Programmable via using indirectly heated phase-change switch for reconfigurable logic applications

A novel concept for a programmable via using an indirectly heated phase-change switch is proposed and fabricated successfully. In this device concept, circuits associated with the programmable via are decoupled from the configuration circuits by using an independently contacted heater electrode. We demonstrate the prototype device in a standard 180-nm CMOS copper back-end technology. © 2008 IEEE.