Abstract: A method for etching a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) structure is described. A MTJ stack is deposited on a bottom electrode wherein the MTJ stack comprises at least a pinned layer, a barrier layer on the pinned layer, and a free layer on the barrier layer, A top electrode layer is deposited on the MTJ stack. A hard mask is deposited on the top electrode layer. The top electrode layer and hard mask are etched. Thereafter, the MTJ stack not covered by the hard mask is etched, stopping at or within the pinned layer. Thereafter, an encapsulation layer is deposited over the partially etched MTJ stack and etched away on horizontal surfaces leaving a self-aligned hard mask on sidewalls of the partially etched MTJ stack. Finally, the remaining MTJ stack not covered by hard mask and self-aligned hard mask is etched to complete the MTJ structure.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) structure is described. A first dielectric layer is deposited on a bottom electrode and partially etched through to form a first via opening having straight sidewalls, then etched all the way through to the bottom electrode to form a second via opening having tapered sidewalls. A metal layer is deposited in the second via opening and planarized to the level of the first dielectric layer. The remaining first dielectric layer is removed leaving an electrode plug on the bottom electrode. MTJ stacks are deposited on the electrode plug and on the bottom electrode wherein the MTJ stacks are discontinuous. A second dielectric layer is deposited over the MTJ stacks and polished to expose a top surface of the MTJ stack on the electrode plug. A top electrode layer is deposited to complete the MTJ structure.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device is provided, which includes a body and a key layout. The body has a base surface. The key layout is disposed on the base surface of the body and includes a plurality of keys. The key layout is a QWERTY key layout and the keys are adapted for users to press with their left or right thumb while holding the body in single hand or both hands. Each key has a curved surface protruded from the base surface and each curved surface has an inflection point. A distance between two inflection points of the curved surfaces of any two adjacent keys is greater than a distance between two figure centers of the orthogonal projections on the base surface of the curved surfaces of the two adjacent keys.

Abstract: A half keyboard having a key input system with a set of keys, wherein the set of keys is arranged as a conventional keyboard, such as a Qwerty keyboard, approximately folded in half so that the key of the set of keys indicates more multiple characters, symbols and/or functions.

Abstract: A portable electronic device including a main body, a physical key module, and a control module is provided. The physical key module assembled to the main body has a display surface, and the physical key module includes at least two overlapped icon units. The control module electrically connected to the physical key module activates one of the icon units according to an operating state of the main body, so that an icon of the activated icon unit is displayed on the display surface. A method for switching icons is also provided.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device including a first body, a second body, a fixing frame, a first sliding frame, and a second sliding frame is provided. Through the designs of the first sliding frame, the second sliding frame, and the fixing frame, the handheld electronic device has two sliding routes and accordingly can achieve two expanded states, wherein the two expanded states respectively expose two portions of the second body.