Methods and apparatus for trimming packaged electrical devices
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorsGregory G. Romas, Jr., Jian Wang
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Abstract
An electrical device is disclosed, comprising electrical components forming an electrical circuit, with a trim circuit comprising two or more trim cells providing selectively removable resistances between first and second nodes in the electrical circuit. The resistance between the nodes is trimmed incrementally by application of trim signals to a single pair of terminals or pads on the device, allowing post-packaging trimming. Methods are also disclosed for selective removal of resistance between first and second nodes in a packaged electrical device.
Claims26
An electrical device, comprising:
- an electrical circuit comprising a plurality of electrical components fabricated in a substrate and interconnected with one another;
- first and second electrical terminals connected to first and second nodes, respectively in the electrical circuit, the first and second electrical terminals individually providing external connectivity to the first and second nodes;
- and
- a trim circuit comprising a plurality of trim cells fabricated in the substrate, the trim cells individually providing resistance between the first and second nodes in the electrical circuit, the resistance of the individual trim cells being selectively removable by application of at least one trim signal to the first and second electrical terminals to reduce resistance between the first and second nodes.
An electrical device, comprising:
- an electrical circuit comprising a plurality of interconnected electrical components and first and second nodes;
- first and second trim pads connected to the electrical circuit;
- and
- a trim circuit comprising first and second trim cells providing selectively removable resistance between the first and second nodes, wherein individual resistances of the first and second trim cells are selectively removable by application of a trim signal to the first and second trim pads to reduce resistance between the first and second nodes.
A method of selectively removing resistance between first and second nodes in a packaged electrical device having first and second terminals and first and second trim cells comprising first and second resistors serially connected between the first and second nodes, and first and second diodes connecting the first and second trim cells to the second terminal, respectively, the method comprising:
- applying a trim voltage across the first and second terminals to short the first resistor;
- and
- applying a trim current between the first and second terminals to disconnect the first trim cell from the second terminal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.