Patent · US Expired

Method for bi-layer programmable resistor

US5976943A · kind A · utility

35Cited by
1References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 27, 1996
Grant dateNov 2, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 27, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L2924/3011
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A programmable resistor is composed of two layers. A first layer of the programmable resistor has a substantially lower resistance than a second layer of the programmable resistor. The programmable resistor is programmed by placing a signal across the programmable resistor. A resulting current generated by the signal travels in parallel through the first layer of the programmable resistor and the second layer of the programmable resistor. The voltage of the signal is of a sufficient level so that a first portion of the resulting current which travels through the first layer causes a break in the first layer of the programmable resistor. However, the voltage of the signal is not of a sufficient level to allow a second portion of the resulting current which travels through the second layer to cause a break in the second layer of the programmable resistor.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.