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:
Oct. 19, 1999
Filed:
Jul. 11, 1996
Applicant:
Inventors:
Richard Pierre Fournel, Fontanil Cormillon, FR;
Serge Fruhauf, Peynier, FR;
Francedilla.ois Tailliet, Epinay Sur Seine, FR;
Assignee:
SGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.A., Saint Genis, FR;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01L / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
257529 ; 257530 ;
Abstract
A fuse for an integrated circuit is constituted by a shallow NP junction, covered with a metal contact, the semiconductor region being not excessively doped. For the blowing of the fuse, the junction is forward biased with a current sufficient to enable a diffusion of metal up to the junction. This short-circuits the junction. The detection is done also by the forward biasing of the junction, but with a low current or a low voltage. The detection can also be done with reverse biasing.