IP Library Granted Patent US 8,259,527
Granted Patent B2
US 8,259,527 · App. 12/649,033 · Granted Sep 4, 2012

Self-refresh test circuit of semiconductor memory apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,259,527
App. No.
12/649,033
Granted
Sep 4, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A self-refresh test circuit includes a test clock generation unit, a pulse generation unit, a period signal selection unit, and a self-refresh pulse control unit. The test clock generation unit divides a clock signal to generate a plurality of divided clock signals having different periods when a test enable signal is enabled, and outputs one of the plurality of divided clock signals as a selected clock signal. The pulse generation unit generates a test period signal in response to the selected clock signal. The period signal selection unit outputs one of the test period signal and a self-refresh period signal as a selected period signal. The self-refresh pulse control unit generates a self-refresh pulse in response to a self-refresh exit signal and the selected period signal.

Claims (23)

1. A self-refresh test circuit comprising:

a test clock generation unit configured to divide a clock signal to generate a plurality of divided clock signals having different periods when a test enable signal is enabled, and to output one of the plurality of divided clock signals as a selected clock signal;

a pulse generation unit configured to generate a test period signal in response to the selected clock signal;

a period signal selection unit configured to output one of the test period signal and a self-refresh period signal as a selected period signal; and

a self-refresh pulse control unit configured to generate a self-refresh pulse in response to a self-refresh exit signal and the selected period signal.

2. The self-refresh test circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the test clock generation unit comprises:

a divided clock generation section configured to divide the clock signal to generate the plurality of divided clock signals when the test enable signal is enabled; and

a divided clock selection section configured to output one of the plurality of divided clocks as the selected clock signal in response to a test selection signal.

3. The self-refresh test circuit according to claim 2 , wherein the divided clock generation section comprises a plurality of dividers connected in series.

4. The self-refresh test circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the pulse generation unit generates a pulse which is enabled whenever the selected clock signal transits at a specific level, and outputs the generated pulse as the test period signal.

5. The self-refresh test circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the pulse generation unit generates a pulse which is enabled whenever the selected clock signal rises, and outputs the generated pulse as the test period signal.

6. The self-refresh test circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the period signal selection unit outputs the self-refresh period signal as the selected period signal when the test period signal is disabled, and outputs the test period signal as the selected period signal when the self-refresh period signal is disabled.

7. The self-refresh test circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the self-refresh pulse control unit outputs the selected period signal as the self-refresh pulse when the self-refresh exit signal is disabled, and fixes the self-refresh pulse at a specific level when the self-refresh exit signal is enabled.

8. A self-refresh test circuit comprising:

a test period signal generation unit configured to generate a pulse which is enabled every predetermined period in response to a test enable signal and to output the generated pulse as a test period signal;

a period signal selection unit configured to output a self-refresh period signal or the test period signal as a selected period signal; and

a self-refresh pulse control unit configured to generate a self-refresh pulse in response to a self-refresh exit signal and the selected period signal,

wherein the period signal selection unit is configured to output the self-refresh period signal as the selected period signal when the test period signal is disabled, and to output the test period signal as the selected period signal when the self-refresh period signal is disabled.

9. The self-refresh test circuit according to claim 8 , wherein the test period signal generation unit comprises

a divided clock generation section configured to divide a clock signal when the test enable signal is enabled, and to generate a plurality of divided clock signals having different periods;

a divided clock selection section configured to select one of the plurality of divided clock signals in response to a test selection signal, and to output the divided clock signal selected by the test selection signal as a selected clock signal; and

a pulse generation section configured to generate the pulse whenever the selected clock rises, and to output the generated pulse as the test period signal.

10. The self-refresh test circuit according to claim 8 , wherein the self-refresh pulse control unit is configured to output the selected period signal as the self-refresh pulse when the self-refresh exit signal is disabled, and configured to fix the self-refresh pulse at a specific level when the self-refresh exit signal is enabled.

Assignments (4)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE IS HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR INC. NOT HYNIX-SEMICONDUCTOR INC. THERE IS NO HYPHEN IN THE NAME. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 67328 FRAME 814. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded May 14, 2024
From: HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
To: SK HYNIX INC.
Reel/Frame 067412/0482 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 9, 2024
From: SK HYNIX INC.
To: MIMIRIP LLC
Reel/Frame 067369/0832 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 6, 2024
From: HYNIX-SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
To: SK HYNIX INC.
Reel/Frame 067328/0814 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 29, 2009
From: AN, SUN MO; YANG, JONG YEOL
To: HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
Reel/Frame 023714/0835 →