Thomson Semiconducteurs

Eurotechnique

Jean Marie Gaultier

Jean Devin

Gerard S De Ferron

A device for the addressing of redundant elements of an integrated circuit memory is disclosed. This memory comprises an array of row memory elements and column memory elements, respectively addressable by row addresses and column addresses, and at least one group of fuses to store the address of a faulty element of the memory. Each fuse is associated with a row/column address pair. Through the blowing of certain fuses in the group after testing of a memory element, the address either of a column element, if the faulty element is a column element, or of a row element, if the faulty element is a row element, is stored. Only the row addresses are enabled when the stored address is that of a row element, and only the column addresses are enabled when the stored address is that of a column element, in order to address either a row redundant element or a column redundant element.

Device for addressing of redundant elements of an integrated circuit

A method for the addressing of redundant elements of an integrated circuit memory is disclosed. This memory comprises an array of row memory elements and column memory elements, respectively addressable by row addresses and column addresses, at least one battery of fuses to store the address of a faulty element of the memory. The method consists:

Addressing of redundant columns and rows of an integrated circuit memory

A device for neutralizing the access to an integrated-circuit zone to be protected. A fuse section providing a connection between an access terminal and an integrated circuit zone to be protected is connected by means of the fuse end portion located nearest the zone to be protected to a junction obtained at the intersection of a layer of a conductivity type opposite to the conductivity type in which the substrate of the integrated circuit is formed. This junction is reverse-biased during normal utilization of the circuit and forward-biased only when it is desired to melt the fuse, thus making the zone to be protected irreversibly inaccessible.

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Rousset sur Arc, France

Jean Marie Gaultier