Apparatus and method for providing a reprogrammable electrically programmable fuse
US7200064B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 7, 2005 |
| Grant date | Apr 3, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 7, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C17/16
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method for providing a reprogrammable electrically programmable fuse (eFuse) are provided. With the apparatus and method, a pair of eFuses are provided coupled to programming current sources and sensing current sources. When the pair of eFuses is to be programmed, a first programming current is applied to a first eFuse to thereby increase the resistance of the first eFuse by an incremental amount. When the pair of eFuses is to be returned to an unprogrammed state, a second programming current source is applied to a second eFuse to thereby increase a resistance of the second eFuse to be greater than the resistance of the first eFuse. When the sensing current is applied to the eFuses, a difference in the resulting voltages across the eFuses is identified and used to indicate whether the reprogrammable eFuse is in a programmed state or unprogrammed state.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.