Methods and apparatus for pulse generation used in characterizing electronic fuses
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsManjul Bhushan, Mark B. Ketchen, Chandrasekharan Kothandaraman, Edward P. Maciejewski
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Abstract
An integrated circuit device having at least one fuse capable of being blown in order to provide measurements of fuse current-voltage characteristics is provided. The integrated circuit device also provides at least one pulse generation circuit associated with the fuse and capable of generating a pulse to blow the fuse through one or more DC input signals.
Claims14
A pulse generation circuit of an integrated circuit device capable of blowing at least one fuse, the pulse generation circuit comprising:
- a first latch that receives at least one direct current (DC) input signal and creates a leading edge of a pulse as a function of at least one control signal supplied to the first latch;
- a resetable counter in communication with the first latch that determines the width of the pulse;
- and
- a second latch in communication with the resetable counter and the first latch that creates a falling edge of the pulse;
- wherein the pulse generation circuit comprises at least one ring oscillator that provides a local clock.
A method of generating a pulse in an integrated circuit device for use in blowing a fuse of the integrated circuit device, comprising the steps of:
- creating a leading edge of the pulse through a first latch receiving a direct current (DC) input signal when at least one control signal supplied to the first latch reaches a defined magnitude;
- counting to a determined time at a resetable counter to create a width of the pulse;
- creating a falling edge of the pulse through a second latch when a signal is received from the resetable counter;
- and
- initiating the resetable counter, wherein the step of initiating the resetable counter comprises receiving a clock input at the resetable counter from a ring oscillator and turning a reset signal of the resetable counter off in response to input associated with the leading edge.
A method of generating a pulse in an integrated circuit device for use in blowing a fuse of the integrated circuit device, comprising the steps of:
- creating a leading edge of the pulse through a first latch receiving a direct current (DC) input signal when at least one control signal supplied to the first latch reaches a defined magnitude;
- counting to a determined time at a resetable counter to create a width of the pulse;
- and
- creating a falling edge of the pulse through a second latch when a signal is received from the resetable counter;
- wherein, in the step of counting to a determined time, the time is determined by one or more decoder inputs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.