Integrated circuit having a switch
AssigneeInfineon Technologies AG
InventorsJan Boris Philipp, Thomas Happ
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A reprogrammable switch includes first phase-change material, a reference element, and a sense amplifier. The sense amplifier is coupled to the first phase-change material and the reference element and configured to compare a signal from the first phase-change material to a signal from the reference element and output a voltage signal based on the comparison.
Claims32
An integrated circuit having a switch comprising:
- first resistivity changing material;
- a reference element;
- and
- a sense amplifier coupled to the first resistivity changing material and the reference element and configured to compare a signal from the first resistivity changing material to a signal from the reference element and output a voltage signal for deactivating a failing portion of the integrated circuit based on the comparison.
A reprogrammable switch comprising:
- first phase-change material;
- second phase-change material;
- and
- a sense amplifier coupled to the first phase-change material and the second phase-change material and configured to compare a signal from the first phase-change material to a signal from the second phase-change material and output a voltage signal based on the comparison for deactivating a failing portion of a chip.
An integrated circuit chip comprising:
- a reprogrammable switch comprising a first contact, a second contact, and phase-change material between the first contact and the second contact;
- and
- means for deactivating a failing portion of the chip based on a state of the phase-change material and a state of a reference element.
A method for using a reprogrammable switch, the method comprising:
- applying a write pulse to first phase-change material to switch a state of the first phase-change material;
- applying a first voltage to the first phase-change material and to a reference element;
- sensing a first signal from the first phase-change material and a second signal from the reference element;
- comparing the first signal to the second signal;
- providing a second voltage based on the comparison;
- and
- deactivating a failing portion of an integrated circuit based on the second voltage.
A method for using a reprogrammable switch, the method comprising:
- applying a write pulse to first phase-change material to switch a state of the first phase-change material;
- applying a first voltage to the first phase-change material and to a second phase-change material;
- sensing a first signal from the first phase-change material and a second signal from the second phase-change material;
- comparing the first signal to the second signal;
- providing a second voltage based on the comparison;
- and
- deactivating a failing portion of a chip in response to the second voltage.
A reprogrammable switch comprising:
- phase-change material;
- and
- a sense amplifier coupled to the phase-change material and a constant voltage, the sense amplifier configured to compare a voltage across the phase-change material to the constant voltage and output a voltage signal for deactivating a failing portion of an integrated circuit based on the comparison.
An integrated circuit chip comprising:
- a switch comprising resistivity changing material;
- a reference element;
- and
- a sense amplifier coupled to the switch and providing an output signal based on a state of the switch for deactivating a failing portion of the chip,
- wherein the sense amplifier compares a signal provided by the reference element and provides the output signal based on the comparison.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.