Apparatus and method for generating addresses in a SRAM built-in self test circuit using a single-direction counter

An address generator of a memory BIST circuit comprising:

• an up counter for generating a first address of a first series of sequentially increasing addresses up to a maximum address of a memory to be tested;
• a subtracter for subtracting the first address from the maximum address to generate a second address of a second series of sequentially decreasing addresses;
• and
• a selector for selecting one from the first and second addresses, in response to a control signal, to output the selected address as the address of the memory.

A memory built-in self test (BIST) circuit for testing a memory in a semiconductor device, comprising:

• a BIST controller for generating control signals according to a test being performed on the memory to control the BIST operation;
• a data generator controlled by the BIST controller for generating data to be written to the memory and comparison data for comparing to data read from the memory;
• a comparator controlled by the BIST controller for comparing the comparison data with the data read from the memory;
• a counter controlled by the BIST controller for counting steps of the test being performed;
• and
• an address generator controlled by the BIST controller for generating the address of the memory according to the test being performed, said address generator comprising:
• an up counter for generating a first address of a first series of sequentially increasing addresses;
• an inverter for inverting the first address to generate a second address of a second series of sequentially decreasing addresses;
• and
• a selector for selecting one from the first and second addresses, in response to an up/down control signal generated by the BIST controller, to output the selected address as an address of the memory.

A memory built-in self test (BIST) circuit for testing a memory in a semiconductor device, comprising:

• a BIST controller for generating control signals according to a test being performed on the memory to control the BIST operation;
• a data generator controlled by the BIST controller for generating data to be written to the memory and comparison data for comparing to data read from the memory;
• a comparator controlled by the BIST controller for comparing the comparison data with the data read from the memory;
• a counter controlled by the BIST controller for counting steps of the test being performed;
• and
• an address generator controlled by the BIST controller for generating the address of the memory according to the test being performed, said address generator comprising:
• an up counter for generating a first address of a first series of sequentially increasing addresses up to a maximum address of the memory;
• a subtracter for subtracting the first address from the maximum address to generate a second address of a second series of sequentially decreasing addresses;
• and
• a selector for selecting one from the first and second addresses, in response to an up/down control signal generated by the BIST controller, to output the selected address as an address of the memory.

A method for generating an address in a memory BIST circuit comprising:

• a) generating a series of sequentially increasing addresses;
• b) inverting addresses of the series of sequentially increasing addresses to generate a series of sequentially decreasing addresses;
• and
• c) selecting one of (i) an address from the series of sequentially increasing addresses and (ii) an address from the series of sequentially decreasing addresses to output the selected address as the address of the memory to be tested.

A method for generating an address in a memory BIST circuit comprising:

• a) generating a first address of a first series of sequentially increasing addresses up to a maximum address of a memory to be tested;
• b) subtracting the first address from the maximum address to generate a second address of a second series of sequentially decreasing addresses;
• and
• c) selecting one from the first and second addresses to output the selected address as an address of the memory.