Phase change memory cell with limited switchable volume
First Claim
1. A memory cell comprising:
- a dielectric layer, the dielectric layer defining a trench having a wide portion and a narrow portion, the narrow portion substantially narrower than the wide portion; and
a phase change material, the phase change material at least partially filling the wide and narrow portions of the trench, and the phase change material within the narrow portion defining a void;
wherein a portion of the phase change material is operative to switch between lower and higher electrical resistance states in response to an application of a pulse of electrical current to the memory cell.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A memory cell comprises a dielectric layer and a phase change material. The dielectric layer defines a trench having both a wide portion and a narrow portion. The narrow portion is substantially narrower than the wide portion. The phase change material, in turn, at least partially fills the wide and narrow portions of the trench. What is more, the phase change material within the narrow portion of the trench defines a void. Data can be stored in the memory cell by heating the phase change material by applying a pulse of switching current to the memory cell. Advantageously, embodiments of the invention provide high switching current density and heating efficiency so that the magnitude of the switching current pulse can be reduced.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A memory cell comprising:
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a dielectric layer, the dielectric layer defining a trench having a wide portion and a narrow portion, the narrow portion substantially narrower than the wide portion; and
a phase change material, the phase change material at least partially filling the wide and narrow portions of the trench, and the phase change material within the narrow portion defining a void;
wherein a portion of the phase change material is operative to switch between lower and higher electrical resistance states in response to an application of a pulse of electrical current to the memory cell. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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- 2. The memory cell of claim 2, wherein the portion of the phase change material operative to switch between lower and higher electrical resistance states is located within the narrow portion of the trench.
- 11. An integrated circuit comprising one or more memory cells, at least one of the memory cells comprising a dielectric layer, the dielectric layer defining a trench having a wide portion and a narrow portion, the narrow portion substantially narrower than the wide portion, and a phase change material, the phase change material at at least partially filling the wide and narrow portions of the trench and the phase change material within the narrow portion defining a void, wherein a portion of the phase change material is operative to switch between lower and higher electrical resistance states in response to an application of a pulse of electrical current to the memory cell
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14. A method of forming a memory cell, the method comprising the steps of:
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forming a dielectric layer, the dielectric layer defining a trench having a wide portion and a narrow portion, the narrow portion substantially narrower than the wide portion; and
forming a phase change material, the phase change material at least partially filling the wide and narrow portions of the trench, and the phase change material within the narrow portion defining a void;
wherein a portion of the phase change material is operative to switch between lower and higher electrical resistance states in response to an application of a pulse of electrical current to the memory cell - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification