Abstract: A fuse/anti-fuse structure is provided in which programming of the anti-fuse is caused by an electromigation induced hillock that is formed adjacent to the fuse element. The hillock ruptures a thin diffusion barrier located on the sidewalls of the fuse element and the conductive material within the fuse element diffuses into the adjacent dielectric material. The fuse element includes a conductive material located within a line opening which includes a first diffusion barrier having a first thickness located on sidewalls and a bottom wall of the line opening. The anti-fuse element includes the conductive material located within a combined via and line opening which includes the first diffusion barrier located on sidewalls and a bottom wall of the combined via and line opening and a second diffusion barrier having a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness located on the first diffusion barrier.

Abstract: An anti-fuse structure that included a buried electrically conductive, e.g., metallic layer as an anti-fuse material as well as a method of forming such an anti-fuse structure are provided. According to the present invention, the inventive anti-fuse structure comprises regions of leaky dielectric between interconnects. The resistance between these original interconnects starts decreasing when two adjacent interconnects are biased and causes a time-dependent dielectric breakdown, TDDB, phenomenon to occur. Decreasing of the resistance between adjacent interconnects can also be expedited via increasing the local temperature.

Abstract: A repair fuse element and method of construction are disclosed that eliminate or substantially reduce the disadvantages and problems associated with prior fuse elements. In one embodiment, the fuse element is constructed with a rectangular-shaped contact. The contact is made long enough so that it makes contact at each end with a metal layer, but design rule spacing is still maintained between the connections with the metal layer. The overlapping areas between the rectangular contact and the metal layers are asymmetrical. Alternatively, these overlapping areas are smaller than the design rule overlap requirements. In a second embodiment, a fuse element is constructed with a plurality of rectangular-shaped contacts. As a result, a current value that is significantly lower than conventional fuse current values, can be used to melt such a contact or blow the fuse.

Abstract: Generally, the present invention provides a variable thickness gate oxide anti-fuse transistor device that can be employed in a non-volatile, one-time-programmable (OTP) memory array application. The anti-fuse transistor can be fabricated with standard CMOS technology, and is configured as a standard transistor element having a source diffusion, gate oxide, polysilicon gate and optional drain diffusion. The variable gate oxide underneath the polysilicon gate consists of a thick gate oxide region and a thin gate oxide region, where the thin gate oxide region acts as a localized breakdown voltage zone. A conductive channel between the polysilicon gate and the channel region can be formed in the localized breakdown voltage zone during a programming operation. In a memory array application, a wordline read current applied to the polysilicon gate can be sensed through a bitline connected to the source diffusion, via the channel of the anti-fuse transistor.

Abstract: An object is to provide an antifuse with little power consumption at the time of writing. The antifuse is used for a memory element in a read-only memory device. The antifuse includes a first conductive layer, a multilayer film of two or more layers in which an amorphous silicon film and an insulating film are alternately stacked over the first conductive layer, and a second conductive layer over the multilayer film. Voltage is applied between the first and second conductive layers and resistance of the multilayer film is decreased, whereby data is written to the memory element. When an insulating film having higher resistance than amorphous silicon is formed between the first and second conductive layers, current flowing through the antifuse at the time of writing is reduced.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for fuse/anti-fuse structures, including an inner conductor structure, an insulating layer spaced outwardly of the inner conductor structure, an outer conductor structure disposed outwardly of the insulating layer, and a cavity-defining structure that defines a cavity, with at least a portion of the cavity-defining structure being formed from at least one of the inner conductor structure, the insulating layer, and the outer conductor stricture Methods of making and programming the fuse/anti-fuse structures are also provided.

Abstract: A semiconductor device may be created using multiple metal layers and a layer including programmable vias that may be used to form various patterns of interconnections among segments of metal layers. The programmable vias may be formed of materials whose resistance is changeable between a high-resistance state and a low-resistance state.

Abstract: An antifuse having a link including a region of unsilicided semiconductor material may be programmed at reduced voltage and current and with reduced generation of heat by electromigration of metal or silicide from a cathode into the region of unsilicided semiconductor material to form an alloy having reduced bulk resistance. The cathode and anode are preferably shaped to control regions from which and to which material is electrically migrated. After programming, additional electromigration of material can return the antifuse to a high resistance state. The process by which the antifuse is fabricated is completely compatible with fabrication of field effect transistors and the antifuse may be advantageously formed on isolation structures.

Abstract: The invention relates to a semiconductor device (10) comprising a semiconductor body (1) with a high-ohmic semi-conductor substrate (2) which is covered with a dielectric layer (3, 4) containing charges, on which dielectric layer one or more passive electronic components (20) comprising conductor tracks (20) are provided, wherein, at the location of the passive elements (20), a region (5) is present at the interface between the semiconductor substrate (2) and the dielectric layer (3, 4), as a result of which the conductivity of an electrically conducting channel induced in the device (10) by the charges is limited at the location of the region (5). According to the invention, the region (5) is formed by deposition and comprises a semi-insulating material. As a result, the device (10) has a very low high-frequency power loss because the inversion channel is formed in the semi-insulating region (5).

Abstract: A structure and method of fabricating reversible fuse and antifuse structures for semiconductor devices is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes forming at least one line having a via opening for exposing a portion of a plurality of interconnect features; conformally depositing a first material layer over the via opening; depositing a second material layer over the first material layer, wherein the depositing overhangs a portion of the second material layer on a top portion of the via opening; and depositing a blanket layer of insulating material, where the depositing forms a plurality of fuse elements each having an airgap between the insulating material and the second material layer. The method further includes forming a plurality of electroplates in the insulator material connecting the fuse elements.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has a semiconductor substrate, an insulating layer formed on the semiconductor substrate, a wiring formed in the insulating layer and an antifuse including first and second connecting portions coupled to the wiring. The anti fuse has a space provided between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion and insulating the first connecting portion from the second connecting portion. The first connecting portion and the second connecting portion may be coupled by a conductive material disposed in the space.

Abstract: A metallization surface (5), which acts as an etching stop layer during the production of openings (4) in a passivation layer (3) applied to its upper face and protects an interconnect structure (6) arranged underneath it, is arranged in an uppermost metallization level (1). A further opening is produced in the metal surface (5), through which a focused ion beam is aimed at the interconnect structure (6) in order to connect interconnects to one another and/or to interrupt at least one interconnect. The wiring of the integrated circuit can thus be varied individually, starting from identically produced semiconductor chips.

Abstract: A reprogrammable metal-to-metal antifuse is disposed between two metal interconnect layers in an integrated circuit. A lower barrier layer is formed from Ti. A lower adhesion-promoting layer is disposed over the lower Ti barrier layer. An antifuse material layer selected from a group comprising at least one of amorphous carbon and amorphous carbon doped with at least one of hydrogen and fluorine is disposed over the lower adhesion-promoting layer. An upper adhesion-promoting layer is disposed over the antifuse material layer. An upper Ti barrier layer is disposed over the upper adhesion-promoting layer.

Abstract: A device (10) comprises a semiconductor diode (12) and a switchable element (14) positioned in stacked adjacent relationship. The semiconductor diode (12) and the switchable element (14) are electrically connected in series with one another. The switchable element (14) is switchable from a low-conductance state to a high-conductance state in response to the application of a low-density forming current and/or a low voltage.

Abstract: A method of trimming down the volume of a semiconductor resistor element using electrical resistance feedback. After forming conductive material disposed between a pair of electrodes, a voltage is applied to the electrodes to produce an electrical current through the conductive material sufficient to heat and melt away a portion of the conductive material. By reducing the volume of the conductive material, its resistance is increased. The application of the voltage is ceased once the desired dimensions (and thus resistivity) of the conductive material is reached. The resulting semiconductor resistor element could have a fixed resistance, or could have a variable resistance (by using phase change memory material).

Abstract: An antifuse contains a first silicide layer, a grown silicon oxide antifuse layer on a first surface of the first silicide layer, and a first semiconductor layer having a first surface in contact with the antifuse layer.

Abstract: An antifuse including a bottom plate having a plurality of longitudinal members arranged substantially parallel to a first axis, a dielectric layer formed on the bottom plate, and a top plate having a plurality of longitudinal members arranged substantially parallel to a second axis, the top plate formed over the dielectric layer. Multiple edges formed at the interfaces between the top and bottom plates result in regions of localized charge concentration when a programming voltage is applied across the antifuse. As a result, the formation of the antifuse dielectric over the corners of the bottom plates enhance the electric field during programming of the antifuse. Reduced programming voltages can be used in programming the antifuse and the resulting conductive path between the top and bottom plates will likely form along the multiple edges.

Abstract: Integrated circuit antifuse circuitry is provided. A metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) antifuse transistor serves as an electrically-programmable antifuse. In its unprogrammed state, the antifuse transistor is off and has a relatively high resistance. During programming, the antifuse transistor is turned on which melts the underlying silicon and causes a permanent reduction in the transistor's resistance. A sensing circuit monitors the resistance of the antifuse transistor and supplies a high or low output signal accordingly. The antifuse transistor may be turned on during programming by raising the voltage at its substrate relative to its source. The substrate may be connected to ground through a resistor. The substrate may be biased by causing current to flow through the resistor. Current may be made to flow through the resistor by inducing avalanche breakdown of the drain-substrate junction or by producing Zener breakdown of external Zener diode circuitry connected to the resistor.

Abstract: The invention comprises methods of forming a conductive contact to a source/drain region of a field effect transistor, and methods of forming local interconnects. In one implementation, a method of forming a conductive contact to a source/drain region of a field effect transistor includes providing gate dielectric material intermediate a transistor gate and a channel region of a field effect transistor. At least some of the gate dielectric material extends to be received over at least one source/drain region of the field effect transistor. The gate dielectric material received over the one source/drain region is exposed to conditions effective to change it from being electrically insulative to being electrically conductive and in conductive contact with the one source/drain region. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.

Abstract: An anti-fuse structure that can be programmed at low voltage and current and which potentially consumes very little chip spaces and can be formed interstitially between elements spaced by a minimum lithographic feature size is formed on a composite substrate such as a silicon-on-insulator wafer by etching a contact through an insulator to a support semiconductor layer, preferably in combination with formation of a capacitor-like structure reaching to or into the support layer. The anti-fuse may be programmed either by the selected location of conductor formation and/or damaging a dielectric of the capacitor-like structure. An insulating collar is used to surround a portion of either the conductor or the capacitor-like structure to confine damage to the desired location. Heating effects voltage and noise due to programming currents are effectively isolated to the bulk silicon layer, permitting programming during normal operation of the device.

Abstract: An integrated fuse has regions of different doping located within a fuse neck. The integrated fuse includes a polysilicon layer and a silicide layer. The polysilicon layer includes first and second regions having different types of dopants. In one example, the first region has an N-type dopant and the second region has a P-type dopant. The polysilicon layer can also include a third region in between the first and second regions, which also has a different dopant. During a fusing event, a distribution of temperature peaks around the regions of different dopants. By locating regions of different dopants within the fuse neck, agglomeration of the silicide layer starts reliably within the fuse neck (for example, at or near the center of the fuse neck) and proceeds toward the contact regions. An improved post fuse resistance distribution and an increased minimum resistance value in the post fuse resistance distribution is realized compared to conventional polysilicon fuses.

Abstract: An antifuse including a bottom plate having a plurality of longitudinal members arranged substantially parallel to a first axis, a dielectric layer formed on the bottom plate, and a top plate having a plurality of longitudinal members arranged substantially parallel to a second axis, the top plate formed over the dielectric layer. Multiple edges formed at the interfaces between the top and bottom plates result in regions of localized charge concentration when a programming voltage is applied across the antifuse. As a result, the formation of the antifuse dielectric over the comers of the bottom plates enhance the electric field during programming of the antifuse. Reduced programming voltages can be used in programming the antifuse and the resulting conductive path between the top and bottom plates will likely form along the multiple edges.

Abstract: A programmable interconnect structure and method of operating the same provides a programmable interconnection between electrical contacts. The interconnect includes material that has a reversibly programmable resistance. The material includes a molecular matrix with ionic complexes distributed through the molecular matrix. Application of an electrical field or electric current causes the molecular composite material to assume a desired resistivity (or conductivity) state. This state is retained by the molecular composite material to thus form a conductive or a non-conductive path between the electrical contacts.

Abstract: A memory cell is formed of a semiconductor junction diode in series with an antifuse. The cell is programmed by rupture of the antifuse. The semiconductor junction diode comprises silicon, the silicon crystallized in contact with a silicide. The suicide apparently provides a template for crystallization, improving crystallinity and conductivity of the diode, and reducing the programming voltage required to program the cell. It is advantageous to reduce a dielectric layer (such as an oxide, nitride, or oxynitride) intervening between the silicon and the silicon-forming metal during the step of forming the silicide.

Abstract: An MRAM device having a plurality of MRAM cells formed of a fixed magnetic layer, a second soft magnetic layer and a dielectric layer interposed between the fixed magnetic layer and the soft magnetic layer. The MRAM cells are all formed simultaneously and at least some of the MRAM cells are designed to function as antifuse devices whereby the application of a selected electrical potential can short the antifuse device to thereby affect the functionality of the MRAM device.

Abstract: An electrical and thermal contact for use in a semiconductor device. The electrical and thermal contact includes an intermediate conductive layer, an insulator component, and a contact layer. The intermediate conductive layer may contact a structure of the semiconductor device. The insulator component, which is fabricated from a thermally and electrically insulative material, may be sandwiched between the intermediate conductive layer and the contact layer, which may substantially envelop the insulator component.

Abstract: A very high density field programmable memory is disclosed. An array is formed vertically above a substrate using several layers, each layer of which includes vertically fabricated memory cells. The cell in an N level array may be formed with N+1 masking steps plus masking steps needed for contacts. Maximum use of self alignment techniques minimizes photolithographic limitations. In one embodiment the peripheral circuits are formed in a silicon substrate and an N level array is fabricated above the substrate.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electrically programmable non-volatile memory cell comprises forming a first electrode on a substrate, forming an inter-electrode layer of material on the first electrode having a property which is characterized by progressive change in response to stress, and forming a second electrode over the inter-electrode layer of material. The inter-electrode layer comprises a dielectric layer, such as ultra-thin oxide, between the first and second electrodes. A programmable resistance, or other property, is established by stressing the dielectric layer, representing stored data. Embodiments of the memory cell are adapted to store multiple bits of data per cell and/or adapted for programming more than one time without an erase process.

Abstract: A typical integrated circuit includes millions of microscopic transistors, resistors, and other components interconnected to define a circuit, for example a memory circuit. Occasionally, one or more of the components are defective and fabricators selectively replace them by activating spare, or redundant, components included within the circuit. One way of activating a redundant component is to rupture an antifuse that effectively connects the redundant component into the circuit. Unfortunately, conventional antifuses have high and/or unstable electrical resistances which compromise circuit performance and discourage their use. Accordingly, the inventors devised an exemplary antifuse structure that includes three normally disconnected conductive elements and a programming mechanism for selectively moving one of the elements to electrically connect the other two.

Abstract: A programmable element that has a first diode having an electrode and a first insulator disposed between the substrate and said electrode of said first device, said first insulator having a first value of a given characteristic, and an FET having an electrode and a second insulator disposed between the substrate and said electrode of said second device, said second insulator having a second value of said given characteristic that is different from said first value. The electrodes of the diode and the FET are coupled to one another, and a source of programming energy is coupled to the diode to cause it to permanently decrease in resistivity when programmed. The programmed state of the diode is indicated by a current in the FET, which is read by a sense latch. Thus a small resistance change in the diode translates to a large signal gain/change in the latch. This allows the diode to be programmed at lower voltages.

Abstract: A 3D semiconductor memory is described having rail-stacks which define conductive lines and cells. The memory levels are organized in pairs with each pair showing common lines in adjacent levels.

Abstract: A three-dimensional memory structure and manufacturing method thereof is provided. A first stack layer is formed over a substrate. The first stack layer includes, from the substrate upwards, an n-type polysilicon layer, a conductive layer, an anti-fuse and another n-type polysilicon layer. The first stack layer is patterned to form a first stack circuit. Thereafter, a second stack layer is formed over the first stack circuit. The second stack layer includes, from the first stack circuit upwards, a p-type polysilicon layer, a conductive layer, an anti-fuse and another p-type polysilicon. The second stack layer is patterned to form a second stack circuit that crosses over the first stack circuit perpendicularly. The aforementioned steps are repeated to form more stack circuits above the substrate and hence produce a three-dimensional structure.

Abstract: A method of producing an antifuse includes introducing nitrogen by ion implantation means into the substrate. An oxide dielectric layer is then formed on the nitrided substrate in a wet oxidation ambient. The conditions of the ion implantation and the oxidation are controlled to generate a dielectric with uniform thickness and a low breakdown voltage when subjected to a high electric field.

Abstract: In a passive element memory array, such as a rail stack array having a continuous semiconductor region along one or both of the array lines, programming a memory cell may disturb nearby memory cells as result of a leakage path along the array line from the selected cell to the adjacent cell. This effect may be reduced substantially by changing the relative timing of the programming pulses applied to the array lines for the selected memory cell, even if the voltages are unchanged. In an exemplary three-dimensional antifuse memory array, a positive-going programming pulse applied to the anode region of the memory cell preferably is timed to lie within the time that a more lightly-doped cathode region is pulsed low.

Abstract: A method is provided of forming an integrated circuit with a semiconductor substrate that is doped with a set concentration of an oxidizable dopant of a type that segregates to the top surface of a silicide when the semiconductor substrate is reacted to form such a silicide. A gate dielectric is formed on the semiconductor substrate, and a gate is formed on the gate dielectric. Source/drain junctions are formed in the semiconductor substrate. A silicide is formed on the source/drain junctions and dopant is segregated to the top surface of the silicide. The dopant on the top surface of the segregated dopant is oxidized to form an insulating layer of oxidized dopant above the silicide. An interlayer dielectric is deposited above the semiconductor substrate. Contacts and connection points are then formed in the interlayer dielectric to the insulating layer of oxidized dopant above the silicide.

Abstract: A new method to polish down conductive lines in the manufacture of an integrated circuit device is achieved. The method comprises providing a plurality of conductive lines overlying a substrate. A high density plasma (HDP) oxide layer is deposited overlying the substrate and the conductive lines. In the regions between the conductive lines, first planar surfaces of the HDP oxide layer are formed below the top of the conductive lines. The HDP oxide layer is sputtered down overlying the conductive lines such that second planar surfaces of the HDP oxide layer are formed above the conductive lines. A polish stopping layer is deposited overlying the HDP oxide layer. A film layer is deposited overlying the polish stopping layer. The film layer is polished down to the polish stopping layer overlying the second planar top surfaces.

Abstract: A one-time programming memory element, capable of being manufactured in a 0.13 ?m or below CMOS technology, having a capacitor, or transistor configured as a capacitor, with an oxide layer capable of passing direct gate tunneling current. Also included is a write switch, having first and second switches coupled to the capacitor, and a read switch also coupled to the capacitor. The capacitor/transistor is one-time programmable as an anti-fuse by application of a program voltage across the oxide layer via the write switch to cause direct gate tunneling current to rupture the oxide layer to form a conductive path having resistance of approximately hundreds of ohms or less.

Abstract: A one-time programming memory element, capable of being manufactured in a 0.13 ?m or below CMOS technology, having a capacitor, or transistor configured as a capacitor, with an oxide layer capable of passing direct gate tunneling current. Also included is a write circuit, having first and second switches coupled to the capacitor, and a read circuit also coupled to the capacitor. The capacitor/transistor is one-time programmable as an anti-fuse by application of a program voltage across the oxide layer via the write circuit to cause direct gate tunneling current to rupture the oxide layer to form a conductive path having resistance of approximately hundreds of ohms or less.

Abstract: A method of electrically contacting a semiconductor layer (13) coated with at least one dielectic layer (12) which is coated with a metal layer the metal layer (11) is applied on the dielectric layer (12) and the metal layer (11) is temporarily locally heated in a line, linear or dotted pattern by means of a source of radiation (9) in a controlled manner in such a way that a local molten mixture, is formed consisting exclusively of the metal layer (11), the dielectric layer (12) and the semiconductor layer (13) are located directly underneath the metal layer (11) and upon solidification, leads to an electrical contact between the semiconductor layer (13) and the metal layer (11).

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a scalable high-performance antifuse structure and process that has a low RC component, a uniform dielectric breakdown, and a very low, effective dielectric constant (keff) such that a programming pulse voltage is scalable with Vdd. One aspect of the present subject matter is an antifuse device that is positioned or coupled between a first metal level and a second metal level. One embodiment of the antifuse device includes a porous antifuse dielectric layer, and at least one injector Silicon-Rich-Insulator (SRI) layer in contact with the porous antifuse dielectric layer. In one embodiment, the porous antifuse dielectric layer includes SiO2 formed with air-filled voids. In one embodiment, the at least one injector SRI layer includes two injector Silicon-Rich-Nitride layers that sandwich the porous antifuse dielectric layer. Other aspects are provided herein.

Abstract: An anti-fuse structure that can be programmed at low voltage and current and which potentially consumes very little chip spaces and can be formed interstitially between elements spaced by a minimum lithographic feature size is formed on a composite substrate such as a silicon-on-insulator wafer by etching a contact through an insulator to a support semiconductor layer, preferably in combination with formation of a capacitor-like structure reaching to or into the support layer. The anti-fuse may be programmed either by the selected location of conductor formation and/or damaging a dielectric of the capacitor-like structure. An insulating collar is used to surround a portion of either the conductor or the capacitor-like structure to confine damage to the desired location. Heating effects voltage and noise due to programming currents are effectively isolated to the bulk silicon layer, permitting programming during normal operation of the device.

Abstract: A metal-to-metal antifuse having a lower metal electrode, a lower thin adhesion promoting layer disposed over the lower metal electrode, an amorphous carbon antifuse material layer disposed over the thin adhesion promoting layer, an upper thin adhesion promoting layer disposed over said antifuse material layer, and an upper metal electrode. The thin adhesion promoting layers are about 2 angstroms to 20 angstroms in thickness, and are from a material selected from the group comprising SixCy and SixNy. The ratio of x to y in SixCy is in a range of about 1+/?0.4, and the ratio of x to y in SixNy is in a range of about 0.75+/?0.225.

Abstract: A programmable element including a semiconductor material doped with a dopant that alters the resistance of the element when exposed to actinic radiation. Rather than producing a mechanical deformation, the radiation rearranges the bonding configuration of the dopant in the element, allowing it to be placed on a chip in close proximity to other device structures without risking damage to those structures. After formation, the programmable element is subjected to a laser anneal process in which the dopant is electrically activated. The activation process allows the dopant to donate a charge carrier to the crystal structure. Rapid cooling following laser anneal preserves the desired bonding configuration of the dopant produced in the programmable element. Laser anneals have been shown to reduce the resistivity of a programmable element by at least a factor of two.

Abstract: A one-time programming memory element, capable of being manufactured in a 0.13 ?m or below CMOS technology, having a capacitor, or transistor configured as a capacitor, with an oxide layer capable of passing direct gate tunneling current, and a switch having a voltage tolerance higher than that of the capacitor/transistor, wherein the capacitor/transistor is one-time programmable as an anti-fuse by application of a voltage across the oxide layer via the switch to cause direct gate tunneling current to thereby rupture the oxide layer to form a conductive path having resistance of approximately hundreds of ohms or less.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a scalable high-performance antifuse structure and process that has a low RC component, a uniform dielectric breakdown, and a very low, effective dielectric constant (keff) such that a programming pulse voltage is scalable with Vdd. One aspect of the present subject matter is an antifuse device that is positioned or coupled between a first metal level and a second metal level. One embodiment of the antifuse device includes a porous antifuse dielectric layer, and at least one injector Silicon-Rich-Insulator (SRI) layer in contact with the porous antifuse dielectric layer. In one embodiment, the porous antifuse dielectric layer includes SiO2 formed with air-filled voids. In one embodiment, the at least one injector SRI layer includes two injector Silicon-Rich-Nitride layers that sandwich the porous antifuse dielectric layer. Other aspects are provided herein.

Abstract: The present invention provides integrated circuit fabrication methods and devices wherein triple damascene structures are formed in five consecutive dielectric layers (312, 314, 316, 318 and 320), using two etching sequences. A first etching sequence comprising: depositing a first etch mask layer (322), on the fifth (top) layer (320), developing a power line trench pattern (324) and a via pattern (326) in the first mask layer, simultaneously etching the power line trench pattern (324) and the via pattern (326) through the top three dielectric layers (316, 318, 320), and removing the first etch mask layer.

Abstract: Selective application of solder bumps in an integrated circuit package. Solder bumps are selectively applied in a solder bump integrated circuit packaging process so that portions of a circuit can be effectively disabled. The bumps may be selectively applied either to a die or to the substrate using multiple solder masks, one for each pattern of solder bumps desired or can be otherwise applied in multiple patterns depending upon which portions of the circuitry are to be active and which are to be disabled.

Abstract: Method for producing an antifuse in a substrate, a first interconnect being applied to the substrate, a dielectric layer being applied at an end face of the first interconnect, which end face essentially runs vertically with respect to the substrate, a second interconnect being applied in such a way that it adjoins the dielectric layer with an end face, with the result that an antifuse structure is formed.

Abstract: Integrated circuit antifuse circuitry is provided. A metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) antifuse transistor serves as an electrically-programmable antifuse. In its unprogrammed state, the antifuse transistor is off and has a relatively high resistance. During programming, the antifuse transistor is turned on which melts the underlying silicon and causes a permanent reduction in the transistor's resistance. A sensing circuit monitors the resistance of the antifuse transistor and supplies a high or low output signal accordingly. The antifuse transistor may be turned on during programming by raising the voltage at its substrate relative to its source. The substrate may be connected to ground through a resistor. The substrate may be biased by causing current to flow through the resistor. Current may be made to flow through the resistor by inducing avalanche breakdown of the drain-substrate junction or by producing Zener breakdown of external Zener diode circuitry connected to the resistor.

Abstract: Interconnection structures for integrated circuits have first cells disposed in a first plane, at least second cells disposed in at least a second plane parallel to the first plane, and vertical interconnections disposed for connecting conductors in the first plane with conductors in the second plane, at least some of the vertical interconnections initially incorporating antifuses. The antifuses may be disposed over conductors that are disposed on a base substrate. The antifuses are selectively fused to prepare the integrated circuit for normal operation. Methods for fabricating and using such vertical interconnection structures are disclosed.