Back to results
US 8,619,488 B2Granted
Multi-level electrical fuse using one programming device
AssigneeTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
InventorsYung-Lung Lin, Jui-Jen Wu, Shine Chung, Fu-Lung Hsueh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for programming a multi-level electrical fuse system comprises providing a fuse box with an electrical fuse and providing one of at least two fuse writing voltages to the electrical fuse to program the electrical fuse to one of at least two resistance states. The fuse box comprises at least one electrical fuse, a programming device serially coupled to the electrical fuse, and a variable power supply coupled to the fuse box and configured to generate two or more voltage levels.
Claims19
A method for programming an electrical fuse into one of multiple states in a multi-level electrical fuse system, comprising:
- providing at least one electrical fuse;
- and
- providing one of multiple fuse writing voltages to the electrical fuse to program the at least one electrical fuse to one of multiple resistance states, the multi-level electrical fuse system further comprising:
- a programming device serially coupled to the electrical fuse;
- a variable power supply coupled to electrical fuse through a multiplexer and configured to generate three or more voltage levels so that the electrical fuse can be programmed into one of three or more states;
- a comparator having a first input coupled to the fuse box and a second input coupled to a controllable state reference circuit;
- and
- a control circuit for turning on or off the programming device in response to an output signal from the comparator, including:
- a first AND gate coupled between the comparator and a flip-flop;
- a second AND gate receiving a strobe signal and an output signal from the flip-flop;
- and
- an address decoder receiving an address signal and an output signal from the second AND gate for turning on or off the programming device.
9 more elements
A method for programming an electrical fuse into one of multiple states in a multi-level electrical fuse system, comprising:
- providing at least one fuse box including at least one electrical fuse;
- and
- providing one of multiple fuse writing voltages to the fuse box to program the electrical fuse to one of multiple resistance states, the multi-level electrical fuse system further comprising:
- a variable power supply coupled to the fuse box through a multiplexer and configured to generate three or more voltage levels so that the electrical fuse can be programmed into one of three or more states;
- a programming device serially coupled to the electrical fuse;
- and
- a fuse writing circuit having:
- a comparator having a first input coupled to the fuse box and a second input coupled to a controllable state reference circuit, wherein when the first input voltage is higher than the second input voltage, the comparator outputs a first logic state and when the first input voltage is lower than the second input voltage, the comparator outputs a second logic state complementary to the first logic state;
- and
- a control circuit coupled between an output of the comparator and the programming device for turning on or off the programming device in response to an output signal from the comparator, the control circuit including:
- a first AND gate coupled between the comparator and a flip-flop;
- a second AND gate receiving a strobe signal and an output signal from the flip-flop;
- and
- an address decoder receiving an address signal and an output signal from the second AND gate for turning on or off the programming device.
11 more elements
A method for programming an electrical fuse into one of multiple states in a multi-level electrical fuse system, comprising:
- providing at least one fuse box including at least one electrical fuse;
- and
- providing one of multiple fuse writing voltages to the electrical fuse to program the electrical fuse to one of multiple resistance states, the multi-level electrical fuse system further comprising:
- a variable power supply coupled to the fuse box through a multiplexer to provide the electrical fuse with a desired voltage level during a fuse writing process and configured to generate three or more voltage levels so that the electrical fuse can be programmed into one of three or more states;
- a programming device serially coupled to the electrical fuse;
- a fuse writing circuit having:
- a comparator having a first input coupled to the fuse box and a second input coupled to a controllable state reference circuit, wherein when the first input voltage is higher than the second input voltage, the comparator outputs a first logic state and when the first input voltage is lower than the second input voltage, the comparator outputs a second logic state complementary to the first logic state;
- and
- a control circuit coupled between an output of the comparator and the programming device for turning on or off the programming device in response to an output signal from the comparator, the control circuit including:
- a first AND gate coupled between the comparator and a flip-flop;
- a second AND gate receiving a strobe signal and an output signal from the flip-flop;
- and
- an address decoder receiving an address signal and an output signal from the second AND gate for turning on or off the programming device.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.