PAIRED PROGRAMMABLE FUSES

• US 20110176380A1
• Filed: 01/21/2010
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: GRECO, PAUL M., BENTLEY, STEVEN R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,194,489 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 365/225.7
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 16/22 Safety or protection circuits preventing unauthorised or accidental access to memory cells
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 17/16 using electrically-fusible links
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 17/18 Auxiliary circuits, e.g. for writing into memory

Abstract

A plurality of fuses are arranged in pairs and configured such that each pair of fuses represents a data bit when one fuse of the pair is blown; represents an un-programmed bit when no fuse of the pair is blown; and represents a zero-ized bit when both fuses of the pair are blown. A fuse programming system programs the fuses of the pairs such that each pair represents a bit, comprising blowing a first fuse of a pair to represent a “1” bit, blowing a second fuse of a pair to represent a “0” bit, and blowing both fuses of a pair to represent a zero-ized pair, whereby if neither fuse of a pair is blown represents a null, un-programmed bit.

Claims

1. A fuse encoding system comprising:

a plurality of fuses arranged in pairs and configured such that each pair of fuses represents a data bit when one fuse of said pair is blown;

represents an un-programmed bit when no fuse of said pair is blown; and

represents a zero-ized bit when both fuses of said pair are blown.

2. The fuse encoding system of claim 1, additionally comprising a detection system configured to detect whether any said pair of fuses is zero-ized.

3. A fuse programming system comprising:

a plurality of fuses arranged in pairs; and

a fuse blowing system configured to program said fuses of said pairs such that each pair represents a bit, comprising to blow a first fuse of a pair to represent a “

1”

bit, to blow a second fuse of a pair to represent a “

0”

bit, and to blow both fuses of a pair to represent a zero-ized pair, whereby if neither fuse of a pair is blown represents a null, un-programmed bit.

4. The fuse programming system of claim 3, additionally comprising a detection system configured to detect, prior to programming any of said pairs, whether any said pair of fuses is zero-ized.

5. The fuse programming system of claim 3, additionally comprising a test system configured to test both bits of a pair of said fuses prior to programming said pair of fuses to test whether either said fuse of said pair is blown.

6. The fuse programming system of claim 5, additionally comprising storage to identify any bit pair found by said test system to have a fuse of said pair blown;

and wherein said fuse blowing system is configured to skip and not blow any fuse of said found pair of fuses.

7. The fuse programming system of claim 6, additionally comprising a trial test system for testing the validity of said programming by running a trial;

and, if said trial fails, indicating that said identified bit pair comprises an inverted bit.

8. The fuse programming system of claim 3, additionally comprising a detection system configured to detect, prior to programming any of said pairs, whether all of said pairs of fuses comprise null un-programmed bits, else if any said pair is other than null.

9. The fuse programming system of claim 3, additionally comprising a test system configured to test the validity of each pair of fuses subsequent to programming said pair.

10. The fuse programming system of claim 3, additionally comprising a test system configured to test both bits of each pair of said fuses and determine whether each pair of said fuses has been programmed to a “

1”

bit or “

0”

bit, else that at least one bit pair is invalid.

11. The fuse programming system of claim 10, wherein said fuse blowing system is additionally configured to, if at least one bit pair is determined to be invalid, blow all unblown fuses of said pairs, thereby “

zero-izing”

said plurality of fuses.

12. The fuse programming system of claim 11, additionally comprising a detection system configured to detect, subsequent to blowing said unblown fuses of said pairs, whether all said pairs of fuses is zero-ized.

13. In a device comprising a functional system and a compromise detection system configured to detect whether said functional system is compromised, and an encoded fuse system comprising a plurality of fuses arranged in pairs and encoded such that each pair of fuses represents a data bit when one fuse of said pair is blown:

a fuse blowing system configured to respond to said compromise detection system detecting that said functional system is compromised, to blow all unblown fuses of said pairs, such that both fuses of each pair is blown to represent a zero-ized pair, thereby “

zero-izing”

said plurality of fuses.

14. A method for configuring a plurality of fuses for encoding, comprising:

arranging a plurality of fuses in pairs; and

configuring said pairs of fuses such that each pair of fuses represents a data bit when one fuse of said pair is blown;

represents an un-programmed bit when no fuse of said pair is blown; and

represents a zero-ized bit when both fuses of said pair are blown.

15. A method for encoding a plurality of fuses arranged in pairs, comprising:

programming said pairs of fuses;

blowing a first fuse of a pair to represent a “

1”

bit;

blowing a second fuse of a pair to represent a “

0”

bit; and

blowing both fuses of a pair to represent a zero-ized pair, whereby if neither fuse of a pair is blown represents a null, un-programmed bit.

16. The method of claim 15, additionally comprising detecting, prior to programming any of said pairs, whether any said pair of fuses is zero-ized.

17. The method of claim 15, additionally comprising testing both bits of a pair of said fuses prior to programming said pair of fuses to test whether either said fuse of said pair is blown.

18. The method of claim 17, additionally comprising storing the identity of any bit pair found by said testing to have a fuse of said pair blown;

and wherein said fuse blowing programming step additionally comprises skipping and not blowing any fuse of said found pair of fuses.

19. The method of claim 18, additionally comprising trial testing the validity of said programming by running a trial;

and, if said trial fails, indicating that said identified bit pair comprises an inverted bit.

20. The method of claim 15, additionally comprising null detecting, prior to programming any of said pairs, whether all of said pairs of fuses comprise null un-programmed bits, else if any said pair is other than null.

21. The method of claim 15, additionally comprising pair testing the validity of each pair of fuses subsequent to programming said pair.

22. The method of claim 15, additionally comprising testing all said pairs by testing both bits of each pair of said fuses;

and determining whether each pair of said fuses has been programmed to a “

1”

bit or “

0”

bit, else that at least one bit pair is invalid.

23. The method of claim 22, additionally comprising, if said determining step determines at least one bit pair is invalid, blowing all unblown fuses of said pairs, thereby “

zero-izing”

said plurality of fuses.

24. The method of claim 23, additionally comprising detecting, subsequent to blowing said unblown fuses of said pairs, whether all said pairs of fuses is zero-ized.

25. In a device comprising a functional system, a compromise detection system configured to detect whether said functional system is compromised, and an encoded fuse system comprising a plurality of fuses arranged in pairs and encoded such that each pair of fuses represents a data bit when one fuse of said pair is blown;

the method comprising;

in response to said compromise detection system detecting that said functional system is compromised, blowing all unblown fuses of said pairs, such that both fuses of each pair is blown to represent a zero-ized pair, thereby “

zero-izing”

said plurality of fuses.