EP0626726A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Simultaneous multiple antifuse programming method
Assignee: Microsemi SoC Corp
•
Filing: 1994-03-10
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2014-03-10
Abstract
Abstract A method for simultaneously programming a plurality of antifuses each having a first electrode connected to a common node and each having a second electrode connected to an isolated node electrically isolated from the nodes of each of the other antifuses includes the steps of precharging the common node and the isolated nodes to an intermediate voltage potential selected to minimize the stress on all antifuses; precharging the isolated nodes of selected ones of the antifuses to a first programming voltage potential placing a second programming voltage potential on said common node, the first and second programming voltage potentials selected such that the difference between them is sufficient to cause programming of said antifuses and such that said intermediate potential is substantially centered between them, waiting a predetermined amount of time; and measuring the current flowing between the common node isolated nodes. If the measured current indicates that the desired antifuse has not been programmed the programming process may be attempted a preselected number of times. After the selected antifuses have been programmed, they are individually soaked by passing a soaking current through them.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas C. Galbraith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 05:21
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W20/00; H10W20/40; H10W20/49; H10W20/491; G; G11; G11C; G11C17/00; G11C17/14; G11C17/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for programming a plurality of antifuses disposed at intersections between a common conductor and a plurality of individual crossing conductors, including the steps of: dynamically precharging each one of the individual crossing conductors associated with antifuses not to be programmed to a voltage level equal to approximately half of a programming potential difference; dynamically precharging each one of the individual crossing conductors associated with antifuses to be programmed to one potential of said programming potential difference; and placing a second potential of said programming potential difference to said common conductor for a time selected to be sufficient to program properly functioning antifuses.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
The method of claim 1, further including the steps of: reducing said second potential to a value selected to avoid stressing unprogrammed ones of said antifuses after said time has elapsed; comparing the current passing through each antifuse to be programmed with magnitude of a current exhibited by a programmed antifuse; and repeating the steps of claim 1 only if the current passing through any one of said antifuses to be programmed is less than said magnitude of a current exhibited by a programmed antifuse.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, further including the step of passing a soaking current through each one of said antifuses which has been programmed.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for programming a plurality of antifuses configured to program at a programming voltage potential, said antifuses disposed at intersections between a common conductor and a plurality of individual crossing conductors, including the steps of: dynamically precharging each one of the individual crossing conductors associated with antifuses not to be programmed to a selected voltage level halfway between a first voltage potential and a second voltage potential, the difference between said first and second voltage potentials comprising said programming voltage potential; dynamically precharging each one of the individual crossing conductors associated with antifuses to be programmed to said first voltage potential; and placing said second voltage potential on said common conductor for a time selected to be sufficient to program properly functioning antifuses.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method of claim 4, further including the steps of; reducing the voltage on said common conductor to said selected voltage potential after said time has elapsed; comparing the current passing through each antifuse to be programmed with the magnitude of a current exhibited by a programmed antifuse; and repeating the steps of claim 1 only if the current passing through any one of said antifuses to be programmed is less than said magnitude of a current exhibited by a programmed antifuse.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 4, further including the step of passing a soaking current through each one of said antifuses which has been programmed.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
165 words
A method for programming a plurality of antifuses associated with a plurality of common conductors, individual ones of said disposed at intersections between one of said common conductors and a plurality of individual crossing conductors intersecting said one of said common conductors, including the steps of: (1) selecting one of said common conductors; (2) dynamically precharging each one of the individual crossing conductors associated with antifuses not to be programmed to connect said individual crossing conductors to said selected common conductor to a voltage level halfway between a first voltage potential and a second voltage potential, the difference between said first and second voltage potentials comprising said programming voltage potential; (3) dynamically precharging each one of the individual crossing conductors associated with antifuses to be programmed to said first voltage potential; (4) placing said second voltage potential to said common conductor for a time selected to be sufficient to program property functioning antifuses; and (5) repeating steps (1)-(4) for each one of said common conductors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
97 words
The method of claim 7, further including for each performance of steps (1)-(4) therein performance of the further steps of: reducing said second voltage potential to a value selected to avoid stressing unprogrammed ones of said antifuses after said time has elapsed; comparing the current passing through each antifuse to be programmed with the magnitude of a current exhibited by a programmed antifuse; and repeating the steps of claim 1 only if the current passing through any one of said antifuses to be programmed is less than said magnitude of a current exhibited by a programmed antifuse.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 7, further including the step of passing a soaking current through each one of said antifuses which has been programmed.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
176 words
A method for programming a plurality of antifuses associated with a plurality of common conductors, said antifuses configured to program at a programming voltage potential ,individual ones of said antifuses disposed at intersections between one of said common conductors and a plurality of individual crossing conductors intersecting said one of said common conductors, including the steps of: (1) selecting one said common conductors; (2) dynamically precharging each one of the individual crossing conductors associated with antifuses not to be programmed to connect said individual crossing conductors to said selected common conductor to a selected voltage level halfway between a first voltage potential and a second voltage potential, the difference between said first and second voltage potentials comprising said programming voltage potential; (3) dynamically precharging each one of the individual crossing conductors associated with antifuses to be programmed to said first voltage potential; (4) placing said second voltage potential on said common conductor for a time selected to be sufficient to program properly functioning antifuses; and (5) repeating steps (1)-(4) for each one of said common conductors.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
90 words
The method of claim 10, further including for each performance of steps (1)-(4) therein performance of the further steps of; reducing said second potential to approximately said selected voltage potential after said time has elapsed; comparing the current passing through each antifuse to be programmed with the magnitude of a current exhibited by a programmed antifuse; and repeating the steps of claim 1 only if the current passing through any one of said antifuses to be programmed is less than said magnitude of a current exhibited by a programmed antifuse.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 10, further including the step of passing a soaking current through each one of said antifuses which has been programmed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.