Anti-Fuse Element Layout for Controlled Breakdown Position
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anti-fuse elements experience undesirable dielectric breakdown at non-uniform thicknesses of insulating layers, leading to concentrated current and heat, potentially causing damage to current supply members.
Innovation Solution
An anti-fuse element design with a first electrode, an insulating layer having a first region of smaller thickness and a second region of larger thickness, and a second electrode positioned such that its outer edge is inside the insulating layer's outer edge, allowing controlled dielectric breakdown at a predetermined position, thereby reducing heat-induced damage to current supply members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a uniform thickness insulating layer is used in the anti-fuse element, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the dielectric breakdown occurs at an undesirable position
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating layer is designed with non-uniform thickness, having a first region with smaller thickness and a second region with larger thickness. This local variation in thickness enables controlled dielectric breakdown at the first region while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard deposition techniques.
2Reliability
If power is supplied to the anti-fuse element by a current supply member such as a wire, then electrical connection is established, but current concentrates in the dielectric breakdown portion causing temperature increase and potential melting of the current supply member
Solution Approach 1:
The second electrode is positioned such that its outer edge is located inward of the outer edge of the insulating layer in a top view. This creates a localized current-carrying path that is spatially separated from the current supply member, preventing heat concentration at the wire- electrode interface and eliminating the risk of wire melting.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating layer acts as an intermediary structure that guides and distributes the current flow. By controlling the breakdown position within the insulating layer, the current path is mediated away from the current supply member, preventing direct heat transfer to the wire.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enables controlled current-carrying path formation at a desired location, suppressing heat-related damage to current supply members and ensuring reliable operation by distributing heat across the insulating layer regions.
Implementation Method 1
a light-emitting device including a light-emitting element through which a large current flows and a plurality of light-emitting elements connected in series or in parallel has recently been used. A light-emitting device in which an anti-fuse element serving as a new current-carrying path by dielectric breakdown of the anti-fuse element itself
Implementation Method 2
The insulating layer includes a first region and a second region, with a thickness of the first region being smaller than a thickness of the second region
Implementation Method 3
a current concentrates in a dielectric breakdown portion of the anti-fuse element, a temperature around the dielectric breakdown portion increases, and thus the current supply member may melt
Data Source
AI summary
An anti-fuse element includes a first electrode, an insulating layer disposed on the first electrode, and a second electrode disposed on the insulating layer. The insulating layer includes a first region and a second region, with a thickness of the first region being smaller than a thickness of the second region. An outer edge of the second electrode is located inward of an outer edge of the insulating layer in a top view.