Patent ID: 7456460

Claim:
A phase-change memory element, comprising: a first conductive layer having a resistance; a second conductive layer having a resistance; an insulating layer disposed between the first and second conductive layers; and a phase change layer having a resistance, and coupled to each of the first and second phase change layers, bridging the insulating layer and electrically coupling the first and second conductive layers, wherein the first and second conductive layers, the phase change layer, and the insulating layer are disposed on a first level of a mesa step; a second level of the mesa step, including a contiguous portion of the first conductive layer, a contiguous portion of the phase layer disposed on the first conductive layer and a dielectric disposed on the phase layer, wherein the first level and the second level of the mesa step are electrically coupled via the junction, wherein the resistance of the phase change layer is greater than both the resistance of the first conductive layer and the conductive layer, wherein the phase layer is a conformal layer configured as a strip defined contiguously along the first level, the junction, and the second layer, wherein the junction defines a phase changing path between the first and second conductive layers.