AC Pulse Control of PCM Switch

Abstract

Circuits and methods for increasing the long-term reliability and performance of phase change material (PCM) switches. To overcome the effects of electromigration damage of the resistive heater(s) of a PCM switch and of the PCM itself, and thus improve long-term performance and reliability, embodiments apply an AC control pulse of equal power to a conventional DC control pulse. An embodiment encompasses a PCM switch, including a PCM region including first and second signal ports configured to be coupled to a signal source; a resistive heater adjacent the PCM region and including first and second heater control signal ports; and a source of AC control pulses coupled to the first and second heater control signal ports, the AC control pulses having a first power profile to transform the PCM region into a low resistance state and a second power profile to transform the PCM region into a high resistance state.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.