Redundant element substitution apparatus
US5301153A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 3, 1992 |
| Grant date | Apr 5, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 3, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C29/848
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A redundant array element or signal line is selectively added and an defective array element or signal line is eliminated by the method and apparatus of the present invention. A multiplexor receives an input signal and a neighboring input signal and outputs one of these two input signals in response to a control signal. A fuse is provided in connection with each output line and configured such that if the fuse is unblown, the device selects the same input as was selected by its upstream neighbor. If a fuse if blown, the multiplexor will select the second input and will output a control signal to its downstream neighbor causing the downstream neighbor to also output its second input line and to output a control signal to its downstream neighbor to select the second input line. The substitution of a redundant element or line is achieved by blowing a single fuse and the circuitry adds only a single mux delay to the critical path.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.