Laser antifuse using gate capacitor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An integrated circuit laser antifuse having first and second states, comprising:
- a first conductive plate;
a second conductive plate, wherein the second conductive plate comprises an active area of an integrated circuit;
a layer of dielectric material located between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate; and
at least two circuit connection regions extending into the second conductive plate and electrically connected to the second conductive plate, wherein the at least two circuit connection regions are physically separated from each other;
wherein the first conductive plate and the at least circuit connection regions are electrically isolated in the first state, and wherein the first conductive plate and the at least two circuit connection regions are electrically connected in the second state upon electrically connecting the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate through the layer of dielectric material in response to a focused external radiation source.
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Abstract
An integrated circuit laser antifuse is described which has two physical states. In the first physical state the laser antifuse has to conductive plates electrically separated by a layer of dielectric material. In the second physical state the two conductive plates are electrically connected through the dielectric in response to an external radiation source, such as a laser.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. An integrated circuit laser antifuse having first and second states, comprising:
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a first conductive plate;
a second conductive plate, wherein the second conductive plate comprises an active area of an integrated circuit;
a layer of dielectric material located between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate; and
at least two circuit connection regions extending into the second conductive plate and electrically connected to the second conductive plate, wherein the at least two circuit connection regions are physically separated from each other;
wherein the first conductive plate and the at least circuit connection regions are electrically isolated in the first state, and wherein the first conductive plate and the at least two circuit connection regions are electrically connected in the second state upon electrically connecting the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate through the layer of dielectric material in response to a focused external radiation source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of programming an integrated circuit laser antifuse having first and second states, wherein the integrated circuit laser antifuse comprises a first conductive plate, a second conductive plate comprising an active area of an integrated circuit, a layer of dielectric material located between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate and electrically isolating the first conductive plate from the second conductive plate in the first state, and at least two circuit connection regions extending into the second conductive plate and electrically connected to the second conductive plate, wherein the at least two circuit connection regions are physically separated from each other, the method comprising:
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focusing an external radiation source on the first conductive plate while in the first state; and
forming a conductive path from the first conductive plate through the layer of dielectric material to the second conductive plate, thereby producing the second state and electrically connecting each of the at least two circuit connection regions to the first conductive plate. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method of programming an integrated circuit laser antifuse having first and second states, wherein the integrated circuit laser antifuse comprises a first conductive plate, a second conductive plate comprising an active area of an integrated circuit, a layer of barium strontium titanium located between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate and electrically isolating the first conductive plate from the second conductive plate in the first state, and at least two circuit connection regions extending into the second conductive plate and electrically connected to the second conductive plate, wherein the at least two circuit connection regions are physically separated from each other, the method comprising:
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focusing a laser on the first conductive plate while in the first state; and
forming a conductive path from the first conductive plate through the layer of barium strontium titanium to the second conductive plate, thereby producing the second state and electrically connecting each of the at least two circuit connection regions to the first conductive plate.
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12. An integrated circuit, comprising:
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an integrated circuit laser antifuse having first and second states, wherein the integrated circuit laser antifuse comprises;
a first conductive plate;
a second conductive plate, wherein the second conductive plate comprises an active area of an integrated circuit;
a layer of dielectric material located between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate; and
at least two circuit connection regions extending into the second conductive plate and electrically connected to the second conductive plate, wherein the at least two circuit connection regions are physically separated from each other;
wherein the first conductive plate and the at least two circuit connection regions are electrically isolated in the first state, and wherein the first conductive plate and the at least two circuit connection regions are electrically connected in the second state upon electrically connecting the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate through the layer of dielectric material in response to a focused external radiation source. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An integrated circuit memory device, comprising:
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a memory array;
a column address decoder circuit coupled to the memory array;
a row address decoder circuit coupled to the memory array; and
at least one integrated circuit laser antifuse having first and second states, wherein each at least one integrated circuit laser antifuse is coupled to a circuit selected from the group consisting of the column address decoder circuit and the row address decoder circuit, further wherein each at least one integrated circuit laser antifuse comprises;
a first conductive plate;
a second conductive plate, wherein the second conductive plate comprises an active area of an integrated circuit;
a layer of dielectric material located between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate; and
at least two circuit connection regions extending into the second conductive plate and electrically connected to the second conductive plate, wherein the at least two circuit connection regions are physically separated from each other;
wherein the first conductive plate and the at least two circuit connection regions are electrically isolated in the first state, and wherein the first conductive plate and the at least two circuit connection regions are electrically connected in the second state upon electrically connecting the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate through the layer of dielectric material in response to a focused external radiation source. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An integrated circuit programmable memory device, comprising:
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a word line;
a digit line;
a plurality of access transistors, wherein each one of the plurality of access transistors comprises a first source/drain coupled to the digit line, a gate coupled to the word line and a second source/drain; and
a plurality of laser antifuse memory cells, wherein each one of the plurality of laser antifuse memory cells has first and second states, further wherein each one of the plurality of laser antifuse memory cells is coupled to the second source/drain, still further wherein each one of the plurality of laser antifuse memory cells comprises;
a first conductive plate;
a second conductive plate, wherein the second conductive plate comprises an active area of an integrated circuit;
a layer of dielectric material located between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate; and
at least two circuit connection regions extending into the second conductive plate and electrically connected to the second conductive plate, wherein the at least two circuit connection regions are physically separated from each other;
wherein the first conductive plate and the at least two circuit connection regions are electrically isolated in the first state, and wherein the first conductive plate and the at least two circuit connection regions are electrically connected in the second state upon electrically connecting the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate through the layer of dielectric material in response to a focused external radiation source. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification