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:
Sep. 14, 2010
Filed:
Mar. 19, 2008
Jonathan Schmitt, Eden Prairie, MN (US);
Joseph Glenn, Eden Prairie, MN (US);
Douglas Smith, Mesa, AZ (US);
Myron Buer, Gilbert, AZ (US);
Jonathan Schmitt, Eden Prairie, MN (US);
Joseph Glenn, Eden Prairie, MN (US);
Douglas Smith, Mesa, AZ (US);
Myron Buer, Gilbert, AZ (US);
Broadcom Corporation, Irvine, CA (US);
Abstract
A disclosed embodiment is a programmable memory cell comprising an elevated ground node having a voltage greater than a common ground node by an amount substantially equal to a voltage drop across a trigger point adjustment element. In one embodiment, the trigger point adjustment element can be a diode. The trigger voltage of the programmable memory cell is raised closer to a supply voltage when current passes through the trigger point adjustment element during a write operation. The programmable memory cell can comprise a pair of cross-coupled inverters, and first and second programmable antifuses that can be coupled to each inverter in the pair of cross-coupled inverters. Since the trigger voltage of the programmable memory cell is raised closer to the supply voltage, a programmed antifuse can easily reach below the trigger voltage and result in a successful write operation even when the supply voltage is a low voltage.