Burn in system and method for improved memory reliability

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for applying a stress to a hierarchical memory structure in parallel, testing the memory structure for weak defects. The present invention includes writing a logic 0 into all the memory cells in a memory structure. All the high address predecoded lines and alternating predecoded lines for the lowest address are enabled. A voltage drop between neighboring wordlines and bitlines is affected. A logic I is written into all the memory cells in the memory structure. An opposite voltage polarity is caused on the bitlines due to the logic 1 in the memory cells. A reverse voltage polarity stress is achieved on the wordlines by flipping the state of the lowest predecoded line (i.e., by changing the input address corresponding to that line.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.