Memory having one time programmable (otp) elements and a method of programming the memory

A memory comprising:

• a bitcell array comprising a bitcell array of bitcells and a plurality of redundant bitcells, wherein:
• each bitcell comprises a first one-time-programmable (OTP) element and a second OTP element and each redundant bitcell comprises a third OTP element and a fourth OTP element;
• programming of the first, second, third, and fourth OTP elements causes a visible change with a resulting appearance;
• and
• the resulting appearance from the programming does not indicate a degree of programming if the programming is within a predetermined range of programming conditions;
• and
• programming circuitry coupled to the bitcell array that programs a selected bitcell to a selected state by programming the first OTP element of the selected bit cell using a first set of conditions that are within the predetermined range of programming when the first set of conditions corresponds to the selected state and by programming the second OTP element of the selected bit cell using a second set of conditions that are different from the first set of conditions and are within the predetermined range.

A method of programming a memory having a plurality of bitcells, wherein each bitcell comprises a first one-time-programmable (OTP) element and a second OTP element, comprising:

• determining a selected bitcell for programming;
• and
• programming the selected bitcell to a first logic state by applying a first set of conditions to the first OTP element of the selected bitcell to result in a first resistance in the first OTP element and applying a second set of conditions different from the first set of conditions to the second OTP element of the selected bitcell to result in a second resistance in the second OTP element greater than the first resistance, wherein:
• the first OTP element changes to a first visible appearance indicative of a resistance in a first range of resistance;
• the second OTP element changes to a second visible appearance indicative of a resistance in the first range;
• and
• a comparison of the first visible appearance and the second visible appearance cannot reliably identify which of the first and second OTP elements has the greater resistance.