Patents by Inventor Gen Feng

Gen Feng 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: 11063209
    Abstract: A magnetic junction and method for providing the magnetic junction are described. The magnetic junction resides on a substrate and is usable in a magnetic device. The magnetic junction includes a pinned layer, a nonmagnetic spacer layer, a free layer, an oxide layer and at least one oxygen blocking layer. The free layer is switchable between a plurality of stable magnetic states when a write current is passed through the magnetic junction. The nonmagnetic spacer layer is between the pinned layer and the free layer. The oxide layer is adjacent to the free layer. The free layer is between the nonmagnetic spacer layer and the oxide layer. The oxygen blocking layer(s) has a position selected from adjacent to the oxide layer and adjacent to the pinned layer. In some aspects, the magnetic junction may also include an oxygen adsorber layer and/or a tuning layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xueti Tang, Gen Feng, Mohamad Towfik Krounbi
  • Patent number: 10553642
    Abstract: A magnetic junction, a memory using the magnetic junction and method for providing the magnetic junction are described. The magnetic junction resides on a substrate and is usable in a magnetic device. The magnetic junction includes a reference layer, a nonmagnetic spacer layer and a M-containing oxide layer adjacent to the free layer. M includes at least one of Ti, Al, Hf, Zr, Mo, V and Nb. The free layer is switchable between a plurality of stable magnetic states when a write current is passed through the magnetic junction. The nonmagnetic spacer layer is between the reference layer and the free layer. The free layer is between the nonmagnetic spacer layer and the M-containing oxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Don Koun Lee, Mohamad Towfik Krounbi, Xueti Tang, Gen Feng, Ikhtiar
  • Patent number: 10438638
    Abstract: A magnetic device and method for providing the device are described. The magnetic device includes magnetic junction(s) and spin-orbit interaction active layer(s) adjacent to the magnetic junction free layer(s). The magnetic junction includes free and pinned layers separated by a nonmagnetic spacer layer. The free layer is switchable between stable magnetic states. Providing the pinned and/or free layer(s) includes providing a magnetic layer including a glass-promoting component, providing a sacrificial oxide on the magnetic layer, providing a sacrificial layer on the sacrificial oxide and performing anneal(s) of the magnetic layer, the sacrificial oxide layer and the sacrificial layer at anneal temperature(s) greater than 300 degrees Celsius and not exceeding 475 degrees Celsius. The magnetic layer is amorphous as-deposited but is at least partially crystallized after the anneal(s). The sacrificial layer includes a sink for the glass-promoting component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xueti Tang, Mohamad Towfik Krounbi, Gen Feng, Vladimir Nikitin
  • Patent number: 10439133
    Abstract: A magnetic junction and method for providing the magnetic junction are described. The magnetic junction includes a reference layer, a nonmagnetic spacer layer and a hybrid free layer. The hybrid free layer is switchable between stable magnetic states using a current passed through the magnetic junction. The nonmagnetic spacer layer is between the free layer and the reference layer. The hybrid free layer includes a soft magnetic layer, a hard magnetic layer and an oxide coupling layer between the hard magnetic layer and the soft magnetic layer. The soft magnetic layer has a soft layer magnetic thermal stability coefficient of not more than thirty. The hard magnetic layer has a hard layer magnetic thermal stability coefficient of at least twice the soft layer magnetic thermal stability coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dmytro Apalkov, Xueti Tang, Vladimir Nikitin, Shuxia Wang, Gen Feng
  • Patent number: 10276225
    Abstract: A magnetic device and method for providing the magnetic device are described. The magnetic device includes magnetic junctions and spin-orbit interaction (SO) active layer(s). Each magnetic junction includes free and pinned layers separated by a nonmagnetic spacer layer. The pinned layer has a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) energy greater than an out-of-plane demagnetization energy. The pinned layer includes a magnetic barrier layer between a magnetic layer and a high PMA layer including at least one nonmagnetic component. The magnetic barrier layer includes Co and at least one of Ta, W and Mo. The magnetic barrier layer is for blocking diffusion of the nonmagnetic component. The SO active layer(s) are adjacent to the free layer. The SO active layer(s) carry a current in-plane and exert a SO torque on the free layer due to the current. The free layer is switchable between stable magnetic states using the SO torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xueti Tang, Dmytro Apalkov, Gen Feng, Mohamad Towfik Krounbi
  • Publication number: 20190067366
    Abstract: A magnetic junction, a memory using the magnetic junction and method for providing the magnetic junction are described. The magnetic junction resides on a substrate and is usable in a magnetic device. The magnetic junction includes a reference layer, a nonmagnetic spacer layer and a M-containing oxide layer adjacent to the free layer. M includes at least one of Ti, Al, Hf, Zr, Mo, V and Nb. The free layer is switchable between a plurality of stable magnetic states when a write current is passed through the magnetic junction. The nonmagnetic spacer layer is between the reference layer and the free layer. The free layer is between the nonmagnetic spacer layer and the M-containing oxide layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Don Koun Lee, Mohamad Towfik Krounbi, Xueti Tang, Gen Feng, Ikhtiar
  • Publication number: 20180351086
    Abstract: A magnetic junction and method for providing the magnetic junction are described. The magnetic junction resides on a substrate and is usable in a magnetic device. The magnetic junction includes a pinned layer, a nonmagnetic spacer layer, a free layer, an oxide layer and at least one oxygen blocking layer. The free layer is switchable between a plurality of stable magnetic states when a write current is passed through the magnetic junction. The nonmagnetic spacer layer is between the pinned layer and the free layer. The oxide layer is adjacent to the free layer. The free layer is between the nonmagnetic spacer layer and the oxide layer. The oxygen blocking layer(s) has a position selected from adjacent to the oxide layer and adjacent to the pinned layer. In some aspects, the magnetic junction may also include an oxygen adsorber layer and/or a tuning layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Xueti Tang, Gen Feng, Mohamad Towfik Krounbi
  • Publication number: 20180261762
    Abstract: A magnetic junction and method for providing the magnetic junction are described. The magnetic junction includes a reference layer, a nonmagnetic spacer layer and a hybrid free layer. The hybrid free layer is switchable between stable magnetic states using a current passed through the magnetic junction. The nonmagnetic spacer layer is between the free layer and the reference layer. The hybrid free layer includes a soft magnetic layer, a hard magnetic layer and an oxide coupling layer between the hard magnetic layer and the soft magnetic layer. The soft magnetic layer has a soft layer magnetic thermal stability coefficient of not more than thirty. The hard magnetic layer has a hard layer magnetic thermal stability coefficient of at least twice the soft layer magnetic thermal stability coefficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Dmytro Apalkov, Xueti Tang, Vladimir Nikitin, Shuxia Wang, Gen Feng
  • Publication number: 20180247684
    Abstract: A magnetic device and method for providing the device are described. The magnetic device includes magnetic junction(s) and spin-orbit interaction active layer(s) adjacent to the magnetic junction free layer(s). The magnetic junction includes free and pinned layers separated by a nonmagnetic spacer layer. The free layer is switchable between stable magnetic states. Providing the pinned and/or free layer(s) includes providing a magnetic layer including a glass-promoting component, providing a sacrificial oxide on the magnetic layer, providing a sacrificial layer on the sacrificial oxide and performing anneal(s) of the magnetic layer, the sacrificial oxide layer and the sacrificial layer at anneal temperature(s) greater than 300 degrees Celsius and not exceeding 475 degrees Celsius. The magnetic layer is amorphous as-deposited but is at least partially crystallized after the anneal(s). The sacrificial layer includes a sink for the glass-promoting component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Xueti Tang, Mohamad Towfik Krounbi, Gen Feng, Vladimir Nikitin
  • Publication number: 20180197589
    Abstract: A magnetic device and method for providing the magnetic device are described. The magnetic device includes magnetic junctions and spin-orbit interaction (SO) active layer(s). Each magnetic junction includes free and pinned layers separated by a nonmagnetic spacer layer. The pinned layer has a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) energy greater than an out-of-plane demagnetization energy. The pinned layer includes a magnetic barrier layer between a magnetic layer and a high PMA layer including at least one nonmagnetic component. The magnetic barrier layer includes Co and at least one of Ta, W and Mo. The magnetic barrier layer is for blocking diffusion of the nonmagnetic component. The SO active layer(s) are adjacent to the free layer. The SO active layer(s) carry a current in-plane and exert a SO torque on the free layer due to the current. The free layer is switchable between stable magnetic states using the SO torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Xueti Tang, Dmytro Apalkov, Gen Feng, Mohamad Towfik Krounbi
  • Patent number: 9966528
    Abstract: A magnetic junction and method for providing the magnetic junction are described. The magnetic junction includes free and pinned layers separated by a nonmagnetic spacer layer. The free layer is switchable between stable magnetic states when a write current is passed through the magnetic junction. Providing the pinned and/or free layer(s) includes providing a magnetic layer including a glass-promoting component, providing a sacrificial oxide layer on the magnetic layer, providing a sacrificial layer on the sacrificial oxide layer and performing at least one anneal of the magnetic layer, the sacrificial oxide layer and the sacrificial layer at anneal temperature(s) greater than 300 degrees Celsius and not exceeding 475 degrees Celsius. The magnetic layer is amorphous as-deposited but is at least partially crystallized after the anneal(s). The sacrificial layer includes a sink for the glass-promoting component. The sacrificial layer and the sacrificial oxide layer are removed after the anneal(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xueti Tang, Mohamad Towfik Krounbi, Gen Feng, Vladimir Nikitin
  • Publication number: 20180102474
    Abstract: A magnetic junction and method for providing the magnetic junction are described. The magnetic junction resides on a substrate and is usable in a magnetic device. The magnetic junction includes free and pinned layers separated by a nonmagnetic spacer layer. The free layer is switchable between stable magnetic states when a write current is passed through the magnetic junction. The free layer has a free layer perpendicular magnetic anisotropy energy greater than a free layer out-of-plane demagnetization energy. The free layer includes a [CoxFeyBz]uMot layer, where u+t=1, x+y+z=1 and u, t, x, y and z are each nonzero. The [CoxFeyBz]uMot layer has a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy energy greater than its out-of-plane demagnetization energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Xueti Tang, Mohamad Towfik Krounbi, Donkoun Lee, Gen Feng
  • Patent number: 9941467
    Abstract: A magnetic junction and method for providing the magnetic junction are described. The magnetic junction resides on a substrate and is usable in a magnetic device. The magnetic junction includes free and pinned layers separated by a nonmagnetic spacer layer. The free layer is switchable between stable magnetic states when a write current is passed through the magnetic junction. The free layer has a free layer perpendicular magnetic anisotropy energy greater than a free layer out-of-plane demagnetization energy. The free layer includes a [CoxFeyBz]uMot layer, where u+t=1, x+y+z=1 and u, t, x, y and z are each nonzero. The [CoxFeyBz]uMot layer has a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy energy greater than its out-of-plane demagnetization energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xueti Tang, Mohamad Towfik Krounbi, Donkoun Lee, Gen Feng
  • Patent number: 9917249
    Abstract: A magnetic junction and method for providing the magnetic junction are described. The magnetic junction resides on a substrate and is usable in a magnetic device. The magnetic junction includes free and pinned layers separated by a nonmagnetic spacer layer. The free layer is switchable between stable magnetic states when a write current is passed through the magnetic junction. The pinned layer has a pinned layer perpendicular magnetic anisotropy energy greater than a pinned layer out-of-plane demagnetization energy. The pinned layer includes a high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) layer including at least one nonmagnetic component, a magnetic layer and a magnetic barrier layer between the high PMA layer and the magnetic layer. The magnetic barrier layer includes Co and at least one of Ta, W and Mo. The magnetic barrier layer is for blocking diffusion of the nonmagnetic component of the high PMA layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xueti Tang, Dmytro Apalkov, Gen Feng, Mohamad Towfik Krounbi
  • Patent number: 9876164
    Abstract: A magnetic junction and method for providing the magnetic junction are described. The magnetic junction resides on a substrate and is usable in a magnetic device. The magnetic junction includes free and pinned layers separated by a nonmagnetic spacer layer. The free layer is switchable between stable magnetic states when a write current is passed through the magnetic junction. The free layer has a free layer perpendicular magnetic anisotropy energy greater than a free layer out-of-plane demagnetization energy. The free layer includes an alloy. The alloy includes [CoxFeyBz]uMgt, where u+t=1 and x+y+z=1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xueti Tang, Mohamad Towfik Krounbi, Dustin Erickson, Donkoun Lee, Gen Feng
  • Patent number: 9818931
    Abstract: A magnetic junction usable in a magnetic device and a method for providing the magnetic junction are described. The magnetic junction includes a free layer, a pinned layer and nonmagnetic spacer layer between the free and pinned layers. The free layer is switchable between stable magnetic states when a write current is passed through the magnetic junction. The write current generates joule heating such that the free layer has a switching temperature greater than room temperature. The free layer includes a multilayer that is temperature sensitive and has at least one bilayer. Each bilayer includes first and second layers. The first layer includes an alloy of a magnetic transition metal and a rare earth. The second layer includes a magnetic layer. The multilayer has a room temperature coercivity and a switching temperature coercivity. The switching temperature coercivity is not more than one-half of the room temperature coercivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xueti Tang, Jang-Eun Lee, Gen Feng
  • Publication number: 20170263859
    Abstract: A magnetic junction and method for providing the magnetic junction are described. The magnetic junction resides on a substrate and is usable in a magnetic device. The magnetic junction includes free and pinned layers separated by a nonmagnetic spacer layer. The free layer is switchable between stable magnetic states when a write current is passed through the magnetic junction. The pinned layer has a pinned layer perpendicular magnetic anisotropy energy greater than a pinned layer out-of-plane demagnetization energy. The pinned layer includes a high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) layer including at least one nonmagnetic component, a magnetic layer and a magnetic barrier layer between the high PMA layer and the magnetic layer. The magnetic barrier layer includes Co and at least one of Ta, W and Mo. The magnetic barrier layer is for blocking diffusion of the nonmagnetic component of the high PMA layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Xueti Tang, Dmytro Apalkov, Gen Feng, Mohamad Towfik Krounbi
  • Publication number: 20170256702
    Abstract: A magnetic junction and method for providing the magnetic junction are described. The magnetic junction includes free and pinned layers separated by a nonmagnetic spacer layer. The free layer is switchable between stable magnetic states when a write current is passed through the magnetic junction. Providing the pinned and/or free layer(s) includes providing a magnetic layer including a glass-promoting component, providing a sacrificial oxide layer on the magnetic layer, providing a sacrificial layer on the sacrificial oxide layer and performing at least one anneal of the magnetic layer, the sacrificial oxide layer and the sacrificial layer at anneal temperature(s) greater than 300 degrees Celsius and not exceeding 475 degrees Celsius. The magnetic layer is amorphous as-deposited but is at least partially crystallized after the anneal(s). The sacrificial layer includes a sink for the glass-promoting component. The sacrificial layer and the sacrificial oxide layer are removed after the anneal(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Xueti Tang, Mohamad Towfik Krounbi, Gen Feng, Vladimir Nikitin
  • Patent number: 9559143
    Abstract: A magnetic junction usable in a magnetic device and a method for providing the magnetic junction are described. The magnetic junction includes a free layer, a nonmagnetic spacer layer, and a reference layer. The free layer includes at least one of Fe and at least one Fe alloy. Furthermore, the free layer excludes Co. The nonmagnetic spacer layer adjoins the free layer. The nonmagnetic spacer layer residing between reference layer and the free layer. The magnetic junction is configured such that the free layer is switchable between a plurality of stable magnetic states when a write current is passed through the magnetic junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xueti Tang, Jang-Eun Lee, Gen Feng, Dustin William Erickson
  • Publication number: 20160197119
    Abstract: A magnetic junction usable in a magnetic device and a method for providing the magnetic junction are described. The magnetic junction includes a free layer, a nonmagnetic spacer layer, and a reference layer. The free layer includes at least one of Fe and at least one Fe alloy. Furthermore, the free layer excludes Co. The nonmagnetic spacer layer adjoins the free layer. The nonmagnetic spacer layer residing between reference layer and the free layer. The magnetic junction is configured such that the free layer is switchable between a plurality of stable magnetic states when a write current is passed through the magnetic junction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Xueti Tang, Jang-Eun Lee, Gen Feng, Dustin William Erickson