Test apparatus and test method

A test apparatus that tests a plurality of memories under test storing data in block-units, comprising:

• an address generating section that is provided in common to the plurality of memories under test, and that sequentially generates addresses to be tested in the memories under test;
• a plurality of buffer memories that are provided to correspond respectively to the plurality of memories under test, and that each store addresses to be independently supplied to the corresponding memory under test;
• a reading section that outputs, to each of the plurality of memories under test, a read command for reading block data stored at each address generated by the address generating section;
• a plurality of comparing sections that are provided to correspond respectively to the plurality of memories under test, and that each compare (i) the block data output by the corresponding memory under test in response to the read command to (ii) an expected value of this block data, for each address generated by the address generating section;
• a plurality of bad block storage control sections that are provided to correspond respectively to the plurality of memories under test, and that each sequentially store, in the buffer memory provided to the corresponding memory under test and in response to the comparing section detecting a discrepancy in the comparison, the address generated by the address generating section for reading the block data;
• and
• a disabling section that outputs, in parallel to the plurality of memories under test, a disable command for writing disable data that disables blocks corresponding to the addressees stored in the buffer memories, these addresses being included in the disable command as individual addresses, wherein each bad block storage control section includes:
• a storage processing section that, in response to output of the read command, sequentially stores the addresses generated by the address generating section in the buffer memory;
• and
• an address control section that stores an address pointer indicating an address in the buffer memory to which the storage processing section is to store the address, and that increments a value of the stored address pointer in response to the comparing section detecting a discrepancy in the comparison.

A test apparatus that tests a plurality of memories under test storing data in block-units, comprising:

• an address generating section that is provided in common to the plurality of memories under test, and that sequentially generates addresses to be tested in the memories under test;
• a plurality of buffer memories that are provided to correspond respectively to the plurality of memories under test, and that each store addresses to be independently supplied to the corresponding memory under test;
• a reading section that outputs, to each of the plurality of memories under test, a read command for reading block data stored at each address generated by the address generating section;
• a plurality of comparing sections that are provided to correspond respectively to the plurality of memories under test, and that each compare (i) the block data output by the corresponding memory under test in response to the read command to (ii) an expected value of this block data, for each address generated by the address generating section;
• a plurality of bad block storage control sections that are provided to correspond respectively to the plurality of memories under test, and that each sequentially store, in the buffer memory provided to the corresponding memory under test and in response to the comparing section detecting a discrepancy in the comparison, the address generated by the address generating section for reading the block data;
• and
• a disabling section that outputs, in parallel to the plurality of memories under test, a disable command for writing disable data that disables blocks corresponding to the addressees stored in the buffer memories, these addresses being included in the disable command as individual addresses, wherein
• addresses input to the memories under test are obtained by converting the addresses generated by the address generating section into a format for input to the memories under test,
• each bad block storage control section, in response to the corresponding comparing section detecting a discrepancy in the comparison, sequentially stores the addresses generated by the address generating section in the corresponding buffer memory, in an original format of the addresses before conversion to the format for input to the memories under test,
• the test apparatus further comprises a converting section that reads the addresses stored in the buffer memories and converts these addresses into the format for input to the memories under test, and
• the disabling section instructs the converting section to convert the addresses and outputs the disable command for writing disable data that disables blocks corresponding to the converted addresses included in the disable command as individual address.

A method for testing a plurality of memories under test storing data in block-units with a test apparatus, wherein the test apparatus includes:

• an address generating section that is provided in common to the plurality of memories under test, and that sequentially generates addresses to be tested in the memories under test;
• a plurality of buffer memories that are provided to correspond respectively to the plurality of memories under test, and that each store addresses to be independently supplied to the corresponding memory under test;
• and
• a buffer section that buffers addresses generated by the address generating section and sequentially updates the buffered addresses each time the address generated by the address generating section changes, the method comprising:
• outputting, to each of the plurality of memories under test, a read command for reading block data stored at each address generated by the address generating section;
• for each of the plurality of memories under test, repeatedly comparing (i) the block data output by the memory under test in response to the read command to (ii) an expected value of this block data, for each address generated by the address generating section;
• for each of the plurality of memories under test, sequentially storing, in the buffer memory provided to the memory under test and in response to a discrepancy being detected in the comparison, the address generated by the address generating section for reading the block data;
• outputting, in parallel to the plurality of memories under test, a disable command for writing disable data that disables blocks corresponding to the addressees stored in the buffer memories, these addresses being included in the disable command as individual addresses;
• supplying the buffer section with an address corresponding to a read command from when the read command is output to when a subsequent read command is output;
• and
• for each of the plurality of memories under test, in response to a discrepancy being detected in the comparison, reading the address from the buffer section and sequentially storing this address in the buffer memory provided to the corresponding memory under test.

A method for testing a plurality of memories under test storing data in block-units with a test apparatus, wherein the test apparatus includes:

• an address generating section that is provided in common to the plurality of memories under test, and that sequentially generates addresses to be tested in the memories under test;
• and
• a plurality of buffer memories that are provided to correspond respectively to the plurality of memories under test, and that each store addresses to be independently supplied to the corresponding memory under test, the method comprising:
• outputting, to each of the plurality of memories under test, a read command for reading block data stored at each address generated by the address generating section;
• for each of the plurality of memories under test, repeatedly comparing (i) the block data output by the memory under test in response to the read command to (ii) an expected value of this block data, for each address generated by the address generating section;
• for each of the plurality of memories under test, sequentially storing, in the buffer memory provided to the memory under test and in response to a discrepancy being detected in the comparison, the address generated by the address generating section for reading the block data, the step of sequentially storing including:
• sequentially storing the addresses generated by the address generating section in the buffer memory in response to output of the read command;
• and
• in response to a discrepancy being detected in the comparison, incrementing a value of a stored address pointer indicating an address in the buffer memory to which the address is to be stored;
• and
• outputting, in parallel to the plurality of memories under test, a disable command for writing disable data that disables blocks corresponding to the addressees stored in the buffer memories, these addresses being included in the disable command as individual addresses.

A method for testing a plurality of memories under test storing data in block-units with a test apparatus, wherein the test apparatus includes:

• an address generating section that is provided in common to the plurality of memories under test, and that sequentially generates addresses to be tested in the memories under test;
• and
• a plurality of buffer memories that are provided to correspond respectively to the plurality of memories under test, and that each store addresses to be independently supplied to the corresponding memory under test, the method comprising:
• outputting, to each of the plurality of memories under test, a read command for reading block data stored at each address generated by the address generating section;
• for each of the plurality of memories under test, repeatedly comparing (i) the block data output by the memory under test in response to the read command to (ii) an expected value of this block data, for each address generated by the address generating section;
• and
• for each of the plurality of memories under test, sequentially storing, in the buffer memory provided to the memory under test and in response to a discrepancy being detected in the comparison, the address generated by the address generating section for reading the block data, wherein
• addresses input to the memories under test are obtained by converting the addresses generated by the address generating section into a format for input to the memories under test, and
• in the step of sequentially storing, the addresses are stored in an original format of the addresses before conversion to the format for input to the memories under test, the method further comprising:
• reading the addresses stored in the buffer memories and converting these addresses into the format for input to the memories under test;
• and
• outputting, in parallel to the plurality of memories under test, a disable command for writing disable data that disables blocks corresponding to the converted addresses, these addresses being included in the disable command as individual addresses.