Patent · US Active

Circuit and method to find wordline-bitline shorts in a DRAM

US7440347B1 · kind B1 · utility

18Cited by
4References
29Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 4, 2007
Grant dateOct 21, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 4, 2027

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C2029/1202
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Method and apparatus for testing for a short between a wordline being tested and a bitline in a memory device. The method includes applying a first voltage to the bitline using a first voltage source and applying a second voltage to the wordline being tested using a second voltage source. The method further includes disconnecting the wordline being tested from the second voltage source; and after disconnecting the wordline being tested from the second voltage source, activating the wordline being tested, thereby connecting the wordline being tested to a wordline power supply line. A determination is made of whether a voltage of the wordline power supply line indicates a short between the wordline being tested and the bitline. The determination is based on the voltage of the wordline power supply line relative to the first voltage and the second voltage.

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