US Patent 7553704 Antifuse element and method of manufacture

An antifuse element (102, 152, 252, 302, 352, 402, 602, 652, 702) and method of fabricating the antifuse element, including a substrate material (101) having an active area (106) formed in an upper surface, a gate electrode (104) having at least a portion positioned above the active area (106), and a gate oxide layer (110) disposed between the gate electrode (104) and the active area (106). The gate oxide layer (110) including the fabrication of one of a gate oxide dip (128) or a gate oxide undercut (614). During operation a voltage applied between the gate electrode (104) and the active area (106) creates a current path through the gate oxide layer (110) and a rupture of the gate oxide layer (110) in a rupture region (130). The rupture region (130) defined by the oxide structure and the gate oxide dip (128) or the gate oxide undercut (614).