Patent ID: 7417300

Claim:
An electrically programmable fuse for an integrated circuit, the fuse comprising: a first terminal portion and a second terminal portion interconnected by an elongate fuse element; and wherein the first terminal portion has a maximum width greater than a maximum width of the elongate fuse element and wherein the fuse includes a narrowed width region comprising part of the first terminal portion, and a width of the first terminal portion in the narrowed width region is less than the maximum width of the first terminal portion, thereby enhancing current crowding therein; and wherein the first terminal portion, the second terminal portion and the elongate fuse element comprise silicide disposed over a polysilicon support structure, the silicide having a planar configuration different from a planar configuration of the polysilicon support structure, and wherein the width of the first terminal portion in the narrowed width region is measured between a first side and a second side of the narrowed width region, the first side and the second side comprising opposing sides of the narrowed width region, and wherein the first side and the second side of the narrowed width region are bordered by unsilicided regions of the polysilicon support structure, the narrowed width region within the first terminal portion bordered by the unsilicided regions defining a non-uniform thermal gradient within the first terminal portion silicide with establishing of current between the first and second terminal portions through the elongate first element, the non-uniform thermal gradient within the first terminal portion inhibiting electro-migration of silicide from the first terminal portion.