Patent ID: 6881351

Claim:
A method for contacting an electrically conductive layer overlying a magnetoelectronics element, the method comprising the steps of: forming a memory element layer overlying a dielectric region, said memory element lever having a first magnetic portion, a second magnetic portion overlying said first magnetic portion, and a separating layer disposed between said first magnetic portion and said second magnetic portion; depositing a first electrically conductive layer overlying said memory element layer; depositing a first dielectric layer overlying said first electrically conductive layer; patterning and etching said first dielectric layer to form a first masking layer; using said first masking layer, etching said first electrically conductive layer; depositing a second dielectric layer overlying said first masking layer and said dielectric region, said second dielectric layer comprising a material different from said first dielectric layer; removing a portion of said second dielectric layer to expose said first masking layer; and subjecting said second dielectric layer and said first masking layer to an etching chemistry such that said first masking layer is etched at a faster rate than said second dielectric layer, said etching of said first masking layer exposing said first electrically conductive layer.