Sony patents tilted magnetic memory layout for better chip manufacturing
Sony describes a method for building magnetic memory chips where the data storage parts are placed on a slanted surface, while the reference parts sit on a flatter area. This specific arrangement of tilted and flat surfaces on the base layer is designed to improve how these magnetic components are manufactured on a semiconductor substrate.
In the filing’s own words
A storage device ( 1) according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: a storage element and a reference element each having a fixed layer whose magnetization direction is fixed, a storage layer whose magnetization direction is changeable, and an insulating layer provided between the fixed layer and the storage layer; a base layer (for example, a lower insulating layer 32) provided with the storage element and the reference element; and a semiconductor substrate ( 200) having a surface ( 200 a) on which the base layer is laminated, in which the base layer has a first inclined surface (M 2) inclined with respect to the surface ( 200 a), and a second inclined surface inclined with respect to a plane (M 1) parallel to the surface ( 200 a) or the surface ( 200 a) at an inclination angle smaller than an inclination angle of the first inclined surface (M 2), the storage element is provided on the first inclined surface (M 2), and the reference element is provided on the plane (M 1) or the second inclined surface.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A storage device comprising: a storage element and a reference element each having a fixed layer whose magnetization direction is fixed, a storage layer whose magnetization direction is changeable, and an insulating layer provided between the fixed layer and the storage layer; a base layer provided with the storage element and the reference element; and a semiconductor substrate having a surface on which the base layer is laminated, wherein the base layer has a first inclined surface inclined with respect to the surface, and a second inclined surface inclined with respect to the surface or a plane parallel to the surface at an inclination angle smaller than an inclination angle of the first inclined surface, the storage element is provided on the first inclined surface, and the reference element is provided on the plane or the second inclined surface.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION)
- Official title
- Storage device, electronic apparatus, and method for manufacturing storage device
- Patent number
- US12763120B2
- Application number
- 18839189
- Filed
- Feb 20, 2023
- Granted
- Oct 13, 2026
- Inventors
- 1
- Claims
- 15
Classified under
G11C 11/161 Physics & computingH10B 61/22 Electricity & electronicsH10N 50/10 Electricity & electronicsH10N 50/80 Electricity & electronicsG11C 11/1673 Physics & computingG11C 11/1675 Physics & computingMore from Sony in Chips & hardware
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.