Patent ID: 7608851

Claim:
A switch unit comprising: a programmable via structure including at least a first phase change material via directly contacting a bottom surface of a heating element and a second phase change material via directly contacting an upper surface of said heating element, said programmable via structure further including a first terminal in contact with a first portion of said heating element, a second terminal in contact with a second portion of said heating element, a third terminal in contact with said first phase change material via, and a fourth terminal in contact with said second phase change material via; a first circuit block in contact with one of said third and fourth terminals; a second circuit block in contact with the third or fourth terminal not contacting said first circuit block; a source region of a first field effect transistor in contact with one of said first and second terminals; and a drain region of a second field effect transistor in contact with the first or second terminal that is not contacting said source region of said first field effect transistor.