Programmable electrical fuse with temperature gradient between anode and cathode

• Main Authors: VOGT ERIC E, FECHNER PAUL S, SHAW GORDON A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 02.12.2014
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; ELECTRIC SOLID STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

In some examples, a programmable electrical fuse includes at least one structural feature that increases a thermal gradient between an anode and a cathode of the programmable electrical fuse. For example, a device may include a semiconductor substrate, an electrically insulating layer overlying the semiconductor substrate, and a programmable electrical fuse overlying a portion of the electrically insulating layer. The programmable electrical fuse may include a cathode, an anode, and a conductor link connecting the cathode and the anode. The electrically insulating layer may define a first thickness between the semiconductor substrate and the cathode and a second thickness between the semiconductor substrate and the anode, and the first thickness being less than the second thickness.