IP Library Granted Patent US 9,935,616
Granted Patent B2
US 9,935,616 · App. 15/340,729 · Granted Apr 3, 2018

Programmable resistive elements as variable tuning elements

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 9,935,616
App. No.
15/340,729
Granted
Apr 3, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure provides circuit and method embodiments for calibrating a signal of an integrated circuit. A programmable resistive element is coupled in series with a node of the integrated circuit, where at least part of the integrated circuit is formed in at least one front end of line (FEOL) device level. The programmable resistive element is formed in at least one back end of line (BEOL) wiring level, and the programmable resistive element is in a non-volatile resistive state that is variable across a plurality of non-volatile resistive states in response to a program signal applied to the programmable resistive element.

Claims (50)

1. An integrated circuit comprising:

a differential circuit comprising:

a current mirror circuit formed in at least one front end of line (FEOL) device level of the integrated circuit, wherein

the current mirror circuit comprises a first circuit branch and a second circuit branch that are coupled in parallel with one another,

a first transistor and a second transistor formed in at least one FEOL device level of the integrated circuit, wherein

the first and second transistors are respectively coupled in series with the first and second circuit branches of the current mirror circuit,

the first transistor has a control gate electrode coupled to a noninverting input node, and

the second transistor has a control gate electrode coupled to an inverting input node,

an output node between the second circuit branch of the current mirror circuit and the second transistor,

a first programmable resistive element formed in at least one back end of line (BEOL) wiring level of the integrated circuit, wherein

the first programmable resistive element is coupled in series with the first transistor and the first circuit branch, and

a second programmable resistive element formed in at least one BEOL wiring level of the integrated circuit, wherein

the second programmable resistive element is coupled in series with the second transistor and the second circuit branch.

2. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , further comprising:

a calibration circuit coupled to the first and second programmable resistive elements, wherein the calibration circuit is configured to

close a connection between the output node and the inverting input node, in response to a selection of a program mode, and

apply a selected program signal to adjust a non-volatile resistive state of one or more of the first and second programmable resistive elements to trim the differential circuit, wherein

the selected program signal is selected from a plurality of program signals that each have an associated magnitude, polarity, and duration, and

each of the plurality of program signals corresponds to an adjustment from the non-volatile resistive state to another one of the plurality of non-volatile resistive states.

3. The integrated circuit of claim 2 , wherein

the calibration circuit is further configured to

measure a first signal of the differential circuit, and

apply the selected program signal in response to a determination that the first signal does not match a target signal,

the selected program signal is selected based on a difference between the first signal and the target signal, and

the difference indicates which of the first signal and the target signal is larger.

4. The integrated circuit of claim 3 , wherein

the selected program signal corresponds to a small change in the non-volatile resistive state, in response to a magnitude of the difference failing to exceed a difference threshold, and

the selected program signal corresponds to a large change in the non-volatile resistive state, in response to the magnitude exceeding the difference threshold.

5. The integrated circuit of claim 3 , wherein

the first signal comprises a first voltage signal measured at the output node, and

the target signal comprises a target voltage signal applied at the noninverting node.

6. The integrated circuit of claim 3 , wherein

the first signal comprises a first current signal measured at the first circuit branch, and

the target signal comprises a target current signal measured at the second circuit branch.

7. The integrated circuit of claim 3 , wherein

a first program signal is selected as the selected program signal to adjust one or more of the first and second programmable resistive elements to a higher non-volatile resistive state, in response to the first signal having a value that is less than the target signal, and

a second program signal is selected as the selected program signal to adjust one or more of the first and second programmable resistive elements to a lower non-volatile resistive state, in response to the first signal having a value that is greater than the target signal.

8. The integrated circuit of claim 3 , wherein

a first program signal is selected as the selected program signal to adjust one or more of the first and second programmable resistive elements to a lower non-volatile resistive state, in response to the first signal having a value that is less than the target signal, and

a second program signal is selected as the selected program signal to adjust one or more of the first and second programmable resistive elements to a higher non-volatile resistive state, in response to the first signal having a value that is greater than the target signal.

9. The integrated circuit of claim 3 , wherein

the plurality of non-volatile resistive states comprises a logic high non-volatile resistive state and a logic low non-volatile resistive state.

10. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein

the first programmable resistive element is further coupled to a first resistor formed in at least one FEOL device level of the integrated circuit,

the first resistor comprises polysilicon, and

the first resistor is coupled to the first programmable resistive element via a connection that comprises one of a series connection and a parallel connection.

11. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein

the first programmable resistive element comprises an array of programmable resistive sub-elements,

the array comprises a first dimension of M and a second dimension of N, M and N each being integers of 1 or greater, and

one or more non-volatile resistive states of the first programmable resistive sub-elements vary in response to a program signal applied to the first programmable resistive element.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NATURE OF CONVEYANCE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 040626 FRAME: 0683. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 7, 2016. Recorded Jan 12, 2017
From: NXP SEMICONDUCTORS USA, INC. (MERGED INTO); FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC. (UNDER)
To: NXP USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 041414/0883 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 16, 2016
From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
To: NXP USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 040626/0683 →