Patents by Inventor Veronique Sousa

Veronique Sousa has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9082965
    Abstract: A memory device including: one inert electrode including an electrically conductive material, a part of at least one material of resistivity higher than that of the material of the inert electrode, positioned around the inert electrode, a solid electrolyte positioned on at least one part of the inert electrode and of the part of electrically insulating material, and including metal ions originating from an ionizable metal part positioned on the solid electrolyte. The ratio between the coefficient of electrical resistivity of the material of resistivity higher than that of the material of the inert electrode and the coefficient of electrical resistivity of the material of the inert electrode is equal to or higher than approximately 100, and the coefficient of thermal conductivity of the electrically insulating material is equal to or higher than approximately 10 W·m?1·K?1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives
    Inventors: Cyril Dressler, Veronique Sousa
  • Patent number: 9018614
    Abstract: A memory cell including a via made of a phase-change material arranged between a lower electrode and an upper electrode, wherein the via includes a central region laterally surrounded with a peripheral region, the crystallization and melting temperatures of the central region being respectively lower than those of the peripheral region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Nodin, Veronique Sousa, Sandrine Lhostis
  • Patent number: 8759808
    Abstract: A memory cell including a via made of a phase-change material arranged between a lower electrode and an upper electrode, wherein the via includes a first region adjacent to a second region itself adjacent to at least one third region, the first, second, and third regions each extending from the upper electrode to the lower electrode, the crystallization temperature of the second region ranging between that of the first region and that of the third region, and the melting temperatures of the first, second, and third regions being substantially identical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Nodin, Veronique Sousa, Sandrine Lhostis
  • Publication number: 20140070158
    Abstract: A memory cell including a via made of a phase-change material arranged between a lower electrode and an upper electrode, wherein the via includes a central region laterally surrounded with a peripheral region, the crystallization and melting temperatures of the central region being respectively lower than those of the peripheral region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicants: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Nodin, Veronique Sousa, Sandrine Lhostis
  • Publication number: 20140070163
    Abstract: A memory cell including a via made of a phase-change material arranged between a lower electrode and an upper electrode, wherein the via includes a first region adjacent to a second region itself adjacent to at least one third region, the first, second, and third regions each extending from the upper electrode to the lower electrode, the crystallization temperature of the second region ranging between that of the first region and that of the third region, and the melting temperatures of the first, second, and third regions being substantially identical.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicants: Commissariat à I'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Nodin, Veronique Sousa, Sandrine Lhostis
  • Publication number: 20120307552
    Abstract: A process of producing a resistivity-change memory cell is described. The process includes a deposition at room temperature, in amorphous state, of a layer of a nitrogen (N)-doped alloy of germanium (Ge) and tellurium (Te) to constitute the resistivity-change material of the memory cell. An annealing is then performed such as to limit the type of re-crystallisation by nucleation starting from the amorphous state of the phase-change material. The material used and the process permit the data retention at high temperature to be significantly improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENE. ALT.
    Inventors: Luca PERNIOLA, Veronique SOUSA
  • Patent number: 8232542
    Abstract: A phase-change memory cell including, between two electrical contacts, a portion in a memory material with amorphous-crystalline phase-change and vice versa, as a stack with a central area located between two outmost areas. An interface, inert or quasi-inert from a physico-chemical point of view, is present between the active central area and each passive outmost area. Each passive outmost area is made in a material having a melting temperature higher than that of the material of the active central area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Véronique Sousa, Pierre Desre
  • Patent number: 8148709
    Abstract: This magnetic device integrates a magneto-resistive stack, the stack comprising at least two layers made out of a ferromagnetic material, separated from each other by a layer of non-magnetic material; and means for causing an electron current to flow perpendicular to the plane of the layers, with at least one integrated nano-contact intended to inject the current into the magneto-resistive stack. The nano-contact is made in a bilayer composed of a solid electrolyte on which has been deposited a soluble electrode composed of a metal that has been at least partially dissolved in the electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Bertrand Delaet, Marie-Claire Cyrille, Jean-François Nodin, Véronique Sousa
  • Patent number: 8098105
    Abstract: This radio-frequency oscillator includes a magnetoresistive device in which an electric current is able to flow. The magnetoresistive device includes a first magnetic layer, known as a “trapped layer”, whereof the magnetization is of fixed direction. The magnetoresistive device further includes a second magnetic layer known as a “free layer” and a non-magnetic layer, known as an “intermediate layer”, interposed between the first and second layer, known as the intermediate layer. The oscillator further includes means capable of causing an electron current to flow in said layers constituting the aforementioned stack and in a direction perpendicular to the plane which contains said layers. One of the three layers constituting the magnetoresistive device includes at least one constriction zone of the electric current passing through it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Commissariat à I'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Marie-Claire Cyrille, Bertrand Delaet, Jean-Francois Nodin, Veronique Sousa
  • Patent number: 8048713
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for manufacturing a plurality of CBRAM memories, each comprising a memory cell in a chalcogenide solid electrolyte, an anode, and a cathode, the process comprising implementing a sublayer of a high thermal conductivity material, higher than 1.3 W/m/K, which covers the set of contacts, then providing, on said sublayer, a triple layer comprising a chalcogenide layer, then an anodic layer, and a layer with second contacts (36), and finally an etching step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Véronique Sousa, Cyril Dressler
  • Patent number: 8021953
    Abstract: A microelectronic device includes: at least one cell or element including at least one first electrode, at least one second electrode, and at least one stack of thin layers between the first electrode and the second electrode. The stack includes at least one doped chalcogenide layer capable of forming a solid electrolyte, the doped chalcogenide layer being provided on and in contact with the first electrode; at least one interface layer provided on and in contact with the doped chalcogenide layer, the interface layer being based on a material different from the chalcogenide, the material being carbon or carbon comprising a metallic additive or a semiconducting additive; and at least one metallic ion donor layer provided on and in contact with the interface layer, the metallic ion donor layer being an ion source for the solid electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Cyril Dressler, Veronique Sousa
  • Publication number: 20110121254
    Abstract: A memory device including: one inert electrode including an electrically conductive material, a part of at least one material of resistivity higher than that of the material of the inert electrode, positioned around the inert electrode, a solid electrolyte positioned on at least one part of the inert electrode and of the part of electrically insulating material, and including metal ions originating from an ionizable metal part positioned on the solid electrolyte. The ratio between the coefficient of electrical resistivity of the material of resistivity higher than that of the material of the inert electrode and the coefficient of electrical resistivity of the material of the inert electrode is equal to or higher than approximately 100, and the coefficient of thermal conductivity of the electrically insulating material is equal to or higher than approximately 10 W·m?1·K?1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENE ALT
    Inventors: Cyril Dressler, Veronique Sousa
  • Patent number: 7876605
    Abstract: A phase change memory having a memory material layer consisting of a phase change material, and a first and second electrical contact which are located at a distance from one another and via which a switching zone of the memory material layer can be traversed by a current signal, wherein the current signal can be used to induce a reversible phase change between a crystalline phase and an amorphous phase and thus a change in resistance of the phase change material in the switching zone. The invention also relates to a phase change memory assembly, a phase change memory cell, a 2D phase change memory cell array, a 3D phase change memory cell array and an electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignees: Rheinisch-Westfaelische Technische Hochschle Aachen, Commisssariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Peter Haring Bolivar, Bernard Bechevet, Veronique Sousa, Dae-Hwang Kim, Heinrich Kurz, Florian Merget
  • Publication number: 20100291748
    Abstract: A microelectronic device includes: at least one cell or element including at least one first electrode, at least one second electrode, and at least one stack of thin layers between the first electrode and the second electrode. The stack includes at least one doped chalcogenide layer capable of forming a solid electrolyte, the doped chalcogenide layer being provided on and in contact with the first electrode; at least one interface layer provided on and in contact with the doped chalcogenide layer, the interface layer being based on a material different from the chalcogenide, the material being carbon or carbon comprising a metallic additive or a semiconducting additive; and at least one metallic ion donor layer provided on and in contact with the interface layer, the metallic ion donor layer being an ion source for the solid electrolyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE
    Inventors: Cyril DRESSLER, Véronique SOUSA
  • Patent number: 7833822
    Abstract: A microelectronic device includes: at least one cell or element including at least one first electrode, at least one second electrode, and at least one stack of thin layers between the first electrode and the second electrode. The stack includes at least one doped chalcogenide layer capable of forming a solid electrolyte, the doped chalcogenide layer being provided on and in contact with the first electrode; at least one interface layer provided on and in contact with the doped chalcogenide layer, the interface layer being based on a material different from the chalcogenide, the material being carbon or carbon comprising a metallic additive or a semiconducting additive; and at least one metallic ion donor layer provided on and in contact with the interface layer, the metallic ion donor layer being an ion source for the solid electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Commissariat A l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Cyril Dressler, Véronique Sousa
  • Patent number: 7804704
    Abstract: A PMC memory including: a memory cell, the memory cell including, an active zone, a heating element disposed outside of the active zone, and at least two contacts that apply a writing voltage to the memory cell, wherein the heating element transitionally heats the memory cell-during a writing process in the memory cell to a writing temperature higher than an operating temperature of the memory cell outside the writing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Commissariat A l'Energie Atomique
    Inventor: Veronique Sousa
  • Publication number: 20100134196
    Abstract: This radio-frequency oscillator includes a magnetoresistive device in which an electric current is able to flow. The magnetoresistive device includes a first magnetic layer, known as a “trapped layer”, whereof the magnetization is of fixed direction. The magnetoresistive device further includes a second magnetic layer known as a “free layer” and a non-magnetic layer, known as an “intermediate layer”, interposed between the first and second layer, known as the intermediate layer. The oscillator further includes means capable of causing an electron current to flow in said layers constituting the aforementioned stack and in a direction perpendicular to the plane which contains said layers. One of the three layers constituting the magnetoresistive device includes at least one constriction zone of the electric current passing through it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Marie-Claire Cyrille, Bertrand Delaet, Jean-Francois Nodin, Veronique Sousa
  • Publication number: 20090250775
    Abstract: This magnetic device integrates a magneto-resistive stack, the stack comprising at least two layers made out of a ferromagnetic material, separated from each other by a layer of non-magnetic material; and means for causing an electron current to flow perpendicular to the plane of the layers, with at least one integrated nano-contact intended to inject the current into the magneto-resistive stack. The nano-contact is made in a bilayer composed of a solid electrolyte on which has been deposited a soluble electrode composed of a metal, and at least partially dissolved in the electrolyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Bertrand Delaet, Marie-Claire Cyrille, Jean-Francois Nodin, Veronique Sousa
  • Publication number: 20090098681
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for manufacturing a plurality of CBRAM memories, each comprising a memory cell in a chalcogenide solid electrolyte, an anode, and a cathode, the process comprising implementing a sublayer of a high thermal conductivity material, higher than 1.3 W/m/K, which covers the set of contacts, then providing, on said sublayer, a triple layer comprising a chalcogenide layer, then an anodic layer, and a layer with second contacts (36), and finally an etching step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE
    Inventors: Veronique Sousa, Cyril Dressler
  • Publication number: 20080101109
    Abstract: A phase change memory having a memory material layer consisting of a phase change material, and a first and second electrical contact which are located at a distance from one another and via which a switching zone of the memory material layer can be traversed by a current signal, wherein the current signal can be used to induce a reversible phase change between a crystalline phase and an amorphous phase and thus a change in resistance of the phase change material in the switching zone. The invention also relates to a phase change memory assembly, a phase change memory cell, a 2D phase change memory cell array, a 3D phase change memory cell array and an electronic component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventors: Peter Haring-Bolivar, Bernard Bechevet, Veronique Sousa, Dae-Hwang Kim, Heinrich Kurz, Florian Merget