公开(公告)号：US08309166B2

公开(公告)日：2012-11-13

申请号：US13154254

申请日：2011-06-06

申请人： Jun Liu ,  Gurtej Sandhu

发明人： Jun Liu ,  Gurtej Sandhu

IPC分类号： G11C11/00 ,  G11C7/00

CPC分类号： H01L43/08 ,  B82Y25/00 ,  B82Y40/00 ,  G11C11/16 ,  G11C11/161 ,  G11C11/1673 ,  G11C11/1675 ,  H01F10/3254 ,  H01F10/3268 ,  H01F10/329 ,  H01F41/306 ,  H01F41/307 ,  H01L27/228 ,  Y10S977/70

摘要： A magnetic cell structure including a nonmagnetic filament contact, and methods of fabricating the structure are provided. The magnetic cell structure includes a free layer, a pinned layer, an insulative layer between the free and pinned layers, and a nonmagnetic filament contact in the insulative layer which electrically connects the free and pinned layers. The nonmagnetic filament contact is formed from a nonmagnetic source layer, also between the free and pinned layers. The filament contact directs a programming current through the magnetic cell structure such that the cross sectional area of the programming current in the free layer is less than the cross section of the structure. The decrease in the cross sectional area of the programming current in the free layer enables a lower programming current to reach a critical switching current density in the free layer and switch the magnetization of the free layer, programming the magnetic cell.

摘要翻译： 提供包括非磁性细丝接触的磁性单元结构以及制造该结构的方法。 磁性单元结构包括自由层，钉扎层，自由层和被钉扎层之间的绝缘层，以及绝缘层中的非磁性细丝接触，其电连接自由层和被钉扎层。 非磁性细丝接触由非磁性源层形成，也在自由层和被钉扎层之间。 灯丝接触引导编程电流通过磁性电池结构，使得自由层中编程电流的横截面面积小于结构的横截面。 自由层中编程电流的横截面积的减小使编程电流能够达到自由层中的关键开关电流密度并切换自由层的磁化，对磁性单元进行编程。

公开(公告)号：US08218357B2

公开(公告)日：2012-07-10

申请号：US13108869

申请日：2011-05-16

申请人： Jun Liu ,  Gurtej Sandhu

发明人： Jun Liu ,  Gurtej Sandhu

IPC分类号： G11C11/00

CPC分类号： H01F10/329 ,  B82Y25/00 ,  G01R33/093 ,  G01R33/1284 ,  G11C11/161 ,  G11C11/1675 ,  H01F10/3254 ,  H01F10/3268

摘要： A magnetic memory cell including a soft magnetic layer and a coupling layer, and methods of operating the memory cell are provided. The memory cell includes a stack with a free ferromagnetic layer and a pinned ferromagnetic layer, and a soft magnetic layer and a coupling layer may also be formed as layers in the stack. The coupling layer may cause antiferromagnetic coupling to induce the free ferromagnetic layer to be magnetized in a direction antiparallel to the magnetization of the soft magnetic layer, or the coupling layer may cause ferromagnetic coupling to induce the free ferromagnetic layer to be magnetized in a direction parallel to the magnetization of the soft magnetic layer. The coupling layer, through a coupling effect, reduces the critical switching current of the memory cell.

摘要翻译： 提供了包括软磁性层和耦合层的磁存储单元，以及操作存储单元的方法。 存储单元包括具有自由铁磁层和钉扎铁磁层的堆叠，并且软磁层和耦合层也可以形成为堆叠中的层。 耦合层可以引起反铁磁耦合以使自由铁磁层在与软磁层的磁化方向反平行的方向上被磁化，或者耦合层可以引起铁磁性耦合，以使得自由铁磁层在平行方向上被磁化 到软磁层的磁化。 耦合层通过耦合效应降低了存储单元的关键开关电流。

公开(公告)号：US20110236568A1

公开(公告)日：2011-09-29

申请号：US13154254

申请日：2011-06-06

申请人： Jun Liu ,  Gurtej Sandhu

发明人： Jun Liu ,  Gurtej Sandhu

IPC分类号： B05D5/12

CPC分类号： H01L43/08 ,  B82Y25/00 ,  B82Y40/00 ,  G11C11/16 ,  G11C11/161 ,  G11C11/1673 ,  G11C11/1675 ,  H01F10/3254 ,  H01F10/3268 ,  H01F10/329 ,  H01F41/306 ,  H01F41/307 ,  H01L27/228 ,  Y10S977/70

摘要： A magnetic cell structure including a nonmagnetic filament contact, and methods of fabricating the structure are provided. The magnetic cell structure includes a free layer, a pinned layer, an insulative layer between the free and pinned layers, and a nonmagnetic filament contact in the insulative layer which electrically connects the free and pinned layers. The nonmagnetic filament contact is formed from a nonmagnetic source layer, also between the free and pinned layers. The filament contact directs a programming current through the magnetic cell structure such that the cross sectional area of the programming current in the free layer is less than the cross section of the structure. The decrease in the cross sectional area of the programming current in the free layer enables a lower programming current to reach a critical switching current density in the free layer and switch the magnetization of the free layer, programming the magnetic cell.

摘要翻译： 提供包括非磁性细丝接触的磁性单元结构以及制造该结构的方法。 磁性单元结构包括自由层，钉扎层，自由层和被钉扎层之间的绝缘层，以及绝缘层中的非磁性细丝接触，其电连接自由层和被钉扎层。 非磁性细丝接触由非磁性源层形成，也在自由层和被钉扎层之间。 灯丝接触引导编程电流通过磁性电池结构，使得自由层中编程电流的横截面面积小于结构的横截面。 自由层中编程电流的横截面积的减小使编程电流能够达到自由层中的关键开关电流密度并切换自由层的磁化，对磁性单元进行编程。

公开(公告)号：US20110216581A1

公开(公告)日：2011-09-08

申请号：US13108869

申请日：2011-05-16

申请人： Jun Liu ,  Gurtej Sandhu

发明人： Jun Liu ,  Gurtej Sandhu

IPC分类号： G11C11/15

CPC分类号： H01F10/329 ,  B82Y25/00 ,  G01R33/093 ,  G01R33/1284 ,  G11C11/161 ,  G11C11/1675 ,  H01F10/3254 ,  H01F10/3268

摘要： A magnetic memory cell including a soft magnetic layer and a coupling layer, and methods of operating the memory cell are provided. The memory cell includes a stack with a free ferromagnetic layer and a pinned ferromagnetic layer, and a soft magnetic layer and a coupling layer may also be formed as layers in the stack. The coupling layer may cause antiferromagnetic coupling to induce the free ferromagnetic layer to be magnetized in a direction antiparallel to the magnetization of the soft magnetic layer, or the coupling layer may cause ferromagnetic coupling to induce the free ferromagnetic layer to be magnetized in a direction parallel to the magnetization of the soft magnetic layer. The coupling layer, through a coupling effect, reduces the critical switching current of the memory cell.

摘要翻译： 提供了包括软磁性层和耦合层的磁存储单元，以及操作存储单元的方法。 存储单元包括具有自由铁磁层和钉扎铁磁层的堆叠，并且软磁层和耦合层也可以形成为堆叠中的层。 耦合层可以引起反铁磁耦合以使自由铁磁层在与软磁层的磁化方向反平行的方向上被磁化，或者耦合层可以引起铁磁性耦合，以使得自由铁磁层在平行方向上被磁化 到软磁层的磁化。 耦合层通过耦合效应降低了存储单元的关键开关电流。

公开(公告)号：US20110149646A1

公开(公告)日：2011-06-23

申请号：US12642533

申请日：2009-12-18

申请人： Jun Liu ,  Gurtej Sandhu

发明人： Jun Liu ,  Gurtej Sandhu

IPC分类号： G11C11/14 ,  G11C7/00

CPC分类号： G11C11/1675 ,  G11C11/161

摘要： A memory cell including magnetic materials and heating materials, and methods of programming the memory cell are provided. The memory cell includes a free region, a pinned region, and a heating region configured to generate and transfer heat to the free region when a programming current is directed to the cell. The heat transferred from the heating region increases the temperature of the free region, which decreases the magnetization and the critical switching current density of the free region. In some embodiments, the heating region may also provide a current path to the free region, and the magnetization of the free region may be switched according to the spin polarity of the programming current, programming the memory cell to a high resistance state or a low resistance state.

摘要翻译： 提供包括磁性材料和加热材料的存储单元，以及编程存储单元的方法。 存储单元包括自由区域，固定区域和加热区域，该区域被配置成当编程电流被引导到单元时，产生和传递热量到自由区域。 从加热区域传递的热量增加了自由区域的温度，这降低了自由区域的磁化强度和临界开关电流密度。 在一些实施例中，加热区域还可以提供到自由区域的电流路径，并且可以根据编程电流的自旋极性来切换自由区域的磁化，将存储器单元编程为高电阻状态或低电平状态 电阻状态。

公开(公告)号：US08665640B2

公开(公告)日：2014-03-04

申请号：US13544670

申请日：2012-07-09

申请人： Jun Liu ,  Gurtej Sandhu

发明人： Jun Liu ,  Gurtej Sandhu

IPC分类号： G11C11/00

CPC分类号： H01F10/329 ,  B82Y25/00 ,  G01R33/093 ,  G01R33/1284 ,  G11C11/161 ,  G11C11/1675 ,  H01F10/3254 ,  H01F10/3268

摘要： A magnetic memory cell including a soft magnetic layer and a coupling layer, and methods of operating the memory cell are provided. The memory cell includes a stack with a free ferromagnetic layer and a pinned ferromagnetic layer, and a soft magnetic layer and a coupling layer may also be formed as layers in the stack. The coupling layer may cause antiferromagnetic coupling to induce the free ferromagnetic layer to be magnetized in a direction antiparallel to the magnetization of the soft magnetic layer, or the coupling layer may cause ferromagnetic coupling to induce the free ferromagnetic layer to be magnetized in a direction parallel to the magnetization of the soft magnetic layer. The coupling layer, through a coupling effect, reduces the critical switching current of the memory cell.

摘要翻译： 提供了包括软磁性层和耦合层的磁存储单元，以及操作存储单元的方法。 存储单元包括具有自由铁磁层和钉扎铁磁层的堆叠，并且软磁层和耦合层也可以形成为堆叠中的层。 耦合层可以引起反铁磁耦合以使自由铁磁层在与软磁层的磁化方向反平行的方向上被磁化，或者耦合层可以引起铁磁性耦合，以使得自由铁磁层在平行方向上被磁化 到软磁层的磁化。 耦合层通过耦合效应降低了存储单元的关键开关电流。

公开(公告)号：US20130272061A1

公开(公告)日：2013-10-17

申请号：US13911917

申请日：2013-06-06

申请人： Jun Liu ,  Gurtej Sandhu

发明人： Jun Liu ,  Gurtej Sandhu

IPC分类号： G11C11/16

CPC分类号： G11C11/1675 ,  B82Y10/00 ,  B82Y25/00 ,  G01R33/093 ,  G01R33/1284 ,  G11C11/16 ,  H01F10/3218 ,  Y10S977/934

摘要： Spin current generators and systems and methods for employing spin current generators. A spin current generator may be configured to generate a spin current polarized in one direction, or a spin current selectively polarized in two directions. The spin current generator may by employed in spintronics applications, wherein a spin current is desired.

摘要翻译： 自旋电流发生器和采用自旋电流发生器的系统和方法。 自旋电流发生器可以被配置为产生在一个方向上偏振的自旋电流，或者在两个方向上选择性地偏振的自旋电流。 自旋电流发生器可用于自旋电子学应用中，其中期望自旋电流。

公开(公告)号：US08462544B2

公开(公告)日：2013-06-11

申请号：US13555940

申请日：2012-07-23

申请人： Jun Liu ,  Gurtej Sandhu

发明人： Jun Liu ,  Gurtej Sandhu

IPC分类号： G11C11/00

CPC分类号： G11C11/1675 ,  B82Y10/00 ,  B82Y25/00 ,  G01R33/093 ,  G01R33/1284 ,  G11C11/16 ,  H01F10/3218 ,  Y10S977/934

摘要： Spin current generators and systems and methods for employing spin current generators. A spin current generator may be configured to generate a spin current polarized in one direction, or a spin current selectively polarized in two directions. The spin current generator may by employed in spintronics applications, wherein a spin current is desired.

摘要翻译： 自旋电流发生器和采用自旋电流发生器的系统和方法。 自旋电流发生器可以被配置为产生在一个方向上偏振的自旋电流，或者在两个方向上选择性地偏振的自旋电流。 自旋电流发生器可用于自旋电子学应用中，其中期望自旋电流。

公开(公告)号：US20120248557A1

公开(公告)日：2012-10-04

申请号：US13079652

申请日：2011-04-04

申请人： Jun Liu ,  Gurtej Sandhu

发明人： Jun Liu ,  Gurtej Sandhu

IPC分类号： H01L29/82 ,  H01L21/8246

CPC分类号： H01L43/08 ,  G11C11/161 ,  H01L43/02 ,  H01L43/10 ,  H01L43/12

摘要： Techniques for reducing damage in memory cells are provided. Memory cell structures are typically formed using dry etch and/or planarization processes which damage certain regions of the memory cell structure. In one or more embodiments, certain regions of the cell structure may be sensitive to damage. For example, the free magnetic region in magnetic memory cell structures may be susceptible to demagnetization. Such regions may be substantially confined by barrier materials during the formation of the memory cell structure, such that the edges of such regions are protected from damaging processes. Furthermore, in some embodiments, a memory cell structure is formed and confined within a recess in dielectric material.

摘要翻译： 提供了减少存储单元损坏的技术。 通常使用破坏存储单元结构的某些区域的干蚀刻和/或平坦化处理来形成存储单元结构。 在一个或多个实施例中，细胞结构的某些区域可能对损伤敏感。 例如，磁存储单元结构中的自由磁区可能易于退磁。 这样的区域在形成存储单元结构期间可以基本上被阻挡材料限制，使得这些区域的边缘被保护免受损坏的过程。 此外，在一些实施例中，存储单元结构形成并限制在电介质材料的凹部内。

公开(公告)号：US08102700B2

公开(公告)日：2012-01-24

申请号：US12242261

申请日：2008-09-30

申请人： Jun Liu ,  Gurtej Sandhu

发明人： Jun Liu ,  Gurtej Sandhu

IPC分类号： G11C11/14 ,  G11C11/15 ,  G11C11/02

CPC分类号： G11C11/1675 ,  G11C11/16 ,  G11C11/161 ,  G11C11/1695 ,  H01L43/02

摘要： Spin torque transfer magnetic random access memory devices configured to be programmed unidirectionally and methods of programming such devices. The devices include memory cells having two pinned layers and a free layer therebetween. By utilizing two pinned layers, the spin torque effect on the free layer from each of the two pinned layers, respectively, allows the memory cells to be programmed with unidirectional currents.

摘要翻译： 配置为单向编程的自旋扭矩传递磁性随机存取存储器件以及编程这种器件的方法。 这些装置包括具有两个钉扎层和其间的自由层的存储单元。 通过利用两个固定层，分别从两个固定层中的每一个自由层上的自旋转矩效应允许以单向电流编程存储器单元。