IP Library Granted Patent US 7,990,789
Granted Patent B2
US 7,990,789 · App. 12/320,585 · Granted Aug 2, 2011

Semiconductor memory device and control method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,990,789
App. No.
12/320,585
Granted
Aug 2, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor memory device, in which a plurality of data output lines are commonly used by a plurality of banks, includes a plurality of gate circuits each of which are provided at each intermediate position of the plurality of the data output lines, and is controlled to be turned on during a normal operation mode and to be turned off at least when reading data during a parallel test mode, and a comparator circuit that inputs in parallel and compares a signal of each separated part of the each data output line separated by the plurality of the gate circuit being turned off.

Claims (23)

1. A semiconductor memory device, in which a plurality of data output lines are commonly used by a plurality of banks, comprising:

a plurality of first gate circuits each of which is provided at each intermediate position of said plurality of said data output lines, and is controlled to be turned on during a normal operation mode and to be turned off at least when reading data during a parallel test mode.

2. The semiconductor memory device as recited in claim 1 , wherein

said plurality of said first gate circuits are controlled to be turned on during said normal operation mode and to be turned off during said parallel test mode.

3. The semiconductor memory device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising

a comparator circuit that inputs in parallel and compares signals from separated parts of said data output lines separated by said plurality of said first gate circuits when said first gate circuits are turned off.

4. The semiconductor memory device as recited in claim 1 , wherein

each of said first gate circuits is provided at a position corresponding to a boundary of said plurality of said banks.

5. The semiconductor memory device as recited in claim 3 , wherein:

said plurality of said first gate circuits are provided to separate said data output lines for each of said plurality of said banks; and

said comparator circuit inputs in parallel and compares said signals from said separated parts in a time division manner divided by a number corresponding to a number of said banks.

6. The semiconductor memory device as recited in claim 3 , further comprising a connecting circuit that connects said separated parts of said data output lines with said comparator circuit during said parallel test mode.

7. The semiconductor memory device as recited in claim 6 , wherein

said connecting circuit includes:

a second gate circuit which is controlled to be turned on during said parallel test mode; and

a data output auxiliary line which is connected with said second gate circuit, wherein line width of a circuit layout of said data output auxiliary line is narrower than that of said data output line.

8. The semiconductor memory device as recited in claim 7 , wherein

said second gate circuit is controlled to be turned on when writing data during said parallel test mode.

9. The semiconductor memory device as recited in claim 3 , further comprising

a data line that transfers data written in one of said separated parts of said data output lines during said parallel test mode to another of said separated parts.

10. A control method of a semiconductor memory device, in which a plurality of data output lines are commonly used by a plurality of banks, said control method comprising:

controlling a plurality of gate circuits, each of which is provided at each intermediate position of said plurality of said data output lines, to be turned on during a normal operation mode; and

controlling said plurality of said gate circuits to be turned off at least when reading data during a parallel test mode.

Assignments (6)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2018
From: LONGITUDE SEMICONDUCTOR S.A.R.L.
To: LONGITUDE LICENSING LIMITED
Reel/Frame 046865/0667 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 24, 2016
From: PS5 LUXCO S.A.R.L.
To: LONGITUDE SEMICONDUCTOR S.A.R.L.
Reel/Frame 039793/0880 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 24, 2016
From: PS4 LUXCO S.A.R.L.
To: PS5 LUXCO S.A.R.L.
Reel/Frame 039818/0506 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2014
From: ELPIDA MEMORY, INC.
To: PS4 LUXCO S.A.R.L.
Reel/Frame 032896/0209 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 29, 2013
From: PS4 LUXCO S.A.R.L.
To: ELPIDA MEMORY INC.
Reel/Frame 032414/0261 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 29, 2009
From: NAKAZAWA, SHIGEYUKI; ISHIKAWA, TORU
To: ELPIDA MEMORY, INC.
Reel/Frame 022243/0760 →