Patent ID: 7126204
Filing Date: 2006-10-24
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. An integrated semiconductor circuit having an electrically programmable switching element, which can be switched once from an electrically insulating state into an electrically conductive state by applying a programming voltage, where the switching element has a substrate electrode, produced in a substrate, which can be electrically biased with a substrate potential, and an opposing electrode, which is isolated from the substrate electrode by an insulating layer, where the substrate electrode comprises at least one highly doped substrate region, and where the opposing electrode can be connected to an external first electrical potential, which can be provided outside of the semiconductor circuit, wherein the substrate electrode can be connected, for the purpose of programming the switching element, to a second electrical potential, which is provided by the semiconductor circuit, and which, together with the external first potential, provides a higher programming voltage than the external first potential together with the substrate potential, wherein said insulating layer is damaged by said higher programming voltage such that an electrical connection exists between said substrate electrode and said opposing electrode after said programming, and wherein the substrate electrode is shielded from the substrate potential by a current barrier layer, which when the switching element is programmed, prevents a flow of current between the substrate electrode and a region of the substrate, which has been biased with the substrate potential.