Static information storage and retrieval – Read/write circuit – Having fuse element
Reexamination Certificate
2007-04-03
2007-04-03
Lam, David (Department: 2827)
Static information storage and retrieval
Read/write circuit
Having fuse element
C365S189011, C365S207000
Reexamination Certificate
active
11246586
ABSTRACT:
An apparatus and method for providing a reprogrammable electrically programmable fuse (eFuse) are provided. With the apparatus and method, a pair of eFuses are provided coupled to programming current sources and sensing current sources. When the pair of eFuses is to be programmed, a first programming current is applied to a first eFuse to thereby increase the resistance of the first eFuse by an incremental amount. When the pair of eFuses is to be returned to an unprogrammed state, a second programming current source is applied to a second eFuse to thereby increase a resistance of the second eFuse to be greater than the resistance of the first eFuse. When the sensing current is applied to the eFuses, a difference in the resulting voltages across the eFuses is identified and used to indicate whether the reprogrammable eFuse is in a programmed state or unprogrammed state.
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Boerstler David W.
Hailu Eskinder
Iyer Subramanian
Qi Jieming
Gerhardt Diana R.
Lam David
Walder, Jr. Stephen J.
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