surface, wherein the first and second pointed edges are in parallel and are vertical with respect to the bottom surface; the first pointed edge is separated from the second pointed edge; the first pointed edge and the second pointed edge contact the phase change memory structure; and current flows from the first pointed edge to the second pointed edge for producing the heat.