US4412241A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Multiple trim structure
Assignee: National Semiconductor Corp
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Filing: 1980-11-21
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Granted: 1983-10-25
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Expires: 2000-11-21
Abstract
Abstract A trim structure having a nominal resistance value can be adjusted to have a higher or lower value by a combination of fuse blowing and zener zapping. In the preferred embodiment a pair of integrated circuit pads are employed in a trim structure along with a pair of back-to-back zener diodes, a fuse link, and four resistors. In its initial state, with both diodes and the fuse link intact, a particular or nominal resistance value is available. Blowing the fuse link alone produces a second or highest resistance value. Shorting, or zapping, one zener diode produces a third higher than nominal but lower than highest resistance value. Shorting, or zapping, the other zener diode produces a fourth, lower than nominal, resistance value. Shorting, or zapping, both zener diodes produces a fifth lowest resistance value. Thus, five different resistance values are available using only two integrated circuit pads. If desired, the five resistance steps can be made linear by properly selecting the resistor values. In addition, one of the circuit pads can be a common power supply terminal so that only one pad need be added to the integrated circuit chip. Two or more such structures can be fabricated with a common pad by the addition of one additional pad for each such structure.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl T. Nelson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 16:07
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W20/00; H10W20/40; H10W20/49; H10W20/493; H03; H03F; H03F3/00; H03F3/45; H03F3/45071; H03F3/45479; H03F3/45632; H03F3/45744; H03F3/45766; H03F3/45771; H10D; H10D84/00; H10D84/201; H10D84/204; H10D84/209
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A multiple trim structure for use in semiconductor integrated circuits and having a nominal output resistance value wherein a trimming operation can either raise or lower said nominal output value, said structure comprising: a plurality of bonding pads; a network of resistance elements coupled between a pair of said bonding pads, said network presenting an output resistance value that can be varied by trimming; a combination of zener diode means and fuse element means coupled between said pair of bonding pads and to said network of resistance elements whereby selected ones of said resistance elements can be invoked; means for coupling current pulses to said pair of bonding pads whereby a selected fuse element can be blown so as to remove a short circuit across a portion of said network thereby raising said output resistance; and means for coupling current pulses to said pair of bonding pads whereby a selected zener diode can be zapped so as to add a short circuit across a portion of said network thereby lowering said output resistance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
A multiple trim structure for use in semiconductor integrated circuits and having a nominal output resistance value wherein a trimming operation can either raise or lower said nominal output value, said structure comprising: a plurality of bonding pads; a network of resistance elements coupled between a pair of said bonding pads, said network presenting an output resistance value that can be varied by trimming; a combination of zener diode means and fuse element means coupled between said pair of bonding pads and to said network of resistance elements whereby selected ones of said resistance elements can be invoked; means for coupling current pulses to said pair of bonding pads whereby a selected fuse element can be blown so as to remove a short circuit across a portion of said network thereby raising said output resistance; and means for coupling current pulses to said pair of bonding pads whereby a selected zener diode can be zapped so as to add a short circuit across a portion of said network thereby lowering said output resistance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein a pair of bonding pads has first and second resistors coupled in series therebetween, said first resistor is coupled in parallel with a fuse element, and said second resistor is coupled in parallel with a zener diode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said bonding pads are located on said integrated circuit and are available for trimming said circuit in semiconductor wafer form.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said bonding pads are accessible through connections to the pins of a completed integrated circuit package for trimming said circuit after assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
149 words
A trimmable resistance structure for use in semicondutor integrated circuit devices having a plurality of bonding pads, said structure comprising: first and second bonding pads; a fuse link connected between said first and second pads; first and second zener diodes coupled in back-to-back series configuration between said first and second pads; first, second, and third resistors coupled together in a three terminal network configuration, the first terminal of which is coupled to said first pad and the second terminal of which is coupled to said second pad; and a fourth resistor having one end coupled to the common connection between said first and second zener diodes and the other end coupled to the third terminal of said three terminal network whereby the resistance between said second and third terminals of said network can be either raised or lowered by a combination of fuse link blowing and zener diode shorting.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
149 words
A trimmable resistance structure for use in semicondutor integrated circuit devices having a plurality of bonding pads, said structure comprising: first and second bonding pads; a fuse link connected between said first and second pads; first and second zener diodes coupled in back-to-back series configuration between said first and second pads; first, second, and third resistors coupled together in a three terminal network configuration, the first terminal of which is coupled to said first pad and the second terminal of which is coupled to said second pad; and a fourth resistor having one end coupled to the common connection between said first and second zener diodes and the other end coupled to the third terminal of said three terminal network whereby the resistance between said second and third terminals of said network can be either raised or lowered by a combination of fuse link blowing and zener diode shorting.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The structure of claim 5 wherein said first, second, and third resistors form a wye network.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The structure of claim 5 wherein said first, second, and third resistors form a delta network.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The structure of claim 5 wherein said first, second, third, and fourth resistor values are selected to produce linear increments of resistance as a function of said fuse link blowing and zener diode shorting.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
The structure of claim 5 further comprising: a third bonding pad; third and fourth zener diodes coupled in back-to-back series configuration between said second and third pads; and fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth resistors coupled together to form a mirror image of the first, second, third, and fourth resistors whereby two independently trimmable resistance structures having a common pad are formed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The structure of claim 9 wherein said first, second, and third bonding pads are available at the pins in the finished packaged integrated circuit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4016483A
Cited
US4210996A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-10-24 | 1987-04-25 | 1987-10-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-10-24 | 1991-04-25 | 1991-10-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-10-24 | 1995-04-25 | 1995-10-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |