Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuse link structure which reduces the magnitude of damage which is caused when a fuse element is blown and to provide its method. SOLUTION: This integrated circuit is provided with a main element 102. The integrated circuit is provided with a redundant element 104 which is replaced selectively with the main element 102 by at lease one fuse. The fuse contains a first layer 401 which comprises at least one fuse link region 402, contains a second layer 401 on the first layer, a gap 410 inside the second layer on the fuse link region 402, and contains a fuse window 408 in a dielectric layer 407. Since the gap 410 guides energy and a fuse material to the fuse window 408 from the fuse link region 402, it is possible to reduce damage to a circumferential structure.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable electrical fusion at the voltage of a specific value by connecting a fuse link at its one end with an individual connector terminal having a sectional region larger than its sectional region, and by connecting the fuse link at its other end with a common connector terminal having a sectional region which is larger than that of the sectional region of the individual connector terminal. SOLUTION: A semiconductor device 40 includes a board 41, on whose surface there is provided a redundant operating wiring, including many fuse-links 44 or a fuse bank used as a severe pitch array 42 for custom wirings. The fuse link 44 is connected at its one end with an individual connector terminal 43, having a sectional region about twice as large as its sectional region to be connected at its other end, with a common connector terminal 45 having a sectional region about twice as large as that of the individual connector terminal 43. As a result, heating caused by the maximized resistance difference between the fuse link 44 and the common connector terminal 45 is promoted to make possible electrical fusion at a voltage of about 10 V.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To check cracks within a final passivation laver 13 of an integrated circuit by reducing the stresses within a peripheral dielectric which are due to acute corner of a circuit pattern. SOLUTION: Stresses generally induced inside a dielectric is reduced by formings 15 and 17, at lower corner 14" of a circuit pattern 11 before adhering an outer layer (that is, a passivation layer) 13. When patterning it by metallic RIE process, this kind of rounding of the corner is achieved by a two-step metallic etching process, including the first step of creating a vertical sidewall and the second step of tapering the lower part of the vertical sidewall or creating a tapered spacer 15 along the under section of the vertical sidewall. When patterning it by a die machine process, this kind of rounding of the corner is achieved by a two-step trench etching process, including a first step of creating a vertical sidewall and a second step of creating a tapered side wall along the under section of the vertical sidewall. COPYRIGHT: (C)1999,JPO
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To conform a small TV window to a precursory fuse designing specification, which covers only a small space. SOLUTION: After the formation of a sensing soft passivation film 150, an etching stopper film 130 is used so as to set up a terminal through the intermediary of an aperture 132 to access a device feature part. As a result of etching film, the size of the terminal set up through the intermediary of the aperture 132 through an etching film is decided by decoupling with the decomposition activity of the existing photosensing soft passivation film 150.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To minimize damage to a substrate being subjected to fuse operation and to reduce the fuse pitch, by arranging a screening part where a laser fuse link is set by laser beams so that the damage of laser induction from laser beams is minimized at a region below the screening part. SOLUTION: A dynamic access memory integrated circuit has a plurality of screening parts 402, 404, 406, and 408 located on the lower side of laser fuse links 202, 204, 206, and 208. The screening parts are constituted so that a first regions located on the lower side of the screening parts can be essentially minimized when the first laser fuse links are set by laser beams. The screening part is formed by a material for reflecting nearly entire laser energy applied the screening part. A reflection material such as tungsten, molybdenum, platinum, chromium, titanium, and their alloys operates favorably.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a system, apparatus and method of programming via electromigration. A semiconductor fuse which includes a cathode and an anode coupled by a fuse link having an electrically conductive component, such as silicide, is coupled to a power supply. A potential is applied across the conductive fuse link via the cathode and anode in which the potential is of a magnitude to initiate electromigration of silicide from a region of the semiconductor fuse reducing the conductivity of the fuse link. The electromigration is enhanced by effectuating a temperature gradient between the fuse link and one of the cathode and anode responsive to the applied potential. Portions of the semiconductor fuse are selectively cooled in a heat transfer relationship to increase the temperature gradient. In one embodiment, a heat sink is applied to the cathode. The heat sink can be a layer of metal coupled in close proximity to the cathode while insulated from the fuse link. In another embodiment, the temperature gradient is increased by selectively varying the thickness of the underlying oxide layer such that the cathode is disposed on a thinner layer of oxide than the fuse link.
Abstract:
A fuse for semiconductor devices in accordance with the present invention includes a substrate having a conductive path disposed on a surface thereof, a dielectric layer disposed on the substrate and a vertical fuse disposed perpendicularly to the surface through the dielectric layer and connecting to the conductive path, the vertical fuse forming a cavity having a liner material disposed along vertical surfaces of the cavity, the vertical surfaces being melted to blow the fuse. Methods for fabrication of the vertical fuse are also included.
Abstract:
A liquid crystal element, a packaging structure providing thermal and alignment control, a display device including the same, and methods of fabrication and assembly are provided. The liquid crystal element includes: a semiconductor wafer, having microcircuitry and an array of reflective pixels; a layer of electro-optical responsive liquid crystal medium, of uniform thickness, disposed on the reflective pixels; a transparent conductive layer positioned on the liquid crystal, being substantially parallel to the reflective layers, to ensure a uniform thickness of the liquid crystal; and an insulative transparent layer provided on the conductive layer. The liquid crystal element is laminated to an optically flat substrate to limit the out-of-plane distortions thereof. The structure formed by element and substrate are disposed in a substrate holder which is mounted to a wiring board, and coupled to voltage sources for actuating the liquid crystal. During mounting, an aligning fixture is used to ensure proper orientation of the element relative to the related optical elements. Once the element is positioned, a heat sink is coupled to the rear surface of the substrate holder to dissipate heat.
Abstract:
A Partially Non-Volatile Dynamic Random Access Memory (PNDRAM) uses a DRAM array formed by a plurality of single transistor (1T) cells or two transistor (2T) cells. The cells are electrically programmable as a non-volatile memory. This results in a single chip design featuring both, a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and an electrically programmable-read-only-memory (EPROM). The DRAM and the EPROM integrated in the PNDRAM can be easily reconfigured at any time, whether during manufacturing or in the field. The PNDRAM has multiple applications such as combining a main memory with ID, BIOS, or operating system information in a single chip.
Abstract:
A plurality of fuses of different types, each type of fuse serving a specific purpose are positioned on a semiconductor integrated circuit wafer, wherein activating one type of fuse does not incapacitate fuses of a different type. Fuses of the first type, e.g., laser activated fuses, are primarily used for repairing defects at the wafer level, whereas fuses of the second type, e.g., electrically activated fuses, are used for repairing defects found after mounting the IC chips on a module and stressing the module at burn-in test. Defects at the module level typically are single cell failures which are cured by the electrically programmed fuses to activate module level redundancies.