Patent ID: 8178906
Filing Date: 2012-05-15
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A laser activated phase change device for use in a semiconductor integrated circuit, the device comprising: a fuse made of a phase change material and connected between a first metal line and a second metal line, each metal line lying either on or within an inter layer dielectric such that bottom surfaces of the first and second metal lines lie at substantially a same height with respect to a substrate, the fuse having a bottom surface and an opposing top surface and positioned such that at least a portion of the bottom surface is in contact with the inter layer dielectric either directly or through only an adhesive layer at substantially the same height as or at a height higher than the bottom surfaces of the first and second metal lines and such that an over fuse dielectric overlies at least a portion of the top surface, the over fuse dielectric having a thickness such that the over fuse dielectric is transmissive to wavelengths generated by a laser sufficient to program a phase change of the fuse using direct photon absorption and wherein the fuse interconnects active semiconductor elements manufactured on the substrate.