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:
Aug. 24, 2004
Filed:
Jul. 25, 2002
Chandrasekharan Kothandaraman, Bogota, NJ (US);
S. Sundar Kumar Iyer, Beacon, NY (US);
Infineon Technologies AG, Munich, DE;
Abstract
A transistor (such as a MOSFET) is operated in its breakdown region, as opposed to its saturation region, to program an electric fuse. With the programming transistor operated in the breakdown region, a much higher current is enabled than the associated saturation current for the same size transistor. Thus, a smaller transistor can be used for programming the fuse. Cooperative with transistor operation in the breakdown region, a dynamic current compliance device is used to limit the peak current to prevent damage than can result from excessive current flowing through the transistor. The current compliance device can be external to the integrated fuse and programming transistor circuit.