Apparatus and method for monitoring a state, in particular of a fuse
View Patent ↗The present invention provides an apparatus for monitoring a state, in particular of a fuse ( 4 ), having: a first state storage device ( 11 ) for storing a state, in particular of a fuse ( 4 ); a second state storage device ( 12 ) for storing the state of the first state storage device ( 11 ); and a logic device ( 9 ) for comparing the states of the two state stores ( 11, 12 ); the first state store ( 11 ) being able to be driven for renewed reading in of the state, in particular of the fuse ( 4 ), in the event of a noncorrespondence of the states in the two stores ( 11, 12 ). The present invention likewise provides a method for monitoring a state, in particular of a fuse.
1. An apparatus for monitoring a state of a fuse, comprising:
(a) a first state storage device for storing a state of the fuse;
(b) a second state storage device for storing the state of the first state storage device; and
(c) a logic device for comparing the states of the two state storage devices, the first state storage device being able to be driven for renewed reading of the state of the fuse in the event of a noncorrespondence of the states in the two storage devices.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first state storage device can be driven for reading in the state of the fuse by the logic device.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the apparatus has a switching device, which can be driven by a copying signal for copying the state stored in the first storage device into the second storage device by the logic device.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the logic device can generate an error signal for indicating the noncorrespondence.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the logic device accommodates at least one signal line which carries the drive signals which are also fed to the first state storage device.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second state storage device is connected to one or more decoding devices.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus can be used in a semiconductor memory device.
8. A method for monitoring a state of a fuse, comprising:
(a) storing a state of the fuse, in a first state storage device;
(b) storing the state of the first state storage device in a second state storage device; and
(c) comparing the states of the two state storage devices in a logic device wherein, in the event of a noncorrespondence of the states in the two storage devices, the first state storage device can be caused to effect renewed reading in of the state of the fuse.
9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the storage of the state of the fuse in the first state storage device is initiated by drive signals.
10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein in a manner dependent on a copying signal, a switching device is actuated for copying a state from the first state storage device into the second state storage device.
11. The method according to claim 8 , wherein in the event of a noncorrespondence of the states in the two state storage devices occurs, an error signal is generated by the logic device.
12. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the creation of a copy of the state from the first state storage device in the second state storage device is performed locally in a manner restricted to the apparatus.
13. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the method is performed on semiconductor memory devices.