Semiconductor memory and method of storing configuration data
AssigneeActrans System Incorporation, USA
InventorsChih-Chieh Wang, Jonathan Pabustan, Ben Sheen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Redundantly repaired semiconductor memory and method in which the configuration data for the memory is stored in an area of the main memory array which is known to be free of bad bits, along with a signature code which serves as a pointer and verifies the validity of the configuration data. In one disclosed embodiment, the data is stored in a configuration memory which is divided into a plurality of areas of equal size and known starting addresses. The number of areas is greater than the number of permitted repairs, and the areas which do not contain defects are available for storing configuration data including device settings, repair information, and the like.
Claims16
A semiconductor memory with redundancy repair, comprising a main memory array, configuration data stored in an area of the array which is known to be unrepaired, and a signature code stored in the unrepaired area as a pointer to the configuration data.
A semiconductor memory with redundancy repair, comprising a main memory array, a configuration page divided into a plurality of storage areas, data for configuration of the memory stored in one of the storage areas which has been tested and found to be free of bad bits, and a signature code stored with the configuration data in the area which is free of bad bits.
A method of storing configuration data for a semiconductor memory in which defective areas of a main memory array are repaired redundantly, comprising the steps of:
- identifying an area of the main memory array which has not been repaired, storing configuration data for the memory in the unrepaired area, and storing a signature code in the unrepaired area as a pointer to the configuration data.
A method of storing configuration data for a semiconductor memory in which defective areas of a main memory array are repaired redundantly, comprising the steps of:
- setting up a configuration page in the main memory array, with the configuration page being divided into a plurality of areas of equal size and known starting addresses, testing the areas in the configuration page to identify an area which is free of bad bits, and storing configuration data in the area which is free of bad bits.
A method of configuring a semiconductor memory in which defective areas of a main memory array are repaired redundantly, the steps of:
- setting up a configuration page in the main memory array, with the configuration page being divided into a plurality of areas with known starting addresses, storing configuration data in one of the areas of the configuration page which is known to be free of bad bits, storing a signature code in the area of the configuration page with the configuration data, addressing the areas of the configuration page until the signature code is found, and reading the configuration data from the area where the signature code is found.
A configuration memory for a semiconductor memory having a main memory array which can be redundantly repaired, comprising:
- a configuration page divided into a plurality of storage areas of equal size and known starting addresses, configuration data stored in one of the areas which is known to be free of bad bits, and a signature code stored in the area with the configuration data for verifying the validity of the configuration data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.