Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for antifuse with electrostatic assist

US6498056B1 · kind B1 · utility

36Cited by
11References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 31, 2000
Grant dateDec 24, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 31, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L2924/0002
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A structure and method for providing an antifuse which is closed by laser energy with an electrostatic assist. Two or more metal segments are formed over a semiconductor structure with an air gap or a porous dielectric between the metal segments. Pulsed laser energy is applied to one or more of the metal segments while a voltage potential is applied between the metal segments to create an electrostatic field. The pulsed laser energy softens the metal segment, and the electrostatic field causes the metal segments to move into contact with each other. The electrostatic field reduces the amount of laser energy which must be applied to the semiconductor structure to close the antifuse.

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