Abstract: A programmable anti-fuse element includes a substrate (224), an N-well (426) in the substrate, an electrically insulating layer (427) over the N-well, and a gate electrode (430) over the electrically insulating layer. The gate electrode has n-type doping so that the N-well is able to substantially contain within its boundaries a current generated following a programming event of the programmable anti-fuse element. In the same or another embodiment, a twice-programmable fuse element (100) includes a metal gate fuse (110) and an oxide anti-fuse (120) such as the programmable anti-fuse element just described.

Abstract: A programmable anti-fuse element includes a substrate (224), an N-well (426) in the substrate, an electrically insulating layer (427) over the N-well, and a gate electrode (430) over the electrically insulating layer. The gate electrode has n-type doping so that the N-well is able to substantially contain within its boundaries a current generated following a programming event of the programmable anti-fuse element. In the same or another embodiment, a twice-programmable fuse element (100) includes a metal gate fuse (110) and an oxide anti-fuse (120) such as the programmable anti-fuse element just described.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods to fabricate thereof are described. For an embodiment, a semiconductor device features a double capping layer. The double capping layer may include a first-capping layer and a second-capping layer. The first-capping layer protects a high-k gate dielectric film during a replacement gate process and the second-capping layer protects the first-capping layer during metal deposition. For other embodiments, the first-capping layer prevents the interaction between a polysilicon layer and a high-k gate dielectric film to prevent Vt-pinning of fabricated transistors.