Patent · US Expired

Semiconductor device having redundancy circuit

US6337817B1 · kind B1 · utility

19Cited by
18References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 4, 2000
Grant dateJan 8, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 4, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C29/808
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A semiconductor memory such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), having a memory array which is divided into memory mats and a storage capacity of 16 M bits or more, features a defect recovery scheme through employing a redundancy circuit. The memory array in the memory has a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit lines, a spare bit line, and a plurality of memory cells. The redundancy circuit includes a comparing circuit having programmable elements which function as a memory for storing therein a defective address existing in the memory array. The programmable elements of the redundancy circuit can be programmed in accordance with any of a number of different types of defect modes. In accordance with this, each comparing circuit of the redundancy circuit compares information (data) inputted therein, for example, the column and row addresses which may be under the control of an address multiplex system, with that programmed in the programmable elements of the comparing circuit. On the basis of this comparison, an appropriate defect recovery is effected

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.