Apparatus and method for electronic fuse with improved esd tolerance

Abstract

Tolerance to ESD is increased in an electronic fuse by providing at least one non-conductive region adjacent to a conductive region on the surface of an insulator. Such an arrangement reduces the thermal stresses imposed on the insulator in high current applications. Where multiple conductive and adjacent non-conductive regions are disposed on an insulator, the fuse can fail in discrete steps, thus providing a well defined and easily detected transisition to a blown state, as well as providing a stepwise increase in resistance between prescribed resistance values.

1 . An electronic fuse, comprising: 
 an insulating film;    at least two conductive regions partially covering the insulating film; and,    at least one single-type non-conductive region on the insulating film separating and extending to inner edges of the at least two conductive regions.    
   
   
       2 . (canceled)  
   
   
       3 . The electronic fuse of  claim 1 , wherein a resistance is provided which changes by a prescribed value in proportion to a number of blown conductive regions of the at least two conductive regions.  
   
   
       4 . The electronic fuse of  claim 3 , wherein the resistance increases in substantially uniform prescribed amounts as the number of blown conductive regions of the at least two conductive regions increases.  
   
   
       5 . The electronic fuse of  claim 4 , wherein the resistance increases in substantially uniform prescribed amounts allowing digitized sensing levels.  
   
   
       6 . The electronic fuse of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two conductive regions comprise conductive strips and the non-conductive region and the conductive strips are approximately parallel to one another.  
   
   
       7 . The electronic fuse of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two non-conductive regions comprises a non-conductive material.  
   
   
       8 . The electronic fuse of  claim 7 , wherein the non-conductive material comprises a gas.  
   
   
       9 . The electronic fuse of  claim 1 , further comprising a first fuse lead and a second fuse lead disposed on the insulating film in electrical communication with the at least two conductive regions  
   
   
       10 . The electronic fuse of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one electrical contact in electrical communication with the first fuse lead and at least one electrical contact in electrical communication with the second fuse lead.  
   
   
       11 . The electronic fuse of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two conductive regions are multiple conductive regions defined as conductive strips disposed on the insulating film with the at least one non-conductive region being multiple non-conductive regions between each of the multiple conductive strips, wherein a first end of each conductive strip is in electrical communication with a first fuse lead and a second end of each electrical strip is in electrical communication with a second fuse lead.  
   
   
       12 . The electronic fuse of  claim 11 , wherein each conductive strip of the multiple conductive strips is in electrical communication with each other conductive strip through at least the first fuse lead or the second fuse lead.  
   
   
       13 . The electronic fuse of  claim 1 , wherein the insulating film comprises polysilicon and the at least two conductive regions comprises a metal.  
   
   
       14 . An electronic fuse, comprising: 
 a polysilicon film with a top surface;    a conductive film disposed on the top surface of the polysilicon film forming a plurality of separate conductive regions;    non-conductive regions separating the plurality of separate conductive regions; and    each non-conductive region extending to inner edges of adjacent separate conductive regions.    
   
   
       15 . The electronic fuse of  claim 14 , wherein the conductive film comprises a metal.  
   
   
       16 . The electronic fuse of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of separate conductive regions alternate positions with the non-conductive regions.  
   
   
       17 . The electronic fuse of  claim 14 , wherein the non-conductive regions are configured to limit current flow through the electronic fuse.  
   
   
       18 - 25 . (canceled)  
   
   
       26 . An electronic fuse, comprising: 
 an insulating film;    multiple conductive strips covering the insulating film;    multiple non-conductive regions on the insulating film separating the multiple conductive strips;    a first end of each conductive strip is in electrical communication with a first fuse lead and a second end of each electrical strip is in electrical communication with a second fuse lead; and    each conductive strip of the multiple conductive strips is in electrical communication with each other conductive strip through at least the first fuse lead or the second fuse lead.