Patents by Inventor Guohan Hu

Guohan Hu 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: 10294561
    Abstract: A method for forming metal on a dielectric includes forming a seed layer on a surface including a reactant element. A first metal layer is formed on the seed layer wherein the first metal layer wets the seed layer. A second metal layer is formed on the first metal layer wherein the second metal layer wets the first metal layer. Diffuse the reactant element of the seed layer into the first metal layer by annealing to convert the first metal layer to a dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Guohan Hu, Daniel C. Worledge
  • Publication number: 20190140165
    Abstract: Memory devices and methods of forming the same include forming a memory stack over a bottom electrode. The memory stack has a free magnetic layer formed on the tunnel barrier layer. A first boron-segregating layer is formed directly on the free magnetic layer. An anneal is performed to cause boron to leave the free magnetic layer at an interface with the first boron-segregating layer. A top electrode is formed over the memory stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Guohan Hu, Younghyun Kim, Chandrasekara Kothandaraman, Jeong-Heon Park
  • Patent number: 10256399
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) structure comprising a magnetic fixed layer, a non-magnetic barrier layer and a magnetic free layer, and forming a metal oxide cap layer on the MTJ structure, wherein forming the metal oxide cap layer comprises depositing a metal layer on the magnetic free layer, performing an oxidation of the deposited metal layer to form an oxidized metal layer, and depositing a metal oxide layer on the oxidized metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Guohan Hu, Kwangseok Kim, Younghyun Kim, Jung-Hyuk Lee, Jeong-Heon Park
  • Patent number: 10230043
    Abstract: Memory devices and methods of forming the same include forming a memory stack over a bottom electrode. The memory stack has a fixed magnetic layer, a tunnel barrier layer on the fixed magnetic layer, and a free magnetic layer formed on the tunnel barrier layer. A boron-segregating layer is formed directly on the free magnetic layer. The memory stack is etched into a pillar. A top electrode is formed over the pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignees: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS, CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Guohan Hu, Younghyun Kim, Chandrasekara Kothandaraman, Jeong-Heon Park
  • Publication number: 20180358068
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) storage element that includes a reference layer, a tunnel barrier and a free layer on an opposite side of the tunnel barrier layer from the reference layer. The reference layer has a fixed magnetization direction. The free layer includes a first region, a second region and a third region. The third region is formed from a third material that is configured to magnetically couple the first region and the second region. The first region is formed from a first material having a first predetermined magnetic moment, and the second region is formed from a second material having a second predetermined magnetic moment. The first predetermined magnetic moment is lower that the second predetermined magnetic moment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Guohan Hu, Jeong-Heon Park, Daniel C. Worledge
  • Publication number: 20180358066
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) storage element that includes a reference layer, a tunnel barrier and a free layer on an opposite side of the tunnel barrier layer from the reference layer. The reference layer has a fixed magnetization direction. The free layer includes a first region, a second region and a third region. The third region is formed from a third material that is configured to magnetically couple the first region and the second region. The first region is formed from a first material having a first predetermined magnetic moment, and the second region is formed from a second material having a second predetermined magnetic moment. The first predetermined magnetic moment is lower that the second predetermined magnetic moment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Guohan Hu, Jeong-Heon Park, Daniel C. Worledge
  • Publication number: 20180358067
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) storage element that includes a reference layer, a tunnel barrier and a free layer on an opposite side of the tunnel barrier layer from the reference layer. The reference layer has a fixed magnetization direction. The free layer includes a first region, a second region and a third region. The third region is formed from a third material that is configured to magnetically couple the first region and the second region. The first region is formed from a first material having a first predetermined magnetic moment, and the second region is formed from a second material having a second predetermined magnetic moment. The first predetermined magnetic moment is lower that the second predetermined magnetic moment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Guohan Hu, Daniel C. Worledge
  • Publication number: 20180358065
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) storage element that includes a reference layer, a tunnel barrier and a free layer on an opposite side of the tunnel barrier layer from the reference layer. The reference layer has a fixed magnetization direction. The free layer includes a first region, a second region and a third region. The third region is formed from a third material that is configured to magnetically couple the first region and the second region. The first region is formed from a first material having a first predetermined magnetic moment, and the second region is formed from a second material having a second predetermined magnetic moment. The first predetermined magnetic moment is lower that the second predetermined magnetic moment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Guohan Hu, Daniel C. Worledge
  • Publication number: 20180277748
    Abstract: Memory devices and methods of forming the same include forming a memory stack over a bottom electrode. The memory stack has a fixed magnetic layer, a tunnel barrier layer on the fixed magnetic layer, and a free magnetic layer formed on the tunnel barrier layer. A boron-segregating layer is formed directly on the free magnetic layer. The memory stack is etched into a pillar. A top electrode is formed over the pillar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Guohan Hu, Younghyun Kim, Chandrasekara Kothandaraman, Jeong-Heon Park
  • Patent number: 10079337
    Abstract: A double magnetic tunnel junction (DMTJ) device includes a fixed reference layer of a first magnetic material having a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy with a magnetic moment that is fixed. The device also includes a free layer of a second magnetic material having a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy with a magnetic moment that is changeable based on a current. A dynamic reference layer of a third magnetic material has an in-plane magnetic anisotropy and a changeable magnetic moment. The free layer is disposed between the fixed reference layer and the dynamic reference layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthias G. Gottwald, Guohan Hu
  • Publication number: 20180226576
    Abstract: A method of making a spin-torque transfer magnetic random access memory device (STT MRAM) device includes forming a tunnel barrier layer on a reference layer; forming a free layer on the tunnel barrier layer, the free layer comprising a cobalt iron boron (CoFeB) alloy layer and an iron (Fe) layer; and performing a sputtering process to form a metal oxide layer on the Fe layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventor: Guohan Hu
  • Publication number: 20180198058
    Abstract: A double magnetic tunnel junction (DMTJ) device includes a fixed reference layer of a first magnetic material having a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy with a magnetic moment that is fixed. The device also includes a free layer of a second magnetic material having a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy with a magnetic moment that is changeable based on a current. A dynamic reference layer of a third magnetic material has an in-plane magnetic anisotropy and a changeable magnetic moment. The free layer is disposed between the fixed reference layer and the dynamic reference layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Matthias G. Gottwald, Guohan Hu
  • Publication number: 20180195168
    Abstract: A method for forming metal on a dielectric includes forming a seed layer on a surface including a reactant element. A first metal layer is formed on the seed layer wherein the first metal layer wets the seed layer. A second metal layer is formed on the first metal layer wherein the second metal layer wets the first metal layer. Diffuse the reactant element of the seed layer into the first metal layer by annealing to convert the first metal layer to a dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Guohan Hu, Daniel C. Worledge
  • Patent number: 10003016
    Abstract: A magnetic material includes a cobalt layer between opposing iron layers. The iron layers include iron and are body-centered cubic (BCC), the cobalt layer comprises cobalt and is BCC or amorphous, and the magnetic material has a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Guohan Hu, Daniel C. Worledge
  • Publication number: 20180166626
    Abstract: A method includes depositing a magnetic track layer on a seed layer, depositing an alloy layer on the magnetic track layer, depositing a tunnel barrier layer on the alloy layer, depositing a pinning layer on the tunnel barrier layer, depositing a synthetic antiferromagnetic layer spacer on the pinning layer, depositing a pinned layer on the synthetic antiferromagnetic spacer layer and depositing an antiferromagnetic layer on the pinned layer, and another method includes depositing an antiferromagnetic layer on a seed layer, depositing a pinned layer on the antiferromagnetic layer, depositing a synthetic antiferromagnetic layer spacer on the pinned layer, depositing a pinning layer on the synthetic antiferromagnetic layer spacer, depositing a tunnel barrier layer on the pinning layer, depositing an alloy layer on the tunnel barrier layer and depositing a magnetic track layer on alloy layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Guohan Hu, Cheng-Wei Chien
  • Patent number: 9978935
    Abstract: A method of making a spin-torque transfer magnetic random access memory device (STT MRAM) device includes forming a tunnel barrier layer on a reference layer; forming a free layer on the tunnel barrier layer, the free layer comprising a cobalt iron boron (CoFeB) alloy layer and an iron (Fe) layer; and performing a sputtering process to form a metal oxide layer on the Fe layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Guohan Hu
  • Patent number: 9963780
    Abstract: A method for forming metal on a dielectric includes forming a seed layer on a surface including a reactant element. A first metal layer is formed on the seed layer wherein the first metal layer wets the seed layer. A second metal layer is formed on the first metal layer wherein the second metal layer wets the first metal layer. Diffuse the reactant element of the seed layer into the first metal layer by annealing to convert the first metal layer to a dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Guohan Hu, Daniel C. Worledge
  • Patent number: 9960348
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) memory cell that includes a reference layer formed from a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) reference layer and an interfacial reference layer. The MTJ further includes a free layer and a tunnel barrier positioned between the interfacial reference layer and the free layer. The tunnel barrier is configured to enable electrons to tunnel through the tunnel barrier between the interfacial reference layer and the free layer. A first in-situ alignment is provided between a tunnel barrier lattice structure of the tunnel barrier and an interfacial reference layer lattice structure of the interfacial reference layer. A second in-situ alignment is provided between the tunnel barrier lattice structure of the tunnel barrier and a free layer lattice structure of the free layer. The PMA reference layer lattice structure is not aligned with the interfacial reference layer lattice structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Guohan Hu, Daniel C. Worledge
  • Publication number: 20180108468
    Abstract: A planar magnetic structure includes a closed loop structure having a plurality of core segments divided into at least two sets. A coil is formed about one or more core segments. A first antiferromagnetic layer is formed on a first set of core segments, and a second antiferromagnetic layer is formed on a second set of core segments. The first and second antiferromagnetic layers include different blocking temperatures and have an easy axis pinning a magnetic moment in two different directions, wherein when current flows through the coil, the magnetic moments rotate to form a closed magnetic loop in the closed loop structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Guohan Hu, Naigang Wang
  • Patent number: 9941465
    Abstract: A device includes a seed layer, a magnetic track layer disposed on the seed layer, an alloy layer disposed on the magnetic track layer, a tunnel barrier layer disposed on the alloy layer, a pinning layer disposed on the tunnel barrier layer, a synthetic antiferromagnetic layer spacer disposed on the pinning layer, a pinned layer disposed on the synthetic antiferromagnetic spacer layer and an antiferromagnetic layer disposed on the pinned layer, and another device includes a seed layer, an antiferromagnetic layer disposed on the seed layer, a pinned layer disposed on the antiferromagnetic layer, a synthetic antiferromagnetic layer spacer disposed on the pinned layer, a pinning layer disposed on the synthetic antiferromagnetic layer spacer, a tunnel barrier layer disposed on the pinning layer, an alloy layer disposed on the tunnel barrier layer and a magnetic track layer disposed on alloy layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignees: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Guohan Hu, Cheng-Wei Chien