The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 06, 2004
Filed:
Jun. 30, 2001
Charles H. Dennison, San Jose, CA (US);
Guy C. Wicker, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Tyler A. Lowrey, San Jose, CA (US);
Stephen J. Hudgens, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Chien Chiang, Fremont, CA (US);
Daniel Xu, Mountain View, CA (US);
Ovonyx, Inc., Boise, ID (US);
Abstract
A method comprising forming a sacrificial layer over less than the entire portion of a contact area on a substrate, the sacrificial layer having a thickness defining an edge over the contact area, forming a spacer layer over the spacer, the spacer layer conforming to the shape of the first sacrificial layer such that the spacer layer comprises an edge portion over the contact area adjacent the first sacrificial layer edge, removing the sacrificial layer, while retaining the edge portion of the spacer layer over the contact area, forming a dielectric layer over the contact area, removing the edge portion, and forming a programmable material to the contact area formerly occupied by the edge portion. An apparatus comprising a volume of programmable material, a conductor, and an electrode disposed between the volume of programmable material and the conductor, the electrode having a contact area at one end coupled to the volume of programmable material, wherein the contact area is less than the surface area at the one end.