IP Library Granted Patent US 6,965,156
Granted Patent B1
US 6,965,156 · App. 10/331,144 · Granted Nov 15, 2005

Amorphous carbon metal-to-metal antifuse with adhesion promoting layers

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,965,156
App. No.
10/331,144
Granted
Nov 15, 2005
Kind
B1
Abstract

A metal-to-metal antifuse having a lower metal electrode, a lower thin adhesion promoting layer disposed over the lower metal electrode, an amorphous carbon antifuse material layer disposed over the thin adhesion promoting layer, an upper thin adhesion promoting layer disposed over said antifuse material layer, and an upper metal electrode. The thin adhesion promoting layers are about 2 angstroms to 20 angstroms in thickness, and are from a material selected from the group comprising Si x C y and Si x N y . The ratio of x to y in Si x C y is in a range of about 1+/−0.4, and the ratio of x to y in Si x N y is in a range of about 0.75+/−0.225.

Claims (57)

1. A metal-to-metal antifuse comprising:

a lower metal electrode;

a lower adhesion promoting layer disposed over said lower metal electrode, said lower adhesion promoting layer being without substantial affect on electrical characteristics of the antifuse;

an amorphous carbon antifuse material layer disposed over said lower adhesion promoting layer;

an upper adhesion promoting layer disposed over said antifuse material layer, said upper adhesion promoting layer being without substantial affect on electrical characteristics of the antifuse; and

an upper metal electrode disposed over said upper adhesion promoting layer,

wherein said lower adhesion promoting layer and said upper adhesion promoting layer are selected from a group of materials comprising Si x C y , having a ratio of x to y of about 1+/−0.4, and Si x N y .

2. The metal-to-metal antifuse in claim 1 , wherein said lower adhesion promoting layer is about 2 angstroms to about 20 angstroms in thickness and said upper adhesion promoting is about 2 angstroms to about 20 angstroms in thickness.

3. The metal-to-metal antifuse in claim 1 , wherein said Si x C y has a dielectric constant of about 4 to about 6.

4. The metal-to-metal antifuse in claim 1 , wherein a ratio of x to y in said Si x N y is about 0.75+/−0.225.

5. The metal-to-metal antifuse in claim 1 , wherein said Si x N y has a dielectric constant of about 6 to about 8.

6. The metal-to-metal antifuse in claim 2 , wherein said Si x C y has a dielectric constant of about 4 to about 6.

7. The metal-to-metal antifuse in claim 2 , wherein a ratio of x to y in said Si x N y is about 0.75+/−0.225.

8. The metal-to-metal antifuse in claim 2 , wherein said Si x N y has a dielectric constant of about 6 to about 8.

9. The metal-to-metal antifuse in claim 1 , wherein said amorphous carbon antifuse material layer is about 50 angstroms to about 500 angstroms in thickness.

10. The metal-to-metal antifuse in claim 1 , wherein said amorphous carbon antifuse material layer has a dielectric constant of about 2.5 to about 4.

11. The metal-to-metal antifuse in claim 1 , wherein said amorphous carbon antifuse material layer is doped with hydrogen in a concentration range of about 1 atomic percent to about 40 atomic percent.

12. The metal-to-metal antifuse in claim 11 , wherein said amorphous carbon antifuse material layer is about 50 angstroms to about 500 angstroms in thickness.

13. The metal-to-metal antifuse in claim 11 , wherein said amorphous carbon antifuse material layer has a dielectric constant of about 2.5 to about 4.

14. The metal-to-metal antifuse in claim 1 , wherein said amorphous carbon antifuse material layer is about 50 angstroms to about 500 angstroms in thickness, and said lower adhesion promoting layer and said upper adhesion promoting layer are about 2 angstroms to about 20 angstroms in thickness.

15. The metal-to-metal antifuse in claim 14 , wherein said Si x C y has a dielectric constant of about 4 to about 6.

16. The metal-to-metal antifuse in claim 14 , wherein a ratio of x to y in said Si x N y is about 0.75+/−0.225.

17. The metal-to-metal antifuse in claim 14 , wherein said Si x N y has a dielectric constant of about 6 to about 8.

18. The metal-to-metal antifuse in claim 14 , wherein said amorphous carbon antifuse material layer has a dielectric constant of about 2.5 to about 4.

19. The metal-to-metal antifuse in claim 14 , wherein said amorphous carbon antifuse material layer is doped with hydrogen from about 1 atomic percent to about 40 atomic percent.

20. The metal-to-metal antifuse in claim 19 , wherein said amorphous carbon antifuse material layer has a dielectric constant of about 2.5 to about 4.

21. The metal-to-metal antifuse in claim 1 , wherein a layer comprising said lower adhesion promoting layer, said amorphous carbon antifuse material layer, and said upper adhesion promoting layer have a dielectric constant of about 4 to about 5.5.

22. A metal-to-metal antifuse comprising:

a lower metal electrode;

a lower adhesion promoting layer disposed over said lower metal electrode, said lower adhesion promoting layer having a thickness of about 2 angstroms to 20 angstroms;

an amorphous carbon antifuse material layer disposed over said lower adhesion promoting layer;

an upper adhesion promoting layer disposed over said antifuse material layer, said upper adhesion promoting layer having a thickness of about 2 angstroms to 20 angstroms; and

an upper metal electrode disposed over said upper adhesion promoting layer,

wherein said lower adhesion promoting layer and said upper adhesion promoting layer are selected from a group of materials comprising Si x C y , having a ratio of x to y of about 1+/−0.4, and Si x N y .

23. The metal-to-metal antifuse in claim 22 , wherein said Si x C y has a dielectric constant of about 4 to about 6.

24. The metal-to-metal antifuse in claim 22 , wherein a ratio of x to y in said Si x N y is about 0.75+/−0.225.

25. The metal-to-metal antifuse in claim 22 , wherein said Si x N y has a dielectric constant of about 6 to about 8.

26. The metal-to-metal antifuse in claim 22 , wherein said amorphous carbon antifuse material layer is about 50 angstroms to about 500 angstroms in thickness.

27. The metal-to-metal antifuse in claim 22 , wherein said amorphous carbon antifuse material layer has a dielectric constant of about 2.5 to about 4.

28. The metal-to-metal antifuse in claim 22 , wherein said amorphous carbon antifuse material layer is doped with hydrogen in a concentration range of about 1 atomic percent to about 40 atomic percent.

29. The metal-to-metal antifuse in claim 28 , wherein said amorphous carbon antifuse material layer is about 50 angstroms to about 500 angstroms in thickness.

30. The metal-to-metal antifuse in claim 28 , wherein said amorphous carbon antifuse material layer has a dielectric constant of about 2.5 to about 4.

31. The metal-to-metal antifuse in claim 22 , wherein said lower adhesion promoting layer, said amorphous carbon antifuse material layer, and said upper adhesion promoting layer have a dielectric constant of about 4 to about 5.5.

32. The metal-to-metal antifuse in claim 1 , wherein said lower adhesion promoting layer and said upper adhesion promoting layer are selected from a group of materials comprising Si x C y , Si x N y , Si x C y N z , Si x O y C z , and Si x O y N z .

33. A metal-to-metal antifuse comprising:

a lower metal electrode;

a lower Si x C y layer disposed over said lower metal electrode, said lower Si x C y layer being without substantial affect on electrical characteristics of the antifuse;

an amorphous carbon antifuse material layer disposed over said lower Si x C y layer;

an upper Si x C y layer disposed over said antifuse material layer, said upper Si x C y layer being without substantial affect on electrical characteristics of the antifuse; and

an upper metal electrode disposed over said upper Si x C y layer, wherein said lower Si x C y layer and said upper Si x C y layer have a ratio of x to y of about 1+/−0.4.

34. A metal-to-metal antifuse comprising:

a lower metal electrode;

a lower Si x N y layer disposed over said lower metal electrode, said lower Si x N y layer being without substantial affect on electrical characteristics of the antifuse;

an amorphous carbon antifuse material layer disposed over said lower Si x N y layer;

an upper Si x N y layer disposed over said antifuse material layer, said upper Si x N y layer being without substantial affect on electrical characteristics of the antifuse; and

an upper metal electrode disposed over said upper Si x N y layer,

wherein said lower Si x N y layer and said upper Si x N y layer have a ratio of x to y of about 0.75+/−0.225.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 29, 2018
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI SEMICONDUCTOR (U.S.), INC.; MICROSEMI FREQUENCY AND TIME CORPORATION; MICROSEMI COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; MICROSEMI SOC CORP.; MICROSEMI CORP. - POWER PRODUCTS GROUP; MICROSEMI CORP. - RF INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS
Reel/Frame 046251/0391 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 3, 2016
From: MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI SEMICONDUCTOR (U.S.) INC. (F/K/A LEGERITY, INC., ZARLINK SEMICONDUCTOR (V.N.) INC., CENTELLAX, INC., AND ZARLINK SEMICONDUCTOR (U.S.) INC.); MICROSEMI FREQUENCY AND TIME CORPORATION (F/K/A SYMMETRICON, INC.); MICROSEMI COMMUNICATIONS, INC. (F/K/A VITESSE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION); MICROSEMI SOC CORP. (F/K/A ACTEL CORPORATION); MICROSEMI CORP. - POWER PRODUCTS GROUP (F/K/A ADVANCED POWER TECHNOLOGY INC.); MICROSEMI CORP. - RF INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS (F/K/A AML COMMUNICATIONS, INC.)
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 037691/0697 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORP.-ANALOG MIXED SIGNAL GROUP, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; MICROSEMI SOC CORP., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION; MICROSEMI SEMICONDUCTOR (U.S.) INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; MICROSEMI FREQUENCY AND TIME CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; MICROSEMI COMMUNICATIONS, INC. (F/K/A VITESSE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION), A DELAWARE CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORP.-MEMORY AND STORAGE SOLUTIONS (F/K/A WHITE ELECTRONIC DESIGNS CORPORATION), AN INDIANA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 037558/0711 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 28, 2015
From: ACTEL CORPORATION
To: MICROSEMI SOC CORP.
Reel/Frame 037393/0562 →
NOTICE OF SUCCESSION OF AGENCY Recorded Apr 9, 2015
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA (AS SUCCESSOR TO MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC)
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS SUCCESSOR AGENT
Reel/Frame 035657/0223 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 11, 2011
From: WHITE ELECTRONIC DESIGNS CORP.; ACTEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION
To: MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 025783/0613 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 11, 2003
From: HAWLEY, FRANK W.; ISSAQ, A. FARID; MCCOLLUM, JOHN L.; SHEN, JIN MIAO
To: ACTEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 014256/0843 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 11, 2003
From: GANGOPADHYAY, SHUBHRA M.; LUBGUBAN, JORGE A.
To: TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
Reel/Frame 014254/0074 →