The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 04, 1992
Filed:
Jan. 18, 1991
Cornelis D Hartgring, Dublin, IE;
Roger Cuppens, Eindhoven, NL;
U.S. Philips Corp., New York, NY (US);
Abstract
The invention relates to an integrated circuit having a programmable cell, more particularly for use in an electronic card. The cell is provided with a programmable element (P) having two conductive layers (51, 52), which are separated from each other by a dielectric layer (53). The element can be programmed by applying between the layers 51, 52 a programming voltage such that an electric breakdown is produced in the dielectric layer (53), as a result of which the element passes permanently from an electrically non-conducting state to an electrically conducting state. According to the invention, the programmable cell comprises an asymmetric bistable trigger circuit (I,II). The trigger circuit (I,II) is loaded with the element (P) in such a manner that during operation it is in a first state if the element is electrically non-conducting and is in a second state if the element is electrically conducting.