IP Library Granted Patent US 8,225,150
Granted Patent B2
US 8,225,150 · App. 13/149,683 · Granted Jul 17, 2012

Semiconductor memory device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,225,150
App. No.
13/149,683
Granted
Jul 17, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

Semiconductor memory device includes a cell array including a plurality of unit cells; and a test circuit configured to perform a built-in self-stress (BISS) test for detecting a defect by performing a plurality of internal operations including a write operation through an access to the unit cells using a plurality of patterns during a test procedure carried out at a wafer-level.

Claims (18)

1. A semiconductor memory device, comprising:

a cell array including a plurality of unit cells; and

a multi-pattern test circuit configured to:

i.) detect a defect by selectively performing a row pattern test and a column pattern test of said unit cells at a wafer-level,

ii.) repeat inputting/outputting of data by changing a column address based on a row address of the cell array to thereby carry out the row patter test, and

iii.) repeat inputting/outputting of data by changing the row address based on the column address to thereby carry out the column pattern test.

2. The semiconductor memory device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the multi-pattern test circuit comprises:

a test decoder configured to decode signals input via a plurality of address pads to output a test control signal for performing the row pattern test and the column pattern test;

a test pattern generator configured to generate a command control signal and an address control signal according to one of the row pattern test and the column pattern test in response to an output of the test decoder; and

a test command address generator configured to generate an internal test command and an internal address signal in response to an output of the test pattern generator.

3. The semiconductor memory device as recited in claim 2 , further comprising:

a first refresh controller configured to generate a row address for the mow pattern test and the column pattern test response to an output of the test pattern generator; and

a second refresh controller configured to generate a column address and a bank address for the row pattern test and the column pattern test in response to an output of the test pattern generator.

4. The semiconductor memory device as recited in claim 3 , wherein the first and second refresh controllers count addresses for refreshing the cell array in a normal operation.

5. The semiconductor memory device as recited in claim 3 , wherein the test pattern generator comprises:

a pulse generation unit configured to generate the command control signal and a row address increment signal controlling the row address according to one of the row pattern test and the column pattern test;

a column address increment signal generation unit configured to repeatedly activate a column address increment signal for controlling the column address before activation of the row address increment signal according to the row pattern test, and configured to generate the column address increment signal after the column address increment signal is repeatedly activated, according to the column pattern test; and

a bank address increment signal generation unit configured to generate a bank address increment signal for controlling the bank address according to one of the row pattern test and the column pattern test, when the first and second refresh controllers output a signal for resetting the row address and the column address.

Assignments (3)
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 →