ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT AND DATA STORAGE SYSTEM

Abstract

A method of manufacturing an electronic circuit comprises: providing an electronic circuit having a first configuration in which the circuit comprises a resistive element having a first resistance, and irradiating at least a part of the resistive element with electromagnetic radiation to change the resistance of the resistive element from the first resistance to a second resistance, the second resistance being lower than the first resistance. A method of storing data comprises: receiving a piece of data to be stored; determining a number according to the data; and irradiating at least part of a resistive element with that number of pulses of electromagnetic radiation to change a resistance of the resistive element from a first resistance to a second resistance, the second resistance being lower than the first resistance. A difference between the first resistance and the second resistance is dependent on the number. Corresponding circuits and data storage systems are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing an electronic circuit, the method comprising: providing an electronic circuit having a first configuration in which the circuit comprises a resistive element having a first resistance; and irradiating at least a part of said resistive element with electromagnetic radiation to change the resistance of said resistive element from said first resistance to a second resistance, wherein said second resistance is lower than said first resistance.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit comprises electrically insulative material covering at least one side of the resistive element, and said irradiating comprises irradiating said part with electromagnetic radiation through the electrically insulative material.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the electrically insulative material is at least substantially transparent to visible light.

4. A method in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the resistive element comprises semiconductive material, and said irradiating is arranged to change a conductivity of the semiconductive material.

5. A method in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the resistive element comprises at least a portion of a layer of semiconductive material having a first conductivity, and said irradiating comprises irradiating at least a part of said portion with said electromagnetic radiation to increase the conductivity of said part of said portion such that the resistance of the resistive element changes from said first resistance to said second resistance.

6. A method in accordance with any one of claim 4 or 5, wherein the semiconductive material is at least substantially transparent to visible light.

7. A method in accordance with any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the circuit comprises a layer of dielectric material covering said semiconductive material.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7, wherein the dielectric material is substantially transparent to visible light, and the step of irradiating comprises irradiating through the layer of dielectric material.

9. A method in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the resistive element is encased in material at least substantially transparent to visible light, and said irradiating comprises irradiating through said material at least substantially transparent to visible light.

10. A method in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein said irradiating comprises providing said electromagnetic radiation from a laser.

11. A method in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said irradiating comprises providing said electromagnetic radiation from a lamp.

12. A method in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein said irradiating comprises irradiating with at least one pulse of said electromagnetic radiation.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12, wherein said irradiating comprises irradiating with a plurality of pulses of said electromagnetic radiation.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein the plurality of pulses are substantially the same as each other.

15. A method in accordance with claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the number of pulses in said plurality of pulses determines the magnitude of the difference between said first resistance and said second resistance.

16. A method in accordance with any one of claims 12 to 15, further comprising selecting the number of said pulses to determine the magnitude of the difference between said first resistance and said second resistance.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16, further comprising receiving a piece of data, and selecting said number in accordance with the piece of data, such that the difference between said first and second resistances is indicative of said piece of data.

18. A method in accordance with claim 10 or claim 11, further comprising controlling the dose of electromagnetic radiation supplied to the resistive element from the lamp or laser to determine the magnitude of the difference between said first resistance and said second resistance.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18, further comprising receiving a piece of data and arranging said dose in accordance with the piece of data, such that the difference between said first and second resistances is indicative of said piece of data.

20. A method in accordance with claim 18 or claim 19, wherein the lamp or the laser provides a beam of said electromagnetic radiation and said controlling comprises controlling at least one of a distance of the resistive element from the lamp or laser and a length of time the resistive element is exposed to said beam.

21. A method in accordance with claim 20, wherein said controlling comprises controlling a speed at which the resistive element is moved through the beam.

22. A method in accordance with any preceding claim, further comprising heating the resistive element to a temperature of at least 100 C and beginning said irradiating while the resistive element is at said temperature.

23. A method in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the circuit is arranged to provide an output dependent on the magnitude of the difference between said first resistance and said second resistance.

24. A method in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the circuit further comprises a display element coupled to the resistive element and said irradiating is arranged to determine a state of the display element during an operation of the circuit.

25. A method in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the circuit comprises a plurality of said resistive elements, each resistive element comprising at least a portion of a common or respective layer of semiconductive material, and said irradiating comprises irradiating at least a part of each portion with a selected amount of said electromagnetic radiation.

26. A method in accordance with claim 25, wherein the electronic circuit is arranged to provide an output dependent on the change in resistance of each resistive element resulting from said irradiating.

27. A method in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein said circuit is a memory circuit, the second resistance or the difference between the first resistance and the second resistance corresponding to a stored parameter or value.

28. A circuit comprising a resistive element and having a first configuration in which the resistive element has a first resistance, the circuit being adapted to enable exposure of at least part of the resistive element to electromagnetic radiation to change the resistance of the resistive element from said first resistance to a second resistance, wherein said second resistance is lower than said first resistance.

29. A circuit in accordance with claim 28, comprising dielectric material at least substantially transparent to visible light and arranged to permit irradiation of said part with said electromagnetic radiation through said dielectric material.

30. A circuit in accordance with claim 28 or 29, further comprising a display element coupled to the resistive element, the circuit being arranged such that a state of the display element during an operation of the circuit is dependent on whether the resistive element has said first or said second resistance.

31. A circuit in accordance with any one of claims 28 to 30, wherein the resistive element comprises semiconductive material having a conductivity changeable by irradiation with said electromagnetic radiation.

32. A circuit in accordance with claim 31, wherein the semiconductive material is at least substantially transparent to visible light.

33. A method of storing data, the method comprising: receiving a piece of data to be stored; determining a number according to the piece of data; irradiating at least part of a resistive element with said number of pulses of electromagnetic radiation to change a resistance of the resistive element from a first resistance to a second resistance, wherein the second resistance is lower than the first resistance, and a difference between the first resistance and the second resistance is dependent on said number.

34. A method of storing data, the method comprising: receiving a piece of data to be stored; determining a dose of electromagnetic radiation according to the piece of data; irradiating at least part of a resistive element with said dose of electromagnetic radiation to change a resistance of the resistive element from a first resistance to a second resistance, wherein the second resistance is lower than the first resistance, and a difference between the first resistance and the second resistance is dependent on said number.

35. A method of reading data, the method comprising: measuring a resistance or change in resistance of a resistive element; and ascertaining a piece of data according to the measurement.

36. A data storage system comprising: a memory comprising a resistive element; writing means adapted to receive a piece of data, determine a number according to the piece of data, and irradiate at least part of said resistive element with said number of pulses of electromagnetic radiation to change a resistance of the resistive element from a first resistance to a second resistance, wherein the second resistance is lower than the first resistance, and a difference between the first resistance and the second resistance is dependent on said number; and reading means adapted to interact with said memory and being sensitive to the second resistance to ascertain said piece of data.

37. A data storage system comprising: a memory comprising a resistive element; writing means adapted to receive a piece of data, determine a dose of electromagnetic radiation according to the piece of data, and irradiate at least part of said resistive element with said dose of electromagnetic radiation to change a resistance of the resistive element from a first resistance to a second resistance, wherein the second resistance is lower than the first resistance, and a difference between the first resistance and the second resistance is dependent on said number; and reading means adapted to interact with said memory and being sensitive to the second resistance to ascertain said piece of data.

38. A data storage system in accordance with claim 36 or claim 37, wherein the writing means comprises a radiation source, for example a laser or a lamp, arranged to emit a beam of said electromagnetic radiation.

39. A system in accordance with claim 38, further comprising support means adapted to support the memory during said irradiation, wherein the support means is controllable to adjust at least one of a separation between the resistive element and a position of the resistive element relative to the beam.

40. A system in accordance with claim 39, further comprising a controller arranged to control the radiation source and the support means.

41. A method, circuit, or system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0050] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an electronic circuit embodying the invention;

[0051] FIG. 2 illustrates the irradiation of resistive elements in embodiments of the invention;

[0052] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a data storage and retrieval system embodying the invention;

[0053] FIG. 4 illustrates the structure of part of an electronic circuit or memory embodying the invention;

[0054] FIG. 5 illustrates the changes in resistance of resistive elements achieved using methods embodying the invention;

[0055] FIG. 6 is another representation of the changes in resistance of a resistive element achieved in certain embodiments of the invention;

[0056] FIG. 7 illustrates apparatus, usable in embodiments of the invention, which was used to irradiate wafers comprising resistive elements to illustrate resistance changes achievable in embodiments of the invention;

[0057] FIGS. 8 to 11 illustrate measurements results for wafers incorporating resistive elements irradiated using the apparatus of FIG. 7; and

[0058] FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate measurement results for resistive elements irradiated using laser shots and using lamp irradiation, respectively, for comparison.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0059] Referring now to FIG. 1, this is a schematic representation of an electronic circuit embodying the invention. The circuit 100 comprises a plurality of resistive elements 1a-1g, with each resistive element consisting of a thin, substantially planar rectangular layer of semiconductive/semiconductor material. The circuit further comprises drive circuitry 3 and a 7-segment display 4, comprising 7 individually controllable display segments 4a-4g. Each resistive element 1a-1g is coupled/connected to a respective one of the display segments 4a-4g by a conductive track 2a (which in this example is provided by a thin layer of metallic material, for example gold, silver, aluminium, copper, and each resistive element 1a-1g is also coupled to the drive circuitry 3 by means of a respective further conductive track 2a-2g. Each resistive element 1a-1g is arranged such that, before irradiation, its resistance is sufficiently high that, during operation of the circuit, its respective display segment is in the off state. Thus, the initial, relatively high resistance of each resistive element prevents the drive circuitry from powering the respective display segments to the on condition. Thus, when the circuit 100 is in its first configuration, each of the display segments 4a-4g is off when the circuit operates. The circuit can effectively be programmed to give a desired output from the 7-segment display 4 by means of selective irradiation of one or more of the resistive elements 1a-1g. In other words, in a method embodying the invention one or more selected resistive elements may be irradiated with electromagnetic radiation so as to increase the conductivity of the semiconductive material and so reduce the resistance of the resistive element. The degree of irradiation may be arranged such that the decrease in resistance is sufficient to enable the drive circuitry, during operation, to illuminate, or otherwise switch on the display element or elements corresponding to the irradiated resistive element or elements. In FIG. 1, a laser beam is shown generally be broken line 5 and irradiates part of resistive element 1g. This would result, during operation of the circuit, in display element 4g being illuminated. Thus, in methods embodying the invention a single laser beam may be used to selectively and sequentially irradiate a plurality of the resistive elements to create a desired output on the display when the circuit is operated. In alternative embodiments, a plurality of laser beams or pulses, or a plurality of portions of a single laser beam or pulse, can be used to irradiate the selected resistive elements in parallel (i.e. at the same time).

[0060] Moving on to FIG. 2, this shows two irradiation techniques which may be employed in embodiments of the invention. In FIG. 2a, a laser pulse, whose cross section or extent is shown by broken line 5, covers the entire resistive element 1, which provides a resistive connection between conductive tracks 2 on either side. Thus, in this technique the irradiation is arranged so as to change the connectivity of the entire resistive element, which again in this example is provided by a body (e.g. layer) of semiconductor material. FIG. 2b shows an alternative technique in which the size of the laser beam or pulse 5 is arranged so as to cover just a part or portion of the resistive element 1.

[0061] Referring now to FIG. 3, this shows in highly schematic form a data storage system embodying the invention. The system comprises a memory generally in the form of a card 6 having an opaque portion 62 and a transparent window 60. Visible inside the window is a resistive element 1, which in this example is also formed of material that is substantially transparent to visible light. A layer of transparent material 61 covers the upper surface of the resistive element 1, and in other examples the resistive element 1 may be encapsulated in transparent material inside the window 60. Conductive tracks 2 connect respective ends of the resistive element 1 to respective contacts or contact pads 20 of the memory card 6. The system also comprises writing means 7 which is adapted to receive data and then irradiate the resistive element 1 (in a write operation) with a number of pulses of laser radiation, where the number n is selected in accordance with the piece of data to be written to the memory card 6. In other words, there is a correspondence between the number of irradiating pulses applied to the element 1 and the data to be encoded or carried. The irradiation of the element 1 with the n pulses of radiation results in a resistance change of the element 1, the magnitude of that resistance change thus being indicative of the piece of data. The system further comprises reading means 8 which itself comprises contacts or terminals 80 adapted to form electrical connections to the contact pads 20 of the card 6. Thus, the writing means is able to encode a piece of received data in the form of a resistance change of the element 1 on the card. Then, the reading means is brought into engagement with the card 6 (with pads 80 contacting pads 20) and the reading means is arranged to determine the piece of data written on the card by means of measuring, or otherwise responding to the changed resistance of the element 1. Clearly, in such systems embodying the invention, the writing means and reading means are adapted to implement the same coding system, so that when the reading means interacts with the card 6 it is sensitive to the resistance of the element 1 so as to be able to determine what the piece of data was that caused the writing means to apply the appropriate number of pulses of radiation to the element 1 to achieve the final (second) resistance. In a simple example, the reading means may be adapted to measure the resistance of the resistive element 1. Effectively, the reading means can then compare the measured resistance with a look-up table (or use a hardware equivalent) to see what data the resistance corresponds to. Clearly, in alternative embodiments other means of recovering the encoded data, according to the resistance of the element 1 that has been written on the card, may be employed.

[0062] Referring now to FIG. 4, this shows part of a circuit or memory embodying the invention and whose conductivity has been modified in techniques embodying the invention. The illustrated structure includes a resistive element in the form of a layer of semiconductive material (IGZO). The structure of FIG. 4 was manufactured with the gold contacts forming conductive tracks connecting to the resistive element (IGZO). Experiments have demonstrated that the IGZO conductivity can be modified post-process. Such irradiation can be arranged to selectively hard wire part of a display on (or off) when the resistive element is used in a circuit such as that shown in FIG. 1. Referring again to FIG. 1, the metal tracking 2 has a break in it which is replaced or bridged by semiconductor. In certain embodiments of the invention, some of the semiconductor tracking then has its conductivity modified so that chosen display segments are turned on (or off).

[0063] When the structure shown in FIG. 4 was irradiated, changes to the semiconductor conductivity that were achieved were both permanent and invisible to the naked eye (and were also invisible under a microscope). Such techniques embodying the invention can also be used to produce resistors within a circuit by selecting the size of the semiconductor pad.

[0064] In one experiment performed on the structure shown in FIG. 4, a 248 nm laser was employed, the laser having a 25 ns pulse width and the spot had a uniform top-hat profile. The spot size was 1 cm1 cm. Such a large area allowed a useful number of test devices to be irradiated simultaneously, but in certain embodiments of the invention the spot size may be much smaller in order to reduce the circuit footprint.

[0065] In one experiment, the IGZO layer was 50 nm thick, which was chosen to match the penetration depth of the laser at 248 nm. A thinner IGZO layer could be used if the wavelength of the exposure source were reduced further (e.g. 20 nm film thickness with 172 nm illumination has also been proven).

[0066] It will be appreciated that the thicknesses of the various layers/elements of the structure of FIG. 4 are merely examples, and different thicknesses/dimensions may be employed in alternative embodiments. For example, the IGZO may have a thickness in the range 20-100 nm, or 10-100 nm. The Al2O3 layer may be produced by sputtering, and may have a thickness in the range 20-100 nm (e.g. 30 nm, 50 nm). Generally, the thickness of IGZO that can be accommodated is dependent on wavelength. At 248 nm, thicknesses above 50 nm can be irradiated successfully. At 172 nm the thickness can be decreased to at least 20 nm. The upper thickness limit is not yet known, but eventually the lamp will not penetrate far enough to convert the IGZO.

[0067] Two experiments were conducted. Firstly some devices were irradiated at 55 mJ/cm2 in an attempt to ablate the IGZO and thereby eliminate any conductivity. Secondly some devices were irradiated with multiple shots at 40 mJ/cm2 to try and improve the conductivity to a useable level, without showing any visible change to the devices. Examination of the areas irradiated at 40 mJ/cm2 confirmed that there was no visible damage to the devices. The before and after IVs are shown in FIG. 5.

[0068] Although there was some variation in the initial IV measurement, the irradiated areas showed a marked increase in conductivity, especially at 10 and 20 shot number, where 4 orders of magnitude change was observed.

[0069] In order to achieve more than 4 orders of magnitude change then one can consider altering film thickness, and whether the thickness could be reduced to lower the off conductivity without also reducing the on conductivity.

[0070] Examination of the areas irradiated at 55 mJ/cm2 showed that it was the unprotected gold which ablated and not the IGZO. However, areas of gold under the IGZO remained, whereas those directly on the substrate did not. This is presumably associated with the absorption of the light by the IGZO in the IGZO covered areas.

[0071] FIG. 6 shows the IV characteristics for a structure as shown in FIG. 4 irradiated once at 55 mJ/cm2. This confirms that 55 mJ/cm2 is insufficient to remove the IGZO from the substrate, and also correlates with the approximate 1 order of magnitude increase when only 1 shot is used. Had the IGZO been removed then it is expected that the current would have fallen to zero.

[0072] Some conclusions from the experimental work are that: increasing the number of shots at 40 mJ/cm2 significantly improves the current by >4 orders of magnitude (i.e. decreases the resistance of the resistive element by more than 4 orders of magnitude); reducing the film thickness may help to reduce the initial current and thereby increase the on/off ratio but the impact of reduced thickness on the on conductivity would have to be examined; and the fluence could be increased to at least 55 mJ/cm2 without ablating the IGZO.

[0073] It will be appreciated that certain embodiments of the invention are able to provide one or more of the following features/advantages: [0074] Programming electronic ID/functionality without physical contact to the circuit (e.g. after embedding in a card) [0075] Programming electronic ID/functionality securely (i.e. in transparent material with no visible or structural change to the material) [0076] Programming high density memory for printed electronics (<10 sq.Math.um per memory element) [0077] As an extension of the above, programming multiple bits per memory element (using different number of laser shots to change resistivity along a pre-determined spectrum) [0078] Tuning/optimising resistor values (e.g. being able to achieve a wide range of resistance values, and/or being able to achieve a more accurate resistance by integrating laser tuning into the measurement/QA process after circuit production).

[0079] Referring now to FIG. 7, this shows apparatus which may be used in embodiments of the invention to irradiate resistive elements. The apparatus was used to irradiate wafers 1000 which comprised resistive elements, to demonstrate resistance changes achievable in embodiments of the invention. Transport properties of resistive elements processed with this apparatus are shown in the subsequent figures.

[0080] The apparatus comprises an illumination/radiation source 70 arranged to output a beam 71 of electromagnetic radiation. In one example, the source 70 was a lamp, outputting a relatively wide and non-uniform beam, but in other embodiments the source may be a lamp providing a narrower and/or uniform beam, or a laser. The apparatus comprises a support 101 (which may also be described as a stage) adapted to support the wafer 1000 (or equivalently a circuit 100 or memory 6) during the irradiating process. The support 101 is controllable to move the supported item in at least one of three directions (and in this example is controllable to move in three mutually perpendicular directions, nominally the X, Y, and Z directions). The support 101 may be described as an X-Y stage, adapted to enable a translation/sweep/scan speed over a range of values (e.g. 1-10 cm/min) and further adapted to enable lamp to substrate separation to be varied over a range of values (e.g. 1-10 mm). A controller 102 is arranged to control both the source 70 and the support 101 so as to control the dose of radiation supplied to the resistive element or elements. Thus, the controller in this example can control the stage 101 to set the distance between the wafer and source (i.e. control how close they are positioned), and to set a speed at which the wafer is moved through the beam (so that, even with a non-uniform beam, each part of the wafer can receive the same dose of radiation). Thus, the stage can be controlled to scan the wafer through the beam. In alternative embodiments, the controller and stage may be adapted to permit fine positioning of the or each resistive element relative to a narrow beam, to provide the ability for selective irradiation of one or more selected resistive elements.

[0081] In certain experiments, using apparatus generally as shown in FIG. 7, the irradiation was performed using a lamp 70 with a wavelength (i.e. nominal output wavelength) of 172 nm. Irradiation intensities between 1.6 W/cm and 15 W/cm were used successfully. The lamp was non-uniform in output so the wafer has to be passed under the lamp with a stage in order that the wafer all saw the same irradiation level. In these experiments, wafers 1001 were passed under a lamp of wavelength 172 nm with different lamp to wafer separations and speeds of motion under the lamp. The graphs in FIGS. 8 and 9 show the current vs. voltage characteristics of the resistive elements so irradiated. Higher speeds and greater separation yield resistive elements that are much more resistive than those irradiated at lower speeds and smaller separation (i.e. much less current flows for a given driving voltage). In FIGS. 8 and 9 the data is plotted linearly.

[0082] FIG. 10 shows essentially the same data as FIGS. 8 and 9, but for a plurality of different resistor geometries tested. In other words, the general irradiating technique was used to irradiate a plurality of different resistive element geometries, and FIG. 10 shows the resultant measured resistances as a function of resistor geometry for different separations (wafer-lamp) and speeds (translation through the beam) under the 172 nm lamp. All follow the expected 1/x dependence on W/L, where W is width and L is length of the resistive element (which may be generally rectangular, and of generally uniform thickness).

[0083] The lamp's effectiveness can be increased by increasing the temperature of the substrate (150 C in one experiment) at the same time as doing the irradiation. The effects of pre-heating the wafer (which could also be performed on a circuit or memory in embodiments of the invention) in this way (i.e. heating to 150 C before beginning irradiating) are illustrated by the results presented in FIG. 11. Resistance is plotted as a function of resistor geometry. Again it follows the expected 1/x dependence on W/L but eventually the IGZO conductivity is so high that the resistor performance is dominated by the intrinsic contact resistance between the IGZO and the gold, which in certain embodiments may be 0.040 hms/um, but may be different in alternative embodiments.

[0084] FIGS. 12 and 13 are useful to compare laser and lamp processing on the same wafer. Both show results for a wafer comprising IGZO (50 nm thick), with resistance plotted as a function of resistor geometry, showing the expected 1/x dependence. FIG. 12 shows the results of irradiation by laser, with 10 shots (i.e. pulses) at 70 mJ/cm2, and FIG. 13 shows the results of irradiation by lamp, wavelength 172 nm, and 20 minutes exposure. The results are broadly similar with both processes.

[0085] Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words comprise and contain and variations of them mean including but not limited to, and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

[0086] Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

[0087] The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.