IP Library Granted Patent US 9,704,597
Granted Patent B2
US 9,704,597 · App. 14/470,113 · Granted Jul 11, 2017

Apparatuses and methods for outputting addresses of defective memory cells of a semiconductor device including a roll call circuit

Inventor: Masashi Oya (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
G11C17/16G11C29/785G11C29/835
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,704,597
App. No.
14/470,113
Granted
Jul 11, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor device that includes a plurality of memory cells assigned with addresses that are different from each other, a redundant memory cell replacing a defective memory cell among the memory cells, a fuse circuit storing an address of the defective memory cell, an access control circuit accessing the redundant memory cell when the address of the defective memory cell stored in the fuse circuit is supplied, and a roll call circuit outputting the address of the defective memory cell to outside the semiconductor device in a serial manner.

Claims (32)

1. A semiconductor device comprising:

a plurality of memory cells assigned with addresses that are different from each other;

a redundant memory cell configured to replace a defective memory cell among the memory cells;

a fuse circuit configured to store an address of the defective memory cell;

an access control circuit configured to access the redundant memory cell when the address of the defective memory cell stored in the fuse circuit is supplied;

a roll call circuit configured to output the address of the defective memory cell in a serial manner; and

an input/output circuit configured to receive the address of the defective memory cell from the roll call circuit and to output the address of the defective memory cell to outside the semiconductor device via a data strobe terminal of the input/output circuit in the serial manner.

2. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the roll call circuit includes a selection circuit configured to select, in the serial manner, a plurality of bits that constitute the address of the defective memory cell.

3. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the selection circuit selects, in the serial manner, the plurality of bits by activating an exclusive selection signal for each bit of the plurality of bits.

4. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the selection circuit is further configured to synchronize the selection of the plurality of bits with a test clock signal.

5. A semiconductor device comprising:

a plurality of memory cells assigned with addresses that are different from each other;

a redundant memory cell configured to replace a defective memory cell among the memory cells;

a fuse circuit configured to store an address of the defective memory cell;

an access control circuit configured to access the redundant memory cell when the address of the defective memory cell stored in the fuse circuit is supplied:

a roll call circuit configured to output the address of the defective memory cell in a serial manner, the address comprising a plurality of bits, wherein the roll call circuit includes:

a plurality of first logic gate circuits, each of the first logic gate circuits configured to receive a corresponding one of the bits and a corresponding one of the selection signals; and

a second logic gate circuit configured to perform logic synthesis of output signals of the plurality of first logic gate circuits; and

an input/output circuit configured to receive the address of the defective memory cell from the roll call circuit and to output the address of the defective memory cell to outside the semiconductor device via a data strobe terminal of the input/output circuit in the serial manner.

6. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the selection circuit is configured to activate each exclusive selection signal in response to a test clock signal.

7. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the fuse circuit includes a plurality of anti-fuse elements that are in a non-conductive state when not programmed and are in a conductive state when programmed.

8. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein

the anti-fuse elements constitute a plurality of anti-fuse sets each configured to store an address of a corresponding defective memory cell, and

the anti-fuse sets are selectively coupled to the roll call circuit based on a first selection signal.

9. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of anti-fuse sets includes two or more anti-fuse elements allocated to each of the bits.

10. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 9 , wherein when the two or more anti-fuse elements all are in a non-conductive state, a corresponding bit is at a first logic level, and when at least one of the two or more anti-fuse elements is in a conductive state, a corresponding bit is at a second logic level.

11. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the two or more anti-fuse elements are selectively coupled to the roll call circuit based on a second selection signal.

12. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

the fuse circuit includes a first storage circuit configured to store the address of the defective memory cell discovered in a wafer state, and a second storage circuit is configured to store the address of the defective memory cell discovered after packaging.

13. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein

the memory cells are respectively disposed at intersections of a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit lines, and

the second storage circuit is configured to store an address of a word line connected to the defective memory cell, among the word lines.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 051028/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050937/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 047243/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2018
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047540/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REPLACE ERRONEOUSLY FILED PATENT #7358718 WITH THE CORRECT PATENT #7358178 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038669 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Jun 8, 2017
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 043079/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 2, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038954/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 12, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038669/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 27, 2014
From: OYA, MASASHI
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 033620/0963 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2013-175122 · Aug 27, 2013 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150063001A1 · Mar 5, 2015