Background of the Invention
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to the testing of microelectronic modules, and more specifically to the use of anti-fuse-controlled enabling or disabling logic circuits, such as the ones used to disable a portion of a memory array found to be defective during wafer-level testing.
2. State of the Art
Semiconductor integrated circuits contain large numbers of electronic components, such as diodes and transistors, built on a single chip. Due to the microscopic scale of these circuits, they are susceptible to component defects due to material impurities and fabrication hazards.
In order to circumvent this problem, redundant components and circuits are built on most chips that can be switched-in in lieu of corresponding circuits found defective during testing. Usually the switching-out of a defective component or circuit, and the switching-in of a corresponding redundant element, is accomplished by using programmable logic circuits which are activated by blowing certain fuses or anti-fuses built into the chip circuitry.
FIG. 1 illustrates an anti-fuse-controlled programmable circuit.
A bank 1 of N programmable logic circuits 2 is interrogated by a Latch.sub.-- Pulse* appearing on a latch pulse line 3 connected to control terminals of the logic circuits 2. Each programmable logic circuit 2 comprises an anti-fuse 4 wired in series with a switching transistor 5 and load transistors 50 and 51 between a supply voltage V.sub.cc and its ground reference V.sub.ss. A node 6 between the anti-fuse 4 and the switching transistor 5 is wired into the input of a driver 7. The output of the driver 7 is typically used to set a latching circuit (not shown) which disables a defective circuit (not shown) and enables a substitute from a redundant circuit bank (not shown). A hysteresis transistor 52 reinforces the output of a low from the driver 7 when the node 6 is high.
Each programmable logic circuit 2 may be programmed by first providing a low Anti-Fuse.sub.-- Isolate* signal to the circuit 2, thereby turning off an isolation transistor 54 and isolating the anti-fuse 4 from the node 6. The programmable logic circuit 2 to be programmed then receives a high Anti-Fuse.sub.-- Select signal, causing an anti-fuse select transistor 56 to turn on in order to couple one terminal of the anti-fuse 4 to ground. A Super Voltage V.sub.SUPER momentarily applied to the other terminal 58 of the anti-fuse 4 then "blows" the anti-fuse 4.
For normal operations, the Anti-Fuse.sub.-- Isolate* signal goes high to turn the isolation transistor 54 on and thereby couple the anti-fuse 4 to the node 6, the Anti-Fuse.sub.-- Select signal goes low to turn off the anti-fuse select transistor 56, and the ground reference voltage V.sub.ss replaces the Super Voltage V.sub.SUPER at the terminal 58 of the anti-fuse 4.
During normal operations, the Latch.sub.-- Pulse* is allowed to pass through the programmable logic circuit 2 only if the ant-fuse 4 has been blown. So long as the anti-fuse 4 isolates the node 6 from the reference ground V.sub.ss, the output of the driver 7 remains low regardless of the presence of the Latch.sub.-- Pulse* on its control terminal, because the hysteresis transistor 52 keeps the input to the driver 7 high, thus maintaining the output of the driver 7 low.
It should be noted that, during normal operations, when the anti-fuse 4 is blown, current is drawn through the load transistor 50, the switching transistor 5, the isolation transistor 54, the load transistor 51, and the blown anti-fuse 4 during the active period of every Latch.sub.-- Pulse*. This type of programmable logic circuit is commonly used in connection with memory chips wherein a Latch.sub.-- Pulse* is usually issued with every memory cycle. As more programmable logic circuits of this type are placed on a wafer and are programmed by blowing their anti-fuses, the cumulative current drawn with every Latch.sub.-- Pulse* can be significant and, obviously, undesirable.
A common solution to this problem is to pulse the programmable logic circuit, i.e., issue a Latch.sub.-- Pulse* only once upon powering up the chip in order to latch-in the proper redundancy scheme or other control option. However, pulsing the circuits during the power up cycle does not guarantee that the proper redundancy or other option then set will not be unlatched sometime later during the operation of the chip as a result of a power surge, background noise or other form of transient. Without any other pulsing of the programmable logic circuit until the next power up, there is no way the circuit can correct itself in such cases of spurious unlatching. Moreover, there is never any guarantee that the correct program can be latched-in with one single initial pulse. It is therefore preferable to issue a Latch.sub.-- Pulse* with every memory cycle, or multiples thereof, to assure not only a correct original latching-in of the programmable scheme, but also an automatic correction of any spurious malfunction.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a solution to the excessive drawing of current by banks of such programmable logic circuits used to latch-in redundancy circuits and other programmable options.
Summary of the Invention
A programmable circuit in accordance with the present invention solves the problem described above by outputting a programmed logic signal, such as a bit of a programmed memory address, from a node between two anti-fuses, one of which is "blown," coupled between a high voltage (e.g., V.sub.cc) and a low voltage (e.g., V.sub.ss). As a result, the high voltage (V.sub.cc) or the low voltage (V.sub.ss) may pass through the blown anti-fuse to the node, and to the input of an output driver (e.g., an inverter) coupled to the node, without current wastefully flowing through either of the anti-fuses to ground.
Specifically, the inventive programmable circuit includes the anti-fuses connected in series with at least one "current conduit"--typically a transistor controlled by a latch pulse signal--between first and second voltages (e.g., V.sub.cc and V.sub.ss) respectively associated with first and second logic states (e.g., a "1" state and a "0" state). The anti-fuses are programmable to alter current flow through themselves so the node between the anti-fuses is programmably coupleable to the first and second voltages for outputting the logic signal in the first and second logic states, respectively.
In other embodiments of the present invention, one or more of the programmable circuits described above are incorporated into a logic circuit, an integrated circuit die, an integrated circuit package, a redundant memory system, a computer system, and a semiconductor wafer.
Another embodiment is directed to a method of programming a memory device to generate a programmed address in response to a latch signal for comparison to memory addresses received by the memory device from external circuitry. Such a method is useful in determining if redundant elements in the memory device should be accessed in lieu of accessing primary memory elements identified by the received memory addresses. In the method, at least two enabling anti-fuses and at least one enabling switch are provided coupled in series between a supply voltage V.sub.cc and a reference voltage V.sub.ss. The enabling switch is responsive to the latch signal. The enabling anti-fuses are programmed to allow only one of the supply and reference voltages V.sub.cc and V.sub.ss to be conducted to an enabling node between the anti-fuses when the latch signal activates the enabling switch. At least two output anti-fuses and at least one control switch are provided coupled in series between the supply and reference voltages V.sub.cc and V.sub.ss for each bit in the address to be programmed, with the control switch being responsive to the voltage at the enabling node. The output anti-fuses associated with each bit in the programmed address have an output node between them for outputting their associated bit. The output anti-fuses associated with each bit in the address to be programmed are programmed to allow conduction of only one of the supply and reference voltages V.sub.cc and V.sub.ss to their associated output node in order to output the programmed address when the voltage on the enabling node activates the control switches.
In a further embodiment, a method for accessing a redundant cell of a memory device in lieu of accessing a normal memory cell of the device includes receiving a latch signal and, in response, switchably coupling (as through a switching transistor) a first voltage to an enabling node. A corresponding enabling signal is then output from the node. At least one control switch associated with each bit in a programmed address associated with the normal memory cell is activated in response to the enabling signal, with each control switch being coupled in series with at least two anti-fuses between first and second voltages. One of the anti-fuses associated with each bit of the programmed address is pre-programmed to conduct the first or second voltage corresponding to its associated bit through itself. Each different bit in the programmed address is then output from an output node between the anti-fuses associated with the bit. Memory addresses corresponding to memory cells in the memory device are then received, and these memory addresses are compared to the programmed address. When a match occurs, a redundant cell in the memory device is accessed in lieu of accessing a primary memory cell identified by the received memory address that matches the programmed address.
Brief Description of the Drawings
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional bank of programmable logic circuits for routing a latching pulse;
FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematics of a latching pulse-routing circuit according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a schematic of a resistor for use as an alternative current conduit in the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a computer system including the circuit of FIGS. 2A and 2B; and
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a semiconductor wafer incorporating the circuit of FIGS. 2A and 2B.
Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiments
As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a memory system in accordance with the present invention includes a bank enabling circuit 10 for enabling operation of a bank 12 of programmable circuits 14. It should be understood that FIGS. 2A and 2B may, for example, depict a schematic of the memory system as incorporated into an integrated circuit (IC) die or an IC package. It should also be understood that although only one (1) bank of programmable circuits, and only one (1) bank enabling circuit, is illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, in practice multiple banks of programmable circuits and multiple bank enabling circuits are provided in the inventive memory system.
To program the bank enabling circuit 10 to enable the bank 12 of programmable circuits 14, a low Anti-Fuse.sub.-- Isolate* signal turns off an isolation transistor 16, thereby isolating anti-fuses 18 and 20 from an output inverter 22. A high Anti-Fuse.sub.-- Select.sub.-- B.sub.-- Bank signal then turns on a selection transistor 24, and a high Enable.sub.-- V.sub.ss signal turns on an enable transistor 26, so one side of the anti-fuse 20 is coupled to ground through the transistors 24 and 26. A Super Voltage V.sub.SUPER applied to the other side of the anti-fuse 20 then blows the anti-fuse 20.
During normal operation, a high Anti-Fuse.sub.-- Isolate* signal turns the isolation transistor 16 on, thereby connecting the output inverter 22 to the anti-fuse 20. A low Enable.sub.-- V.sub.ss signal turns off the enable transistor 26. A high Latch.sub.-- Pulse turns on the selection transistor 24, allowing ground reference V.sub.ss to pass through the blown anti-fuse 20 and the active selection and isolation transistors 24 and 16 to the input of the output inverter 22, causing the inverter 22 to output a high Bank.sub.-- Enable signal which enables the bank 12 as discussed below.
In contrast, to program the bank enabling circuit 10 to disable the bank 12 of programmable circuits 14, a low Anti-Fuse.sub.-- Isolate* signal turns off the isolation transistor 16, thereby isolating anti-fuses 18 and 20 from the output inverter 22. A high Anti-Fuse.sub.-- Select.sub.-- A.sub.-- Bank signal then turns on a selection transistor 28, and a high Enable.sub.-- V.sub.ss signal turns on the enable transistor 26, so one side of the anti-fuse 18 is coupled to ground through the transistors 28 and 26. A Super Voltage V.sub.SUPER applied to the other side of the anti-fuse 18 then blows the anti-fuse 18.
During normal operation, a high Anti-Fuse.sub.-- Isolate* signal turns the isolation transistor 16 on, thereby connecting the output inverter 22 to the anti-fuse 18. A low Enable.sub.-- V.sub.ss signal turns off the enable transistor 26. A high Latch.sub.-- Pulse turns on the selection transistor 28, allowing a supply voltage V.sub.cc to pass through the blown anti-fuse 18 and the active selection and isolation transistors 28 and 16 to the input of the output inverter 22, causing the inverter 22 to output a low Bank.sub.-- Enable signal which disables the bank 12.
Irregardless of whether the bank enabling circuit 10 is programmed to enable or disable the bank 12 of programmable circuits 14, it can be seen in FIG. 2A that no direct path ever exists between the supply voltage V.sub.cc and ground V.sub.ss, because one of the anti-fuses 18 and 20 always remains un-blown. As a result, the excessive current problem described above is substantially reduced or eliminated.
Referring to FIG. 2B, each programmable circuit 14 is programmed with a bit (i.e., a "1" or a "0") of a memory address that is to be programmed into the bank 12 in a manner similar to the programming of the bank enabling circuit 10 of FIG. 2A described above. Namely, the Anti-Fuse.sub.-- Isolate*, Anti-Fuse.sub.-- Select, and Enable.sub.-- V.sub.ss signals are manipulated as necessary to operate selection transistors 30 and 32, an enable transistor 34, and an isolation transistor 36 in each circuit 14 to blow one of a pair of anti-fuses 38 and 40 in each circuit 14 with the Super Voltage V.sub.SUPER.
In operation, the Anti-Fuse.sub.-- Isolate* signal is high, thereby turning on the isolation transistor 36, and the Enable.sub.-- V.sub.ss signal is low, thereby turning off the enable transistor 34. If a high Bank.sub.-- Enable signal from the bank enable circuit 10 of FIG. 2A enables the bank 12 of programmable circuits 14, selection transistors 30 and 32 in each programmable circuit 14 turn on. If the anti-fuse 38 in a programmable circuit 14 has been blown, the supply voltage V.sub.cc passes through the blown anti-fuse 38 and the selection and isolation transistors 30 and 36 to the input of an output driver 42 of the circuit 14, causing the output driver 42 to output a low (e.g., a "0"). If, instead, the anti-fuse 40 of a programmable circuit 14 has been blown, the ground reference voltage V.sub.ss passes through the blown anti-fuse 40 and the selection and isolation transistors 32 and 36 to the input of the output driver 42, causing the output driver 42 to output a high (e.g., a "1").
It can be seen in FIG. 2B that because only one (1) of the anti-fuses 38 and 40 in each programmable circuit 14 is blown, no direct path exists from the supply voltage V.sub.cc to ground V.sub.ss, so the problem of excessive current draw is substantially reduced or eliminated.
The bits output from the programmable circuits 14 are latched in by a latch circuit 44 and are then used in a memory array 46 to direct the replacement of memory cells 48 with redundant cells 49.
As shown in FIG. 3, any one of the selection transistors 24, 28, 30, and 32 may be replaced with a resistor 60. Of course, it should be understood that current conduits other than the resistor 60 will also work to replace the selection transistors, including, for example, a resistance-connected transistor similar to the load transistor 50 shown in FIG. 1. Of course, control switches such as the transistors 24, 28, 30, and 32 are typically preferred in the present invention as current conduits.
As shown in FIG. 4, the bank enabling circuit 10 and bank 12 of FIGS. 2A and 2B may be incorporated into a memory device 62 of a computer system 64 that also includes an input device 66, an output device 68, and a processor 70. As shown in FIG. 5, the bank enabling circuit 10 and bank 12 of FIGS. 2A and 2B may be incorporated into a semiconductor wafer 72.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, the invention is not limited to these described embodiments. Rather, the invention is limited only by the appended claims, which include within their scope all equivalent devices or methods which operate according to the principles of the invention as described.