Fuse link for varying chip operating parameters
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorDavid J. McElroy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Adjustment of operating parameters for a functional circuit is provided by fuse links (44) and (45). For a DRAM, the fuse links (44) control the various internal delays of a timing control generator (40) and fuse links (45) control the sensitivity of sense amplifiers by controlling an access control circuit (42). The sense amplifiers (14) determine the access parameters for a plurality of memory cell arrays (10) and (12). By varying the parameters of the sense amplifiers, the access parameters can be controlled by one adjustment on the central control circuitry.
Claims19
A circuit with permanently adjustable operating parameters, comprising:
- a functional circuit block having a plurality of discrete circuits contained therein, said discrete circuits interfaced in a predetermined manner to perform a desired function according to operating parameters associated with said functional circuit block, said operating parameters including parameters responsive to the timing of clock control signals;
- control means for generating a plurality of clock control signals of varied timing for controlling the timing of operation of said discrete circuits to effect the performance of said desired function with said plurality of discrete circuits in said functional circuit block;
- and
- means for permanently altering the timing of a selected one of said clock control signals within said control means to effect a change in the time of operation of at least one of said discrete circuits of said functional circuit block.
A circuit with adjustable operating parameters, comprising:
- a functional circuit block having a plurality of discrete circuits contained therein, said discrete circuits interfaced in a predetermined manner to perform a desired function in response to clock control signals input thereto;
- said clock control signals operating with a defined set of operating parameters for said functional circuit block;
- control means for generating said clock control signals to control said functional circuit block to operate within said operating parameters at a predefined operating level;
- deviation means for causing a selected one of said clock control signals to change in selectable discrete steps in response to activation signals associated with each discrete step and each of said control signals, the altered one of said clock control signals causing said operating parameters to deviate from said predefined operating level in corresponding discrete steps;
- a plurality of fuse links, each fuse link defining a current path, each of said fuse links being associated with a different;
- breaking of each of said fuse links permanently removing the associated one of said current paths;
- and
- means for generating said activation signals in response to the breaking of the associated one of said fuse links and the corresponding removal of the associated current paths such that a permanent change in the operating parameters of said functional circuit block is effected.
A method of adjusting circuit operating parameters, comprising:
- arranging a plurality of discrete circuits in a functional circuit block, the discrete circuits interfaced in a predetermined manner to perform a desired function according to predetermined operating parameters for the functional circuit block;
- generating clock control signals for controlling the operating parameters of the functional circuit block to effect the performance of the desired function with the plurality of discrete circuits;
- and
- altering at least a selected one of the control signals to permanently effect a change in at least one of the operating parameters of the functional circuit block.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.