Patent ID: 7098083

Claim:
A method of forming an integrated circuit including a programmable element, comprising the steps of: forming a first device on a substrate having a first electrode and a first insulator disposed between the substrate and said first electrode, said first insulator having a first value of a given parameter selected from the group consisting of thickness, density, and insulative value; forming a second device abutting the first device on the substrate having a second electrode and a second insulator disposed between the substrate and said second electrode, said second insulator having a second value of said given parameter that is different from said first value; said first and second device are formed by forming a first dielectric on the substrate; masking areas on the substrate where said first device is to be formed, so as to expose a portion of said first dielectric where said first device is to be formed such that the first device is self-aligned with the first dielectric; treating the first dielectric by selecting from the group consisting of implantation of ions causing physical damage to said exposed portion of said first dielectric, implantation of ions altering conductivity characteristics of said exposed portion of said first dielectric, implantation of ions that both cause physical damage to and alter conductivity characteristics of said exposed portion of said first dielectric, and etching said exposed portion of said first dielectric; coupling said electrodes of said first and second devices to one another; and coupling a source of programing energy to said first device.