Patent ID: 7187228
Filing Date: 2007-03-06
Classification: G11C,H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of programming an antifuse, said antifuse comprising a material that is substantially non-conductive when said antifuse is unprogrammed, said material being disposed between and in electrical contact with a first conductive element and a second conductive element, said method comprising: passing a first pulse through said material so as to drive material from said first conductive element into said material as a conductive filament, said first pulse is a current limited pulse; and passing a second pulse through said material in the opposite direction of said current limited pulse so as to drive material from said second conductive element into said material thereby increasing the cross sectional area of said conductive filament and reducing the resistance of said antifuse; wherein the current in said current limited pulse is lower in magnitude than the current in said second pulse, and wherein said current limited pulse is passed through said material prior to any other pulse.