Electrically-programmable integrated circuit fuses and sensing circuits
US6933591B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 16, 2003 |
| Grant date | Aug 23, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 14, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01L2924/0002
- WIPO fieldSemiconductors
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Programmable fuses for integrated circuits are provided. The fuses may be based on polysilicon or crystalline silicon fuse links coated with silicide or other conductive thin films. Fuses may be formed on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates. A fuse may be blown by applying a programming current to the fuse link. The silicon or polysilicon in the fuses may be provided with a p-n junction. When a fuse is programmed, the silicide or other conductive film forms an open circuit. This forces current though the underlying p-n junction. Unlike conventional silicided polysilicon fuses, fuses with p-n junctions change their qualitative behavior when programmed. Unprogrammed fuses behave like resistors, while programmed fuses behave like diodes. The presence of the p-n junction allows sensing circuitry to determine in a highly accurate qualitative fashion whether a given fuse has been programmed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.