Patent ID: 7495310

Claim:
A fuse-data reading circuit comprising: a programmable fuse element; a series circuit which includes a reference fuse element and a resistance element connected in series to the reference fuse element, the reference fuse element remaining uncut; and a differential latch circuit, including a first input node to which the programmable fuse element is connected and a second input node to which the series circuit is connected, the differential latch circuit causing a first current to flow through the programmable fuse element in accordance with a resistance of the programmable fuse element and causing a second current to flow through the series circuit in accordance with a resistance of the series circuit, the differential latch circuit comparing the first current with the second current, thereby determining a programmed data of the programmable fuse element, and which outputs data representing the programmable data of the programmable fuse element; wherein the resistance of the resistor element is higher than the resistance that the programmable fuse element has while remaining uncut, and is lower than the resistance that the programmable fuse element has after having been cut.