IP Library Granted Patent US 7,030,651
Granted Patent B2
US 7,030,651 · App. 10/727,170 · Granted Apr 18, 2006

Programmable structured arrays

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,030,651
App. No.
10/727,170
Granted
Apr 18, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A programmable wire structure for an integrated circuit, comprising: a programmable switch coupling two nodes, said switch having a first state that connects said two nodes, and said switch having a second state that disconnects said two nodes; and a configuration circuit coupled to said programmable switch, said circuit comprising a means to program said switch between said first and second state; and a first metal layer fabricated above a silicon substrate layer, said switch and said configuration circuit fabricated substantially above said first metal layer. A semiconductor device for integrated circuits with two selectable manufacturing configurations, comprising: a first module layer having an array of structured cells, said module layer having at least one layer of metal; and a second module layer formed substantially above said first module layer comprising two selectable configurations, wherein: in a first selectable configuration a programmable interconnect structure is formed to connect said structured cells, and in a second selectable configuration a customized interconnect structure is formed to connect said structured cells.

Claims (24)

1. A programmable wire structure for an integrated circuit, comprising:

a programmable switch coupling two nodes, said switch having a first state that connects said two nodes, and said switch having a second state that disconnects said two nodes; and

a configuration circuit coupled to said programmable switch, said circuit comprising a means to program said switch between said first and second state; and

a first metal layer fabricated above a silicon substrate layer, said switch and said configuration circuit fabricated substantially above said first metal layer.

2. The structure of claim 1 , wherein a second metal layer is fabricated substantially above said switch and said configuration circuit.

3. The structure of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second nodes is coupled to a node in said first metal.

4. The structure of claim 2 , wherein at least one of said first and second nodes is coupled to a node in said second metal.

5. The structure of claim 1 , wherein said programmable switch comprises a thin film transistor.

6. The structure of claim 5 , wherein at least one of said first and second nodes of said programmable switch further comprises a via structure, said via structure containing a seed metal, said seed metal facilitating a thermally activated phase change of at least one of said thin film materials to improve conduction of said connect state.

7. The structure of claim 1 , wherein said configuration circuit comprises a thin film transistor.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein said configuration circuit comprises a memory element.

9. The structure of claim 8 , wherein said memory element is selected from one of fuse links, anti-fuse capacitors, SRAM cells, DRAM cells, metal optional links, EPROM cells, EEPROM cells, flash cells, ferro-electric elements, electro-chemical elements, optical elements and magnetic elements.

10. The structure of claim 8 , wherein the programmable switch further comprises:

a pass-gate device, said pass-gate controlled by an output signal from said memory element, said first state generated by an on pass-gate, and said second state generated by an off pass-gate; and

a configuration access to program said memory data, said memory bit polarity generating an on and off control signal to select said state of pass-gate device.

11. A semiconductor device for integrated circuits with two selectable manufacturing configurations, comprising:

a first module layer having an array of structured cells, said module layer having at least one layer of metal; and

a second module layer formed substantially above said first module layer comprising two selectable configurations, wherein:

in a first selectable configuration a programmable interconnect structure is formed to connect said structured cells, and

in a second selectable configuration a customized interconnect structure is formed to connect said structured cells;

wherein, said programmable interconnect structure is further comprised of a user configurable memory circuit constructed on a thin film layer comprising one of fuse links, anti-fuse capacitors, SRAM cells, DRAM cells, metal optional links, EPROM cells, EEPROM cells, flash cells, ferro-electric elements, electro-chemical elements, optical elements and magnetic elements; and

wherein, said customized interconnect structure is further comprised of ((a)) conductive pattern comprising fabricating hard wire controls to replicate a specific memory pattern, wherein replicating comprises:

a logic zero memory output mapped to a hard wire disconnect; and

a logic one memory output mapped to a hard wire connect.

Assignments (4)
MERGER Recorded Oct 9, 2015
From: YAKIMISHU CO. LTD., L.L.C.
To: CALLAHAN CELLULAR L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 036829/0821 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 31, 2011
From: TIER LOGIC, INC.
To: YAKIMISHU CO. LTD., LLC
Reel/Frame 026839/0396 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 29, 2011
From: VICICIV TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: TIER LOGIC, INC.
Reel/Frame 026824/0623 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 6, 2007
From: MADURAWE, RAMINDA U
To: VICICIV TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 019520/0314 →