Patent ID: 8338746

Claim:
A method of using a laser to sever multiple selected target links in associated ones of multiple electrically conductive link structures fabricated in an integrated circuit, the target links formed with passivation layer material overlying electrically conductive link material, comprising: providing position data representative of locations of the multiple electrically conductive link structures; generating, for emission and propagation along a beam axis, multiple laser pulses of which consecutive ones have substantially no temporal overlap; providing a beam positioning system that imparts rapid relative motion of the integrated circuit and the beam axis along which the multiple laser pulses propagate, the beam positioning system, in response to the position data, moving the beam axis between successive ones of the multiple selected target links and directing the beam axis to the multiple selected target links so that multiple ones of the laser pulses within a specified duration impinge on the link material of each of the multiple selected target links; and coordinating control of the rapid relative motion of the integrated circuit and the beam axis and control of the impingement on the link material of the multiple ones of the laser pulses within the specified duration to successively remove, by interaction of the multiple ones of the laser pulses with the link material and without stopping the beam axis over any one of the multiple selected target links, portions of the overlying passivation layer material and link material to sever the multiple target links.