Programmable/reprogramable structure using fuses and antifuses

A programmable burn-in board comprising:

• a plurality of component contacts for receipt of terminals of an electronic component;
• a first trace for connection to a source of a signal at a first voltage level;
• a second trace for connecting to a source of a signal at a second voltage level;
• a third trace for connection to a source of a clock signal;
• a fourth trace for connection to a resistor pack;
• an insulating material formed of at least a plastic material, said insulating material separating a trace from the group consisting of said first trace, said second trace, said third trace and said fourth trace, from another trace in said group;
• and
• a plurality of fuses formed in an inner conductive layer, each trace from the group being coupled by one of said plurality of fuses to a corresponding component contact of said plurality of component contacts;
• and
• wherein each fuse comprises a material selected from the group consisting of copper, solder, nickel, gold, tin, lead, thallium, zinc, antimony, magnesium, titanium, tungsten, platinum, silicon, sulfur, phosphorous, and palladium, said material having a second melting point lower than a first melting point of an electrically conducting material used to form one of said traces.

A reconfiguration device for coupling a plurality of terminals of a first electrical device and a plurality of terminals of a second electrical device, said reconfiguration device comprising a first outer layer with a first exposed surface, a second outer layer with a second exposed surface and a plurality of inner layers interposed between said first outer layer and said second outer layer, said reconfiguration device further comprising:

• a plurality of first electrical contacts for coupling to said plurality of terminals of said first electrical device, said plurality of first electrical contacts being arranged in a first configuration, said first configuration comprising a plurality of predetermined locations to receive said terminals of said first electrical device;
• a plurality of second electrical contacts for coupling to said plurality of terminals of said second electrical device, said plurality of second electrical contacts being arranged in a second configuration, said second configuration comprising a plurality of predetermined locations to receive said terminals of said second electrical device;
• a first trace formed of an electrically conducting material, said first trace being connected to at least one of said first electrical contacts;
• a second trace formed of an electrically conducting material, said second trace being coupled to at least one of said second electrical contacts, said second trace crossing over said first trace at an intersection;
• an insulating material formed of at least a plastic material, said insulating material being located between said first trace and said second trace;
• and
• a fuse formed at said intersection in an inner conductive layer of said reconfiguration device, said fuse coupling said first trace to said second trace, said fuse being formed of a material having a second melting point lower than a first melting point of said electrically conducting material used to form at least one of said traces;
• wherein said fuse decouples said first trace from said second trace on passage of a programming current through said fuse;
• and
• wherein said first electrical contacts are female type and said second electrical contacts are male type.

A reconfiguration device for coupling a plurality of terminals of a first electrical device and a plurality of terminals of a second electrical device, said reconfiguration device comprising a first outer layer with a first exposed surface, a second outer layer with a second exposed surface and a plurality of inner layers interposed between said first outer layer and said second outer layer, said reconfiguration device further comprising:

• a plurality of first electrical contacts for coupling to said plurality of terminals of said first electrical device, said plurality of first electrical contacts being arranged in a first configuration, said first configuration comprising a plurality of predetermined locations to receive said terminals of said first electrical device;
• a plurality of second electrical contacts for coupling to said plurality of terminals of said second electrical device, said plurality of second electrical contacts being arranged in a second configuration, said second configuration comprising a plurality of predetermined locations to receive said terminals of said second electrical device;
• a first trace formed of an electrically conducting material, said first trace being connected to at least one of said first electrical contacts;
• a second trace formed of an electrically conducting material, said second trace being coupled to at least one of said second electrical contacts, said second trace crossing over said first trace at an intersection;
• an insulating material formed of at least a plastic material, said insulating material being located between said first trace and said second trace;
• and
• a fuse formed at said intersection in an inner layer of said reconfiguration device, said fuse coupling said first trace to said second trace, said fuse being formed of a material having a second melting point lower than a first melting point of said electrically conducting material used to form at least one of said traces;
• wherein said fuse decouples said first trace from said second trace on passage of a programming current through said fuse;
• and
• wherein said first electrical device comprises a cable connector and said first electrical contacts are cable contacts.

A reconfiguration device for coupling a plurality of terminals of a first electrical device and a plurality of terminals of a second electrical device, said reconfiguration device comprising a first outer layer with a first exposed surface, a second outer layer with a second exposed surface and a plurality of inner layers interposed between said first outer layer and said second outer layer, said reconfiguration device further comprising:

• a plurality of first electrical contacts for coupling to said plurality of terminals of said first electrical device, said plurality of first electrical contacts being arranged in a first configuration, said first configuration comprising a plurality of predetermined locations to receive said terminals of said first electrical device;
• a plurality of second electrical contacts for coupling to said plurality of terminals of said second electrical device, said plurality of second electrical contacts being arranged in a second configuration, said second configuration comprising a plurality of predetermined locations to receive said terminals of said second electrical device;
• a first trace formed of an electrically conducting material, said first trace being connected to at least one of said first electrical contacts;
• a second trace formed of an electrically conducting material, said second trace being coupled to at least one of said second electrical contacts, said second trace crossing over said first trace at an intersection;
• an insulating material formed of at least a plastic material, said insulating material being located between said first trace and said second trace;
• and
• a fuse formed at said intersection in an inner layer of said reconfiguration device, said fuse coupling said first trace to said second trace, said fuse being formed of a material having a second melting point lower than a first melting point of said electrically conducting material used to form at least one of said traces;
• wherein said fuse decouples said first trace from said second trace on passage of a programming current through said fuse;
• and
• wherein said fuse comprises an electrically conductive trace of thickness in the range of 0.1 micrometer to 0.1 millimeter.

A reconfiguration device for coupling a plurality of terminals of a first electrical device and a plurality of terminals of a second electrical device, said reconfiguration device comprising a first outer layer with a first exposed surface, a second outer layer with a second exposed surface and a plurality of inner layers interposed between said first outer layer and said second outer layer, said reconfiguration device further comprising:

• a plurality of first electrical contacts for coupling to said plurality of terminals of said first electrical device, said plurality of first electrical contacts being arranged in a first configuration, said first configuration comprising a plurality of predetermined locations to receive said terminals of said first electrical device;
• a plurality of second electrical contacts for coupling to said plurality of terminals of said second electrical device, said plurality of second electrical contacts being arranged in a second configuration, said second configuration comprising a plurality of predetermined locations to receive said terminals of said second electrical device;
• a first trace formed of an electrically conducting material, said first trace being connected to at least one of said first electrical contacts;
• a second trace formed of an electrically conducting material, said second trace being coupled to at least one of said second electrical contacts, said second trace crossing over said first trace at an intersection;
• an insulating material formed of at least a plastic material, said insulating material being located between said first trace and said second trace;
• and
• a fuse formed at said intersection in an inner layer of said reconfiguration device, said fuse coupling said first trace to said second trace, said fuse being formed of a material having a second melting point lower than a first melting point of said electrically conducting material used to form at least one of said traces;
• wherein said fuse decouples said first trace from said second trace on passage of a programming current through said fuse;
• and
• wherein said fuse comprises an electrically conductive trace of width in the range of 10 micrometer to 1 millimeter.

A reconfiguration device for coupling a plurality of terminals of a first electrical device and a plurality of terminals of a second electrical device, said reconfiguration device comprising a first outer layer with a first exposed surface, a second outer layer with a second exposed surface and a plurality of inner layers interposed between said first outer layer and said second outer layer, said reconfiguration device further comprising:

• a plurality of first electrical contacts for coupling to said plurality of terminals of said first electrical device, said plurality of first electrical contacts being arranged in a first configuration, said first configuration comprising a plurality of predetermined locations to receive said terminals of said first electrical device;
• a plurality of second electrical contacts for coupling to said plurality of terminals of said second electrical device, said plurality of second electrical contacts being arranged in a second configuration, said second configuration comprising a plurality of predetermined locations to receive said terminals of said second electrical device;
• a first trace formed of an electrically conducting material, said first trace being connected to at least one of said first electrical contacts;
• a second trace formed of an electrically conducting material, said second trace being coupled to at least one of said second electrical contacts, said second trace crossing over said first trace at an intersection;
• insulating material formed of at least a plastic material, said insulating material being located between said first trace and said second trace;
• and
• a fuse formed at said intersection in an inner layer of said reconfiguration device, said fuse coupling said first trace to said second trace, said fuse being formed of a material having a second melting point lower than a first melting point of said electrically conducting material used to form at least one of said traces;
• wherein said fuse decouples said first trace from said second trace on passage of a programming current through said fuse;
• and
• wherein said fuse comprises an electrically conductive trace of length in the range of 10 micrometer to 10 millimeters.

A reconfiguration device for coupling a plurality of terminals of a first electrical device and a plurality of terminals of a second electrical device, said reconfiguration device comprising a first outer layer with a first exposed surface, a second outer layer with a second exposed surface and a plurality of inner layers interposed between said first outer layer and said second outer layer, said reconfiguration device further comprising:

• a plurality of first electrical contacts for coupling to said plurality of terminals of said first electrical device, said plurality of first electrical contacts being arranged in a first configuration, said first configuration comprising a plurality of predetermined locations to receive said terminals of said first electrical device;
• a plurality of second electrical contacts for coupling to said plurality of terminals of said second electrical device, said plurality of second electrical contacts being arranged in a second configuration, said second configuration comprising a plurality of predetermined locations to receive said terminals of said second electrical device;
• a first trace formed of an electrically conducting material, said first trace being connected to at least one of said first electrical contacts;
• a second trace formed of an electrically conducting material, said second trace being coupled to at least one of said second electrical contacts, said second trace crossing over said first trace at an intersection;
• insulating material formed of at least a plastic material, said insulating material being located between said first trace and said second trace;
• and
• a fuse formed at said intersection in an inner layer of said reconfiguration device, said fuse coupling said first trace to said second trace, said fuse being formed of a material having a second melting point lower than a first melting point of said electrically conducting material used to form at least one of said traces;
• wherein said fuse decouples said first trace from said second trace on passage of a programming current through said fuse;
• and
• wherein said fuse comprises a material selected from a group consisting of copper, lead, tin, lead-tin, solder, nickel, aluminum, zinc, thallium, gold and antimony, phosphorous, sulfur, and palladium.

A reconfiguration device for coupling a plurality of terminals of a first electrical device and a plurality of terminals of a second electrical device, said reconfiguration device comprising a first outer layer with a first exposed surface, a second outer layer with a second exposed surface and a plurality of inner layers interposed between said first outer layer and said second outer layer, said reconfiguration device further comprising:

• a plurality of first electrical contacts for coupling to said plurality of terminals of said first electrical device, said plurality of first electrical contacts being arranged in a first configuration, said first configuration comprising a plurality of predetermined locations to receive said terminals of said first electrical device;
• a plurality of second electrical contacts for coupling to said plurality of terminals of said second electrical device, said plurality of second electrical contacts being arranged in a second configuration, said second configuration comprising a plurality of predetermined locations to receive said terminals of said second electrical device;
• a first trace formed of an electrically conducting material, said first trace being connected to at least one of said first electrical contacts;
• a second trace formed of an electrically conducting material, said second trace being coupled to at least one of said second electrical contacts, said second trace crossing over said first trace at an intersection;
• insulating material formed of at least a plastic material, said insulating material being located between said first trace and said second trace;
• and
• a fuse formed at said intersection as part of said reconfiguration device, said fuse coupling said first trace to said second trace, said fuse being formed of a material having a second melting point lower than a first melting point of said electrically conducting material used to form at least one of said traces;
• wherein said fuse decouples said first trace from said second trace on passage of a programming current through said fuse;
• and
• wherein said fuse comprises a plurality of inner layers, a first inner layer of said plurality of inner layers comprising a first material selected from a group consisting of copper, gold, tin, lead, lead-tin, solder, nickel, aluminum, zinc, thallium, antimony, phosphorous, sulfur, and palladium, and a second inner layer of said plurality of inner layers comprises a second material selected from said group.

A multi-layered structure comprising:

• a first electrically conducting trace formed as part of a first layer;
• a second electrically conducting trace formed as part of a second layer, said second electrically conducting trace being patterned adjacent to said first electrically conducting trace;
• and
• an antifuse comprising a composite material, said composite material being interposed between said first electrically conducting trace and said second electrically conducting trace;
• and
• wherein said composite material comprises a plurality of conductive particles dispersed throughout a dielectric material;
• and
• further wherein said dielectric material includes epoxy resin or polyimide.

A multi-layered structure comprising:

• a first electrically conducting trace formed as part of a first layer;
• a second electrically conducting trace formed as part of a second layer, said second electrically conducting trace being patterned adjacent to said first electrically conducting trace;
• and
• an antifuse comprising a composite material, said composite material being interposed between said first electrically conducting trace and said second electrically conducting trace;
• and
• wherein said composite material comprises a metallo-organic polymer and one of epoxy resin and polyimide.

A multi-layered structure comprising:

• a first electrically conductive trace formed as part of a first layer;
• an antifuse material located in contact with a portion of said first electrically conductive trace, said antifuse material including one of epoxy resin and polyimide;
• and
• a second electrically conductive trace formed as part of a second layer, said second electrically conductive trace being formed adjacent to said first electrically conductive trace;
• wherein said first layer, said second layer, and said antifuse material are included in a plurality of layers forming said multi-layered structure;
• and
• wherein thickness of said antifuse material is in the range of 0.1 micrometer to 1 millimeter.