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US 6,603,344 B2Granted
Zero static power programmable fuse cell for integrated circuits
AssigneeInfineon Technologies AG
InventorMa Fan Yung
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A software programmable fuse cell which reduces or eliminates static power consumption is disclosed. The programmable fuse cell includes programmable and non-programmable operating modes. Depending on the operating mode, the fuse cell output is determined by the actual state of the fuse or which fuse state the fuse cell is simulating. To reduce static power consumption, a latch is used to store the actual or simulated fuse state.
Claims21
A software programmable fuse cell comprising:
- fuse cell input terminals for receiving fuse input control signals;
- a fuse cell output terminal;
- a control circuit coupled to the fuse cell input terminals;
- a fuse circuit coupled to the control circuit, the fuse circuit comprises a fuse having a first or a second fuse state;
- a software programmable fuse circuit coupled to the control circuit;
- a latch coupled to the fuse cell output terminal and the control circuit, the latch having a first or a second latch state causing a fuse output signal at the fuse cell output terminal to have a first or second output state, the first or second output state indicative of the fuse having either the first or second fuse state;
- and
- in response to the fuse input control signals at the fuse cell input terminals, the control circuit causes the fuse cell to be in an initialization, first or second mode of the fuse cell operation, wherein
- in the initialization mode, the control circuit initializes the latch to the first latch state,
- in the first mode, the control circuit couples the fuse circuit to the latch, causing the latch to be in one of the first or second latch state depending on the fuse state;
- and
- in the second mode, the control circuit and the software programmable fuse circuit cause the latch to be in the first or second state depending on the input signals.
9 more elements
A software programmable fuse cell comprising:
- fuse cell input terminals for receiving fuse input control signals;
- a cell fuse output terminal;
- a control circuit coupled to the input terminals, the control circuit includes an initialization circuit;
- a fuse circuit coupled to the control circuit, the fuse circuit comprises a fuse having a first or a second fuse state;
- a software programmable fuse circuit coupled to the control circuit;
- a latch coupled to the fuse output terminal and the control circuit, the latch having a first or a second latch state causing the fuse output signal at the fuse cell output terminal to have a first or second output state, the first or second output state indicative of the fuse having either the first or second fuse state;
- and
- in response to the input signals at the input terminals, the control circuit causes the fuse cell to be in an initialization, first or second mode of the fuse cell operation, wherein
- in the initialization mode, the control circuit couples the initialization circuit to the latch to initialize the latch to the first latch state,
- in the first mode, the control circuit couples the fuse circuit to the latch, causing the latch to be in one of the first or second latch state depending on the fuse state;
- and
- in the second mode, the control circuit and the software programmable fuse circuit cause the latch to be in the first or second state depending on the input signals.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.