Phase change memory devices and methods of forming the same include forming a fin structure from a first material. A phase change memory cell is formed around the fin structure, using a phase change material that includes two solid state phases at an operational temperature.

An electronic device including a semiconductor memory is provided. The semiconductor memory includes a plurality of first lines extending in a first direction; a plurality of second lines over the first lines, the second lines extending in a second direction crossing the first direction; a plurality of memory cells disposed at intersection regions of the first lines and the second lines between the first lines and the second lines in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions; and a heat sink positioned between two memory cells adjacent to each other in a diagonal direction with respect to the first and second directions.

A device for implementing spike-timing-dependent plasticity is provided. The device includes a phase-change element, first and second electrodes disposed respective first and second surfaces of the phase-change element. The phase-change element includes a phase-change material with an inverse resistivity characteristic. The first electrode includes a first heater element, and a first electrical insulating layer which electrically insulates the first resistive heater element from the first electrode and the phase-change element. The second electrode includes a second resistive heater element, and a second electrical insulating layer which electrically insulates the second resistive heater element from the second electrode and the phase-change element.

Phase change memory devices and methods of forming the same include forming a fin structure from a first material. A phase change memory cell is formed around the fin structure, using a phase change material that includes two solid state phases at an operational temperature.

A switching device includes first and second RF terminals disposed over a substrate, one or more strips of phase change material connected between the first and second RF terminals, a region of thermally insulating material that separates the one or more strips of phase change material from the substrate, and a heater structure comprising one or more heating elements that are configured to control a conductive connection between the first and second RF terminals by applying heat to the one or more strips of phase change material. Each of the one or more strips of phase change material includes a first outer face and a second outer face opposite from the first outer face. For each of the one or more strips of phase change material, at least portions of both of the first and second outer faces are disposed against one of the heating elements.

A phase-change memory (PCM) device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a memory layer, and a heater. The memory layer includes a phase-change material and is electrically coupled between the first electrode and the second electrode. The heater is arranged near the memory layer and is configured to heat a programming region of the memory layer in response to an electric current that passes through the heater. The heater is coupled to a power source via an electric current path that does not pass through the memory layer.

Disclosed is a tunable inductor device having a substrate, a planar spiral conductor having a plurality of spaced-apart turns disposed over the substrate, and a phase change switch (PCS) having a patch of a phase change material (PCM) disposed over the substrate between and in contact with a pair of adjacent segments of the plurality of spaced-apart turns, wherein the patch of the PCM is electrically insulating in an amorphous state and electrically conductive in a crystalline state. The PCS further includes a thermal element disposed adjacent to the patch of PCM, wherein the thermal element is configured to maintain the patch of the PCM to within a first temperature range until the patch of the PCM converts to the amorphous state and maintain the patch of the PCM within a second temperature range until the first patch of PCM converts to the crystalline state.

A heater, a system, and a method for linearly changing the resistance of the phase change memory through a graded heater. The system may include a phase change memory. The phase change memory may include a dielectric. The phase change memory may also include a heater patterned on the dielectric, the heater including: an outside conductive heating layer that has a higher resistance than other layers of the heater, and an inside conductive heating layer that has a lower resistance than the outside conductive heating layer, where the outside conductive heating layer is at an outside area of the heater and the inside conductive heating layer is at an inside area of the heater. The phase change memory may also include a phase change material proximately connected to the heater. The phase change memory may also include a top electrode proximately connected to the phase change material.

A ring-shaped heater, system, and method to gradually change the conductance of the phase change memory through a concentric ring-shaped heater. The system may include a phase change memory. The phase change memory may include a bottom electrode. The phase change memory may also include a ring-shaped heater patterned on top of the bottom electrode, the ring-shaped heater including: a plurality of concentric conductive heating layers, and a plurality of insulator spacers, where each insulator spacer separates each conductive heating layer. The phase change memory may also include a phase change material proximately connected to the ring-shaped heater. The phase change memory may also include a top electrode proximately connected to the phase change material.

A method of forming a phase change switching device includes providing a substrate, forming first and second RF terminals on the substrate, forming a strip of phase change material on the substrate that is connected between the first and second RF terminals, forming a heating element adjacent to the strip of phase change material such that the heating element is configured to control a conductive state of the strip of phase change material. The first and second RF terminals and the heating element are formed by a lithography process that self-aligns the heating element with the first and second RF terminals