Method of determining an electrical characteristic of an antifuse and apparatus therefor
US5293133A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 27, 1992 |
| Grant date | Mar 8, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 27, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C2029/5006
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for determining an electrical characteristic (such as a resistance) of an antifuse of a programmable device. The method comprises the steps of: 1) before the antifuse is programmed, determining an electrical characteristic (such as a voltage, current and/or resistance) of a first conductive path which includes a series element disposed electrically in series with a parallel element, the parallel element being controlled to be substantially conductive, the parallel element being disposed electrically in parallel with the unprogrammed antifuse; 2) after programming of the antifuse, determining an electrical characteristic (such as a voltage, current and/or resistance) of a second conductive path including the series element disposed electrically in series with the programmed antifuse when the parallel element is controlled to be substantially nonconductive; 3) determining an electrical characteristic (such as a voltage, current and/or resistance) of a third, conductive path through the series element, and through the programmed antifuse and the parallel element, the parallel element being controlled to be substantially conductive; and 4) determining the electrical characteri…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.