Antifuse advance

researchers have developed a reliable and easy-to-manufacture class of dielectric films that enable programmable antifuses on integrated circuits (IC) at less cost, using easier manufacturing methods.

The new Sandia films enable single-mask level sub 5 Volt write antifuses that are compatible with leading-edge IC specifications.

Antifuses are nonvolatile, one-time programmable memories fabricated on ICs that are programmed with applied voltage. People who need specially designed chips that are generally not available can use inexpensive chips made with the Sandia-developed dielectric film and permanently program them after fabrication.

According to Sandia, this technology inexpensively enables such activities as post fabrication trimming, ROM programming, on-chip serial number identification, and data and program security. Chips with antifuse devices may also be used in high radiation environments or for long-term storage where flash memory would not be reliable.

“Antifuses have been around a long time,” said Paul Smith, who is involved in technology transfer at Sandia. “The new Sandia-developed film — that ultimately is incorporated into computer chips with antifuses — requires lower voltage and less real estate. This makes them more desirable than existing antifuses.”