Field programmable antifuse device and programming method theref

Details Field programmable antifuse device and programming method theref Field programmable antifuse device and programming method theref

1992-07-02

1994-07-05

Hudspeth, David R.

Electrical transmission or interconnection systems

Nonlinear reactor systems

Parametrons

3072021, 307443, 257530, H03K 19177

Patent

active

053270240

ABSTRACT:
A method for reducing the resistance of a programming path through a programmable antifuse from a programming voltage to ground. A previously programmed helper antifuse connected somewhere along a two branch programming path is connected to either the programming voltage or to ground. As a result, a three branch programming path is established from the programming voltage to the antifuse to be programmed and from the antifuse to be programmed to ground. By adding the third branch to the programming path, the resistance of the programming path is reduced, thereby allowing a higher voltage to be dropped across the antifuse to be programmed during programming and thereby allowing increased current flow through the antifuse to be programmed during programming. In another embodiment, two or more helper antifuses are used to establish a four or more branch programming path having a still lower resistance from the programming voltage to ground. In yet another embodiment, the programming of antifuses occurs in two steps. First, multiple antifuses are partially programmed separately. Second, these partially programmed antifuses are connected together in series so that a programming current can flow through all of the partially programmed antifuses at once to complete programming of the multiple antifuses.

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