US 6,501,107 B1 · Addressable fuse array for circuits and mechanical devices

Abstract

A fuse array having a plurality of fusible links that can be addressed by two electrodes is disclosed. The fuse array includes two conductive strips having the plurality of fusible links located therebetween and electrically coupled to the conductive strips. The fusible links have different electrical resistance and each fusible link includes a fuse portion. A voltage potential applied across the conductive strips induces current flow through the fusible links in accordance with Ohm's law and ohmic heating occurs at the fuse portion in proportion to the square of the current. The voltage is increased to cause sufficient ohmic heating to occur in the most conductive fusible link (the fusible link having the lowest electrical resistance) so that the fuse portion in that fusible link fuses. Because the fusible links are connected in parallel to the conductive strips, an equivalent resistance of the plurality of fusible links increases and the current flow diminishes so that no further fuse portions are fused at the selected voltage level. Thereafter, the voltage level may be increased to fuse the most conductive fusible link remaining that is not fused. The fuse array may be incorporated into a circuit as a resistor that can be tuned to circuit requirements or as a physical structure in MEMS devices wherein the fuse array may be tuned to change physical properties of the MEMS device.

Claims60

Dependent claims

A fuse array, comprising:

first and second fusible links that have first and second resistances, respectively, wherein the first resistance is less than the second resistance, and the first and second fusible links have respective first and second fuse portions;
and
first and second electrical pads electrically coupled to the first and second fusible links, and wherein a first voltage potential difference across the first and second pads causes a first electrical current to be conducted in the first fusible link and a second electrical current to be conducted in the second fusible link, such that the first fuse portion of the first fusible link fuses.

An addressable fuse array, comprising:

a first electrical conductor;
a second electrical conductor;
a first fusible link coupled to the first and second conductors, the first fusible link comprising a first portion having a first resistance and a length L1, a second portion having a second resistance and a length of length L2, and a third portion, and wherein the first resistance is less than the second resistance;
and
a second fusible link coupled to the first and second conductors, the second fusible link comprising a first portion having the first resistance and having a length L3, a second portion having the second resistance and having a length L4, and a third portion;
wherein the length L1 is not equal to the length L3 and the length L2 is not equal to the length L4 thereby making the first fusible link more conductive than the second fusible link, so that a first applied voltage across the first and second electrical conductors causes an electrical current in the first and second fusible links that induces a first ohmic heat in the first fusible link that fuses the third portion of the first fusible link.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Addressable fuse array for circuits and mechanical devices

Life of this patent

Addressable fuse array for circuits and mechanical devices

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims60