Antifuse circuit with current regulator for controlling programming current

Abstract

In one embodiment, an antifuse cell includes a select transistor, a blocking transistor, and an antifuse. The select transistor allows for selection of the antifuse cell among an array of antifuse cells, while the blocking transistor limits the amount of voltage that may be directly applied to the select transistor. The antifuse may comprise a capacitor. In another embodiment, current used to program an antifuse cell is controlled using a programming current regulator. The programming current regulator may include components that form a current mirror with components of the antifuse cell to tightly control programming current through the antifuse. In yet another embodiment, dynamic current flowing through a substrate of an antifuse cell is limited using a current limiting resistor directly in series with an antifuse of the antifuse cell. The current limiting resistor minimizes or prevents excessive programming current.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.