Patent US5535163A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US5535163A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Semiconductor memory device for inputting and outputting data in a unit of bits

Assignee: NEC Electronics Corp
•
Filing: 1994-11-01
•
Granted: 1996-07-09
•
Expires: 2014-11-01
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A multibit semiconductor memory device for inputting and outputting data in a parallel fashion in a unit of bits. The multibit memory has a memory cell array composed of mixed memory cells corresponding to different IO bits, data I/O terminals corresponding respectively to IO bits, an address terminal for inputting an address and internal data buses associated respectively with the IO bits and connected to the memory cell array. Further, the memory device has a test mode entry signal generator for generating a test mode entry signal indicative of entry into a test mode, a pseudo-address generator connected to the address terminal, for generating a pseudo-address in the test mode, and a connecting circuit responsive to the test mode entry signal for selecting one of the internal data buses depending on the pseudo-address and connecting the selected bus to predetermined one of the data I/O terminals.

Inventors

  • 👤 Yoshinori Matsui

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 17:24
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C29/00; G11C29/04; G11C29/08; G11C29/48; G11C29/12; G11C29/18; G11C29/26; G11C29/28

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 165 words
A multibit memory device comprising: a memory cell array composed of mixed memory cells corresponding to different IO bits; a plurality of data input/output terminals corresponding respectively to IO bits, for inputting and outputting data in a parallel fashion to and from said memory cell array, said data input/output terminals being classified into a first data input/output terminal and a second data input/output terminal; an address terminal for inputting an address; internal data buses associated respectively with the IO bits and connected to said memory cell array; test mode entry signal generating means for generating a test mode entry signal indicative of entry into a test mode; pseudo-address generating means connected to said address terminal, for generating a pseudo-address in said test mode; and connecting means responsive to said test mode entry signal for selecting one of said internal data buses depending on said pseudo-address and connecting the selected one of the internal data buses to said first data input/output terminal in said test mode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 165 words
A multibit memory device comprising: a memory cell array composed of mixed memory cells corresponding to different IO bits; a plurality of data input/output terminals corresponding respectively to IO bits, for inputting and outputting data in a parallel fashion to and from said memory cell array, said data input/output terminals being classified into a first data input/output terminal and a second data input/output terminal; an address terminal for inputting an address; internal data buses associated respectively with the IO bits and connected to said memory cell array; test mode entry signal generating means for generating a test mode entry signal indicative of entry into a test mode; pseudo-address generating means connected to said address terminal, for generating a pseudo-address in said test mode; and connecting means responsive to said test mode entry signal for selecting one of said internal data buses depending on said pseudo-address and connecting the selected one of the internal data buses to said first data input/output terminal in said test mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 70 words
The multibit memory device according to claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprises buffers connected respectively to said internal data buses and selectively operable in response to said pseudo-address, and a transfer gate circuit associated with said second data input/output terminal for disconnecting said second data input/output terminal and connecting a corresponding one of said buffers to said first data input/output terminal in response to said test mode entry signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 35 words
The multibit memory device according to claim 1, wherein: said connecting means connects said data input/output terminals respectively to said internal data buses in a normal operation mode which is distinct from said test mode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 33 words
The multibit memory device according to claim 2, wherein: said connecting means connects said buffers respectively to said data input/output terminals in a normal operation mode which is distinct from said test mode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 51 words
The multibit memory device according to claim 1, wherein said test mode entry signal generating means comprises a terminal which is unused in a normal operation mode, and a circuit for generating said test mode entry signal when a voltage higher than a predetermined threshold voltage is applied to said terminal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 28 words
The multibit memory device according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of address terminals, said pseudo-address generating means being connected to a predetermined one of said address terminals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 72 words
The multibit memory device according to claim 6, wherein column and row addresses are supplied in a time sharing manner to the multibit memory device, said pseudo-address generating means is connected to one or more than one of said address terminals which are used by row addresses but not by column addresses, and decodes a signal supplied to said one or more than one of the address terminals to generate the pseudo-address.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

JPS63127500A Cited
JPS63191400A Cited
JPH01140489A Cited
US5138619A Cited
EP0446449A2 Cited
US5072138A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-07-09 2000-01-08 2000-07-09 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-07-09 2004-01-08 2004-07-09 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-07-09 2008-01-08 2008-07-09 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag