Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
438132000 | Using structure alterable to nonconductive state (i.e., fuse) | 12 |
20090042341 | ELECTRICAL FUSE WITH A THINNED FUSELINK MIDDLE PORTION - A metal layer is deposited on the patterned semiconductor material layer containing a cathode semiconductor portion, a fuselink semiconductor portion, and an anode semiconductor portion. The metal layer may be patterned so that a middle portion of the fuselink semiconductor portion has a thin metal layer, which upon annealing produces a thinner metal semiconductor alloy portion than surrounding metal semiconductor alloy portion on the fuselink semiconductor portion. Alternatively, a middle portion of the metal semiconductor alloy having a uniform thickness throughout the fuselink may be lithographically patterned and etched to form a thin metal semiconductor alloy portion in the middle of the fuselink, while thick metal semiconductor alloy portions are formed on the end portions of the fuselink. The resulting inventive electrical fuse has interfaces at which a thinner metal semiconductor alloy abuts a thicker metal semiconductor alloy in the fuselink to enhance the divergence of electrical current. | 02-12-2009 |
20090098689 | ELECTRICAL FUSE AND METHOD OF MAKING - A semiconductor fuse and methods of making the same. The fuse includes a fuse element and a compressive stress liner that reduces the electro-migration resistance of the fuse element. The method includes forming a substrate, forming a trench feature in the substrate, depositing fuse material in the trench feature, depositing compressive stress liner material over the fuse material, and patterning the compressive stress liner material. | 04-16-2009 |
20100261318 | 3D CHIP-STACK WITH FUSE-TYPE THROUGH SILICON VIA - Programmable fuse-type through silicon vias (TSVs) in silicon chips are provided with non-programmable TSVs in the same chip. The programmable fuse-type TSVs may employ a region within the TSV structure having sidewall spacers that restrict the cross-sectional conductive path of the TSV adjacent a chip surface contact pad. Application of sufficient current by programming circuitry causes electromigration of metal to create a void in the contact pad and, thus, an open circuit. Programming may be carried out by complementary circuitry on two adjacent chips in a multi-story chip stack. | 10-14-2010 |
20110045644 | FUSE LINK STRUCTURES USING FILM STRESS FOR PROGRAMMING AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE - A method of forming a programmable fuse structure includes forming at least one shallow trench isolation (STI) in a substrate, forming an e-fuse over the at least one STI and depositing an interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer over the e-fuse. Additionally, the method includes removing at least a portion of the at least one STI under the e-fuse to provide an air gap below a portion of the e-fuse and removing at least a portion of the ILD layer over the e-fuse to provide the air gap above the portion of the e-fuse. | 02-24-2011 |
20110092031 | EFFICIENT INTERCONNECT STRUCTURE FOR ELECTRICAL FUSE APPLICATIONS - A semiconductor structure is provided that includes an interconnect structure and a fuse structure located in different areas, yet within the same interconnect level. The interconnect structure has high electromigration resistance, while the fuse structure has a lower electromigration resistance as compared with the interconnect structure. The fuse structure includes a conductive material embedded within an interconnect dielectric in which the upper surface of the conductive material has a high concentration of oxygen present therein. A dielectric capping layer is located atop the dielectric material and the conductive material. The presence of the surface oxide layer at the interface between the conductive material and the dielectric capping layer degrades the adhesion between the conductive material and the dielectric capping layer. As such, when current is provided to the fuse structure electromigration of the conductive material occurs and over time an opening is formed in the conductive material blowing the fuse element. | 04-21-2011 |
20120164799 | Method of Forming a Semiconductor Device Comprising eFuses of Increased Programming Window - In a sophisticated semiconductor device, a semiconductor-based electronic fuse may be formed in a bulk configuration, wherein the design and thus the configuration of the contact areas and the fuse region provide a wide programming window in terms of programming voltages and duration of the corresponding programming pulses. | 06-28-2012 |
20120190154 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE INCLUDING CAPACITOR ELEMENT AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A semiconductor device includes a substrate, an insulating film formed over the substrate, first and second conductive plugs formed in the insulating film, a capacitor element, and a wiring. The capacitor element includes a lower electrode, a dielectric film, and an upper electrode. The lower electrode is connected to an end of the first plug and formed on the insulating film, and includes a first barrier film. The dielectric film is formed on upper and side surfaces of the lower electrode. The upper electrode is formed on the dielectric film, and includes a second barrier metal film being wider than the lower electrode. The wiring is connected to an end of the second plug and formed on the insulating film, and includes a first layer and a second layer formed on the first layer. The first and second layers include the first and second barrier metal films, respectively. | 07-26-2012 |
20120225524 | METHOD OF FORMING AN ELECTRICAL FUSE AND A METAL GATE TRANSISTOR AND THE RELATED ELECTRICAL FUSE - The present invention provides a method of integrating an electrical fuse process into a high-k/metal gate process. The method simultaneously forms a dummy gate stack of a transistor and a dummy gate stack of an e-fuse; and simultaneously removes the polysilicon of the dummy gate stack in the transistor region and the polysilicon of the dummy gate stack in the e-fuse region. Thereafter, the work function metal layer disposed in the opening of the e-fuse region is removed; and the opening in the transistor region and the opening in the e-fuse region with metal conductive structures are filled to form an e-fuse and a metal gate of a transistor. | 09-06-2012 |
20130023091 | FUSED BUSS FOR PLATING FEATURES ON A SEMICONDUCTOR DIE - A method for forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a plurality of fuses over a semiconductor substrate; forming a plurality of interconnect layers over the semiconductor substrate and a plurality of interconnect pads at a top surface of the plurality of interconnect layers; and forming a seal ring, wherein the seal ring surrounds active circuitry formed in and on the semiconductor substrate, the plurality of interconnect pads, and the plurality of fuses, wherein each fuse of the plurality of fuses is electrically connected to a corresponding interconnect pad of the plurality of interconnect pads and the seal ring, and wherein when each fuse of the plurality of fuses is in a conductive state, the fuse electrically connects the corresponding interconnect pad to the seal ring. | 01-24-2013 |
20130157420 | Methods of Forming Graphene-Containing Switches - Some embodiments include methods of forming graphene-containing switches. A bottom electrode may be formed over a base, and a first electrically conductive structure may be formed to extend upwardly from the bottom electrode. Dielectric material may be formed along a sidewall of the first electrically conductive structure, while leaving a portion of the bottom electrode exposed. A graphene structure may be formed to be electrically coupled with the exposed portion of the bottom electrode. A second electrically conductive structure may be formed on an opposing side of the graphene structure from the first electrically conductive structure. A top electrode may be formed over the graphene structure and electrically coupled with the second electrically conductive structure. The first and second electrically conductive structures may be configured to provide an electric field across the graphene structure. | 06-20-2013 |
20130210200 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - The invention prevents a conductive fuse blown out by laser trimming from reconnecting by a plating electrode in a plating process and prevents a plating solution etc from entering a fuse blowout portion. On a semiconductor substrate of a multilayered wiring structure including a fuse blowout groove formed by blowing out a conductive fuse by laser trimming in a trimming element forming region, a second protection layer is formed so as to cover the trimming element forming region and then a plating electrode is formed on an draw-out pad electrode made of a topmost metal wiring. A third protection layer is then formed so as to cover the semiconductor substrate including the second protection layer and have an opening on the plating electrode. | 08-15-2013 |
20140038365 | GRAPHENE-BASED EFUSE DEVICE - A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a field-effect transistor (FET), and forming a fuse which includes a graphene layer and is electrically connected to the FET. | 02-06-2014 |