Abstract:
Integrated circuit wafers are provided with links of such nature as to render the wafers electrically programmable without reliance upon joule-heating melting to destroy the links in the desired locations. The joule-heating melting previously used with electrically programmable wafers causes undesired effects such as volatilization, unwanted diffusions, etc. With use of photoengraving and etching techniques, there can be produced upon a wafer, according to this invention, links of novel kind that respond, through a defect-aided electromigration effect, to current densities below those required with the hitherto-known links fusible by joule heating. The novel links are of metal, typically about 0.4 mil wide and 50-1500 Angstroms thick, being used to join permanent connection members on the integrated circuit wafer, with the permanent connection members being on the order of 5000 Angstroms thick.