E-fuse apparatus for controlling reference voltage required for programming/reading e-fuse macro in an integrated circuit via switch device in the same integrated circuit

An electrically programmable fuse (e-fuse) apparatus, comprising:

• an e-fuse macro, disposed in an integrated circuit and comprising a plurality of e-fuse units;
• and
• a switch device, disposed in the integrated circuit and having an output node coupled to the e-fuse units and a first input node coupled to a first power source which supplies a first reference voltage acting as a programming voltage of the e-fuse macro, wherein the switch device connects the first power source to the e-fuse units when the e-fuse macro is operated under a programming mode, wherein the first power source is inside the integrated circuit;
• the switch device further has a second input node coupled to a second power source;
• the switch device connects the second power source to the e-fuse units when the e-fuse macro is operated under a read mode;
• and the second power source is inside the integrated circuit, and supplies a second reference voltage different from the first reference voltage.

An electrically programmable fuse (e-fuse) apparatus, comprising:

• an e-fuse macro, disposed in an integrated circuit and comprising a plurality of e-fuse units;
• and
• a switch device, disposed in the integrated circuit and having an output node coupled to the e-fuse units and a first input node coupled to a first power source which supplies a first reference voltage acting as a programming voltage of the e-fuse macro, wherein the switch device connects the first power source to the e-fuse units when the e-fuse macro is operated under a programming mode, wherein the first power source is inside the integrated circuit;
• the switch device further has a second input node coupled to a second power source;
• the switch device connects the second power source to the e-fuse units when the e-fuse macro is operated under a read mode;
• the second power source is external to the integrated circuit, and supplies a second reference voltage different from the first reference voltage;
• and the switch device is coupled to the second power source via a specific pin of the integrated circuit.

An electrically programmable fuse (e-fuse) apparatus, comprising:

• an e-fuse macro, disposed in an integrated circuit and comprising a plurality of e-fuse units;
• and
• a switch device, disposed in the integrated circuit and having an output node coupled to the e-fuse units and a first input node coupled to a first power source which supplies a first reference voltage acting as a programming voltage of the e-fuse macro, wherein the switch device connects the first power source to the e-fuse units when the e-fuse macro is operated under a programming mode, wherein the first power source is external to the integrated circuit, and supplies the first reference voltage;
• the switch device is coupled to the first power source via a specific pin of the integrated circuit;
• the e-fuse macro has a power connection node coupled to the output node of the switch device and configured to receive the first reference voltage;
• when the e-fuse macro is operated under the programming mode, the switch device connects the first input node to the power connection node;
• and when the e-fuse macro is operated under a read mode, the switch device disconnects the first input node from the power connection node to float the power connection node such that no reference voltage external to the e-fuse macro is supplied to the e-fuse macro via the power connection node.

An electrically programmable fuse (e-fuse) apparatus, comprising:

• an e-fuse macro, disposed in an integrated circuit and comprising a plurality of e-fuse units;
• and
• a switch device, disposed in the integrated circuit and having an output node coupled to the e-fuse units and a first input node coupled to a first power source which supplies a first reference voltage acting as a programming voltage of the e-fuse macro, wherein the switch device connects the first power source to the e-fuse units when the e-fuse macro is operated under a programming mode, wherein the first power source is external to the integrated circuit, and supplies the first reference voltage;
• the switch device is coupled to the first power source via a specific pin of the integrated circuit;
• the switch device further has a second input node coupled to a second power source;
• the switch device connects the second power source to the e-fuse units when the e-fuse macro is operated under a read mode;
• and the second power source is inside the integrated circuit, and supplies a second reference voltage different from the first reference voltage.

An electrically programmable fuse (e-fuse) apparatus, comprising:

• an e-fuse macro, disposed in an integrated circuit and comprising a plurality of e-fuse units;
• and
• a switch device, disposed in the integrated circuit and having an output node coupled to the e-fuse units and a first input node coupled to a first power source which supplies a first reference voltage acting as a programming voltage of the e-fuse macro, wherein the switch device connects the first power source to the e-fuse units when the e-fuse macro is operated under a programming mode, wherein the first power source is external to the integrated circuit, and supplies the first reference voltage;
• the switch device is coupled to the first power source via a specific pin of the integrated circuit;
• the switch device further has a second input node coupled to a second power source;
• the switch device connects the second power source to the e-fuse units when the e-fuse macro is operated under a read mode;
• the second power source is external to the integrated circuit, and supplies a second reference voltage different from the first reference voltage;
• and the switch device is coupled to the second power source via another specific pin of the integrated circuit.

An electrically programmable fuse (e-fuse) apparatus, comprising:

• an e-fuse macro, disposed in an integrated circuit and comprising a plurality of e-fuse units;
• a switch device, disposed in the integrated circuit and having an output node coupled to the e-fuse units and a first input node coupled to a first power source which supplies a first reference voltage acting as a programming voltage of the e-fuse macro, wherein the switch device connects the first power source to the e-fuse units when the e-fuse macro is operated under a programming mode;
• and
• a protection unit, for preventing the switch device from connecting the first power source to the e-fuse units unless a password is inputted to the protection circuit to unlock programming protection.