Semiconductor memory device performing refresh operation and method of testing the same
View Patent ↗A semiconductor memory device includes a mask information storage circuit that stores therein mask information indicating an area for which the self refresh operation is not performed among a plurality of areas in a memory cell array, a mask determining circuit that is activated by a self refresh command and generates a match signal in response to a detection of a match between a refresh address and the mask information, and a refresh operation control circuit that disables the self refresh operation in response to an activation of the match signal. When a test mode signal is activated, the mask determining circuit is also activated by the auto refresh command. With this configuration, it is possible to perform a test of a partial array self refresh function without actually entering a self refresh mode.
1. A semiconductor memory device that performs a self refresh operation based on a self refresh command and an auto refresh operation based on an auto refresh command, the semiconductor memory device comprising:
a memory cell array that includes a plurality of areas;
a mask information storage circuit that stores therein mask information indicating an area for which the self refresh operation is not performed among the areas;
a mask determining circuit that is activated by the self refresh command and generates a match signal in response to a detection of a match between a refresh address and the mask information; and
a refresh operation control circuit that disables a self refresh operation in response to an activation of the match signal,
wherein the mask determining circuit is also activated by the auto refresh command when a test mode signal is activated.
2. The semiconductor memory device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the refresh operation control circuit enables an auto refresh operation regardless of activation of the match signal when the test mode signal is activated.
3. The semiconductor memory device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a refresh write circuit that is activated in response to the test mode signal,
wherein the refresh write circuit changes write data to be written in the memory cell array in response to the match signal.
4. The semiconductor memory device as claimed in claim 3 , further comprising:
a word line control circuit that selects a word line included in the memory cell array based on a row selection signal or the refresh address; and
a column switch group that selects a bit line included in the memory cell array based on a column selection signal,
wherein when the test mode signal is activated, the refresh write circuit activates column switches corresponding to all bit lines to be connected to memory cells by an activation of a word line that is selected based on the refresh address, regardless of the column selection signal.
5. The semiconductor memory device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a mode register that generates the test mode signal upon entering a test mode.
6. The semiconductor memory device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
a self refresh oscillator that automatically generates an internal refresh signal in a periodic manner in response to the self refresh command; and
an address counter that generates the refresh address, wherein
the address counter updates a refresh address to be generated in response to the auto refresh command or the internal refresh signal.
7. The semiconductor memory device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the memory cell array is divided into a plurality of banks, and
the mask information stored in the mask information storage circuit includes information for specifying a bank for which the self refresh operation is not performed.
8. The semiconductor memory device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein
each of the banks is divided into a plurality of segments, and
the mask information stored in the mask information storage circuit includes information for specifying a segment for which the self refresh operation is not performed.
9. A method of testing a semiconductor memory device, the method comprising:
providing the semiconductor memory device that performs a self refresh operation based on a self refresh command and an auto refresh operation based on an auto refresh command, the semiconductor memory device comprising:
a memory cell array that includes a plurality of areas;
a mask information storage circuit that stores therein mask information indicating an area for which the self refresh operation is not performed among the areas;
a mask determining circuit that is activated by the self refresh command and generates a match signal in response to a detection of a match between a refresh address and the mask information;
a refresh operation control circuit that disables a self refresh operation in response to an activation of the match signal; and
a refresh write circuit that is activated in response to a test mode signal,
wherein the mask determining circuit is also activated by the auto refresh command when the test mode signal is activated, and the refresh write circuit changes write data to be written in the memory cell array in response to the match signal;
performing data writing in the memory cell array by issuing the auto refresh command and inputting data with the test mode signal being activated;
reading out data from the memory cell array; and
evaluating at least the mask information storage circuit and the mask determining circuit by comparing data written in the memory cell array with data read out from the memory cell array.
10. The semiconductor memory device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the mask determining circuit is activated by the auto refresh command when the test mode signal is activated such that a test of a partial array self refresh function is performed without entering a self refresh mode.
11. The semiconductor memory device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the mask determining circuit is activated by the auto refresh command when the test mode is activated without entering a self refresh mode.
12. The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the mask determining circuit is activated by the auto refresh command when the test mode signal is activated such that a test of a partial array self refresh function is performed without entering a self refresh mode.
13. A method of testing a semiconductor memory device, the method comprising:
providing the semiconductor memory device that performs a self refresh operation based on a self refresh command and an auto refresh operation based on an auto refresh command, the semiconductor memory device comprising a memory cell array that includes a plurality of areas;
storing, by a mask information storage circuit, mask information indicating an area for which the self refresh operation is not performed among the areas;
activating, by a mask determining circuit, by the self refresh command and generating, by the mask determining circuit, a match signal in response to a detection of a match between a refresh address and the mask information;
disabling, by a refresh operation control circuit, a self refresh operation in response to an activation of the match signal;
activating, by a refresh write circuit, in response to a test mode signal,
wherein the mask determining circuit is also activated by the auto refresh command when the test mode signal is activated, and the refresh write circuit changes write data to be written in the memory cell array in response to the match signal;
performing data writing in the memory cell array by issuing the auto refresh command and inputting data with the test mode signal being activated;
reading out data from the memory cell array; and
evaluating at least the mask information storage circuit and the mask determining circuit by comparing data written in the memory cell array with data read out from the memory cell array when the test mode signal is activated and when the test mode signal is not activated.