Programming an electrical fuse with a silicon-controlled rectifier
AssigneeGlobalfoundries Inc.
InventorsEphrem G. Gebreselasie, Alain Loiseau, Joseph M. Lukaitis, Richard A. Poro, III, Andreas D. Stricker
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Abstract
Circuits for programming an electrical fuse, methods for programming an electrical fuse, and methods for designing a silicon-controlled rectifier for use in programming an electrical fuse. A programming current for the electrical fuse is directed through the electrical fuse and the silicon-controlled rectifier. Upon reaching a programmed resistance value for the electrical fuse, the silicon-controlled rectifier switches from a low-impedance state to a high-impedance state that interrupts the programming current.
Claims20
A method for programming an electrical fuse using a silicon-controlled rectifier that has a terminal coupled with the electrical fuse, the method comprising:
- directing a programming current for the electrical fuse through the electrical fuse and the silicon-controlled rectifier;
- and
- switching the silicon-controlled rectifier from a low-impedance state to a high-impedance state that interrupts the programming current upon reaching a first programmed resistance value for the electrical fuse,
- wherein the electrical fuse is a closed electrical circuit after the first programmed resistance value is reached and the programming current is interrupted.
A circuit comprising:
- an electrical fuse configured to be programmed by application of a programming current over a time interval;
- a silicon-controlled rectifier including a gate, a first terminal coupled with the electrical fuse, and a second terminal;
- and
- a trigger pulse generator coupled with the gate of the silicon-controlled rectifier, the trigger pulse generator configured to direct a triggering pulse to the gate of the silicon-controlled rectifier having a duration that is at least an order of magnitude less than the time interval required to program the electrical fuse.
A method for designing a silicon-controlled rectifier for use in programming an electrical fuse, the method comprising:
- determining, using a processor, a holding current and a holding voltage for the silicon-controlled rectifier that provide a first programmed resistance value for the electrical fuse.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.