Method and apparatus for testing the connectivity of a flash memory chip
US7631231B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 19, 2006 |
| Grant date | Dec 8, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 2, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C2029/3202
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In one embodiment of the invention, circuitry and hardware for connectivity testing are fabricated on an IC, and in particular an IC containing a flash memory array. This testing circuitry is electrically connected to the bond pads of the IC. In some embodiments, the testing circuitry includes a boundary scan cell connected to each bond pad, allowing for rapid connectivity testing of flash memory chips in accordance with testing standards such as the JTAG standard. The invention further includes methods in which the pins and/or memory cells of a flash memory chip are sequentially sent a series of data so as to test the connectivity of portions of the IC. The sequentially-sent data is then retrieved and compared to the original data. Discrepancies between these sets of data thus highlight connectivity problems in the IC.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.