Patent ID: 8169816

Claim:
A MRAM structure including a row of MRAM cells wherein each MRAM cell has a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) element in which a distance between a free layer in a MTJ element and a tip of a cladding layer formed along sidewalls of a conductive line used to switch a magnetic state in said free layer is well controlled, comprising: (a) a patterned MTJ element with an uppermost non-magnetic capping layer formed coplanar with a dielectric layer; (b) a conductive line that is aligned above and maintained a certain distance from a free layer in each of the MTJ elements in the row of MRAM cells, said conductive line is used to switch a magnetic state within a free layer in at least one of said MTJ elements when a write current is applied to the conductive line; (c) a cladding structure, comprising: (1) cladding sidewalls comprised of a magnetic material and formed on each of two sides of the conductive line that are aligned in a direction perpendicular to a top surface of each of the MTJ elements; and (2) a top cladding layer comprising a magnetic material and formed on a side of the conductive line that faces away from the MTJ elements, said top cladding layer is connected to said cladding sidewalls; and (d) a spacing control layer which is part of the conductive line and extends a substantial distance along the conductive line, said spacing control layer is comprised of a highly conductive and non-magnetic material having a side that contacts the top surface in each of said MTJ elements and an opposite side that contacts the cladded conductive line.