Addressable fuse array for circuits and mechanical devices
First Claim
1. A fuse array, comprising:
- first and second fusible links that have first and second resistances, respectively, wherein the first resistance is less than the second resistance, and the first and second fusible links have respective first and second fuse portions; and
first and second electrical pads electrically coupled to the first and second fusible links, and wherein a first voltage potential difference across the first and second pads causes a first electrical current to be conducted in the first fusible link and a second electrical current to be conducted in the second fusible link, such that the first fuse portion of the first fusible link fuses.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fuse array having a plurality of fusible links that can be addressed by two electrodes is disclosed. The fuse array includes two conductive strips having the plurality of fusible links located therebetween and electrically coupled to the conductive strips. The fusible links have different electrical resistance and each fusible link includes a fuse portion. A voltage potential applied across the conductive strips induces current flow through the fusible links in accordance with Ohm'"'"'s law and ohmic heating occurs at the fuse portion in proportion to the square of the current. The voltage is increased to cause sufficient ohmic heating to occur in the most conductive fusible link (the fusible link having the lowest electrical resistance) so that the fuse portion in that fusible link fuses. Because the fusible links are connected in parallel to the conductive strips, an equivalent resistance of the plurality of fusible links increases and the current flow diminishes so that no further fuse portions are fused at the selected voltage level. Thereafter, the voltage level may be increased to fuse the most conductive fusible link remaining that is not fused. The fuse array may be incorporated into a circuit as a resistor that can be tuned to circuit requirements or as a physical structure in MEMS devices wherein the fuse array may be tuned to change physical properties of the MEMS device.
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Citations
60 Claims
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1. A fuse array, comprising:
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first and second fusible links that have first and second resistances, respectively, wherein the first resistance is less than the second resistance, and the first and second fusible links have respective first and second fuse portions; and
first and second electrical pads electrically coupled to the first and second fusible links, and wherein a first voltage potential difference across the first and second pads causes a first electrical current to be conducted in the first fusible link and a second electrical current to be conducted in the second fusible link, such that the first fuse portion of the first fusible link fuses. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A fuse array, comprising:
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first and second fusible links that have first and second resistances, respectively, wherein the first resistance is less than the second resistance, and the first and second fusible links have respective first and second fuse portions; and
first and second electrical pads electrically coupled to the first and second fusible links, and wherein a first voltage potential difference across the first and second pads causes a first electrical current to be conducted in the first fusible link and a second electrical current to be conducted in the second fusible link, such that the first fuse portion of the first fusible link fuses;
wherein the first and second fusible links each comprise a first portion having a first conductivity and a second portion having a second conductivity wherein the first conductivity is greater than the second conductivity, and wherein the second portion of the first fusible link is shorter than the second portion of the second fusible link. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An addressable fuse array, comprising:
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a first electrically conductive electrode;
a second electrically conductive electrode;
a first fusible link coupled to the first and second electrodes, the first fusible link having a first resistance;
a second fusible link coupled to the first and second electrodes, the second fusible link having a second resistance wherein the second resistance is greater than the first resistance;
whereby a voltage potential applied across the first and second electrodes induces a current in the first and second fusible links and at a first voltage potential the first fusible link becomes non-conducting and the second fusible link remains conducting. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An addressable fuse array, comprising:
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a first electrical conductor;
a second electrical conductor;
a first fusible link coupled to the first and second conductors, the first fusible link comprising a first portion having a first resistance and a length L1, a second portion having a second resistance and a length of length L2, and a third portion, and wherein the first resistance is less than the second resistance; and
a second fusible link coupled to the first and second conductors, the second fusible link comprising a first portion having the first resistance and having a length L3, a second portion having the second resistance and having a length L4, and a third portion;
wherein the length L1 is not equal to the length L3 and the length L2 is not equal to the length L4 thereby making the first fusible link more conductive than the second fusible link, so that a first applied voltage across the first and second electrical conductors causes an electrical current in the first and second fusible links that induces a first ohmic heat in the first fusible link that fuses the third portion of the first fusible link. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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- 47. A fuse array, comprising first and second conductive pads and a plurality of fusible links having different values of resistance, wherein the fusible links are electrically coupled in parallel arrangement to the first and second pads such that a current flowing from the first pad to the second pad passes through each fusible link and wherein a first current blows at least one fusible link so that the at least one fusible link does not conduct current, and the first current does not blow all the fusible links.
Specification