Method and device for generating digital signal patterns

US7117403B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Infineon Technologies AG · DE

Inventors

• Wolfgang Ernst · Munich, DE
• Gunnar Krause · Munich, DE
• Justus Kuhn · Birkenfeld, DE
• Jens Lüpke · Hersbruck, DE
• Jochen Müller · Hersbruck, DE
• Peter Pöchmüller · Birkenfeld, DE
• Michael Schittenhelm · Poing, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 18, 2001
• Grant date: Oct 3, 2006
• Expiry date: Oct 22, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01R31/3183
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The method and the device generate digital signal patterns. Signal patterns or signal pattern groups are stored in a very small buffer register. The position of a following signal pattern or following signal pattern group is also stored in the form of a branch address, together with each signal pattern or each signal pattern group. A simple control logic circuit receives a control signal and determines whether the content of the currently addressed group is output continuously or the following group given by the branch address stored in the register is output after the currently selected group has been completely output. The novel method and device can advantageously be used for testing semiconductor memories and implemented in a cost-effective semiconductor circuit which is remote from a conventional test system.