Antifuse programming, protection, and sensing device
First Claim
1. An electrical conduction control and sensing device comprising:
- a control circuit;
an electrically configurable conduction device coupled to the control circuit and capable of being configured to have a high conductivity;
a sense amplifier coupled to the electrically configurable conduction device and capable of producing a sense current, detecting a magnitude of voltage produced by the sense current, and producing a blown signal; and
a coupling circuit coupled to the electrically configurable conduction device and the sense amplifier, the coupling circuit having means for electrically communicating the sense current to the electrically configurable conduction device and for electrically protecting the sense amplifier.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An antifuse programming, protection, and sensing device incorporates a control circuit to program and protect an antifuse. The antifuse, which is initially constructed as a low conductivity path, is programmable to a high conductivity path by application of an elevated voltage across terminals of the antifuse. Application of 0 volts to the VDD node of a conduction control portion of the antifuse programming, protection, and sensing device allows an elevated voltage for programming to be applied to the antifuse. Upon application of a nominal working voltage to the VDD node of the conduction control circuitry, the antifuse and an adjoining sense amplifier circuit are protected from overvoltage and tampering. The sense amplifier supplies a sense current to the antifuse, measures a voltage at an input to the antifuse, and determines a programmed state if a measured voltage level is low.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An electrical conduction control and sensing device comprising:
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a control circuit;
an electrically configurable conduction device coupled to the control circuit and capable of being configured to have a high conductivity;
a sense amplifier coupled to the electrically configurable conduction device and capable of producing a sense current, detecting a magnitude of voltage produced by the sense current, and producing a blown signal; and
a coupling circuit coupled to the electrically configurable conduction device and the sense amplifier, the coupling circuit having means for electrically communicating the sense current to the electrically configurable conduction device and for electrically protecting the sense amplifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An electrical conduction control and sensing device comprising:
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a control circuit;
an electrically configurable conduction device coupled to the control circuit and capable of being configured to have a high conductivity;
a bias circuit coupled to the electrically configurable conduction device and capable of producing a sense current;
a level sensing device coupled to the bias circuit and capable of detecting a voltage level produced by the sense current and producing a blown signal; and
a coupling circuit coupled between the electrically configurable conduction device, the level sensing device, and the bias circuit, the coupling circuit having means for electrically communicating the sense current to the electrically configurable conduction device and for electrically protecting the level sensing device. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An antifuse programming, protection, and sensing device comprising:
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a programming device;
an antifuse coupled to the programming device and capable of being configured to have a high conductivity;
a bias circuit coupled to the antifuse and capable of producing a sense current;
a voltage sensing circuit coupled to the bias circuit and capable of detecting a voltage level produced by the sense current and producing a blown signal;
a coupling circuit coupled between the antifuse and the voltage sensing circuit, the coupling circuit capable of electrically communicating the sense current to the antifuse and electrically protecting the voltage sensing circuit; and
a logic gating device coupled to the voltage sensing circuit and capable of communicating a control signal. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. An electrical conduction control and sensing device comprising:
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a control means for configuring and protecting a programmable electronic storage device;
an electrostatic discharge means for protecting an electronic circuit;
an amplification means for sensing a condition of electrical conductivity;
an electrical coupling means for providing electrical isolation of the amplification means; and
a logic inversion means for gating a sense voltage across the programmable electronic storage device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification