FUSE ELEMENT PROGRAMMING CIRCUIT AND METHOD
First Claim
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1. A circuit for programming a fuse element comprising:
- a memory cell having a fuse element that includes a first semiconductor material body region and a silicide layer;
a programming circuit configured to form a programming current to program the fuse element; and
a programming element configured to control a value of the programming current, the programming element having a second semiconductor material body region but not a silicide layer.
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Abstract
In one embodiment, a programming circuit is configured to form a programming current for a silicide fuse element by using a non-silicide programming element.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A circuit for programming a fuse element comprising:
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a memory cell having a fuse element that includes a first semiconductor material body region and a silicide layer; a programming circuit configured to form a programming current to program the fuse element; and a programming element configured to control a value of the programming current, the programming element having a second semiconductor material body region but not a silicide layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of forming a programming circuit for a fuse element comprising:
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forming a fuse element having a first semiconductor layer and a silicide layer wherein the first semiconductor layer has a first resistivity and the silicide layer has a second resistivity; and configuring the programming circuit to control a value of a programming current through the fuse element using a programming element having a third resistivity that is substantially the first resistivity. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of forming an OTP programming circuit comprising:
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forming a fuse element having a resistance, a first semiconductor layer formed from a semiconductor material, and a silicide layer wherein the first semiconductor layer has a body region having a body resistivity that is substantially a first resistivity, and the silicide layer has a second resistivity that is less than the first resistivity; and configuring a programming circuit to control a value of a programming current through the fuse element responsively to a body region of a programming element wherein the body region of the programming element is formed from substantially the semiconductor material and wherein the programming current increases the resistance of the fuse element. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification