摘要 |
An antifuse is described that can be formed without masks or mask steps beyond those required for a conventional CMOS process. The antifuse includes adjacent p-type and n-type diffusion regions that together form a P-N junction. The diffusion regions are tapered toward one another such that the P-N junction is located at a necked-down region of the antifuse. The diffusion regions are connected to respective terminals of a programming-voltage source via first and second metal electrical contacts, typically of aluminum metal. Each of the first and second electrical contacts includes a point directed toward the other of the first and second electrical contacts. The antifuse is programmed by providing a reverse-bias programming voltage across the electrical contacts. This programming voltage exceeds the breakdown voltage of the P-N junction so that current flows through the necked-down region of the antifuse between the points on the respective first and second electrical contacts. This current heats the region between the opposite points to create a hot filament between the first and second metal contacts. Metal from the metal contacts then diffuses along the filament to form a conductor between metal contacts.
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