US5638331A
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US
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Burn-in test circuit and method in semiconductor memory device
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
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Filing: 1995-12-13
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Granted: 1997-06-10
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Expires: 2015-12-13
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a burn-in test circuit and method of a semiconductor memory device which is capable of applying a stress voltage simultaneously to a plurality of word lines and which is operative when the device is in either a wafer or package state. The disclosed burn-in test circuit and method includes the capability of fusably disabling burn-in test operations in the memory device once the burn-in test is completed. The burn-in test circuit includes a burn-in enable signal generator for receiving a predetermined timing of external signals by which the burn-in test is selected, and for generating a burn-in enable signal in response. A row address decoder, responsive to the burn-in enable signal, places the word lines of the device in a high-impedance state so that a word line stress input unit can simultaneously apply a stress voltage to the word lines to perform the burn-in test. Upon completion of the burn-in test, the burn-in enable signal generator fusably disables the burn-in enable signal. The burn-in test method includes writing background data to each of the memory cells, enabling a burn-in test according to a predetermined timing of external signals, placing memory word lines in a high-impedance state, applying a stress voltage to the word lines, and then fusably disabling the subsequent performance of the burn-in test.
Inventors
- 👤 Gi-Woon Cha
- 👤 Jei-Hwan Yoo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:50
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/28; G11; G11C; G11C29/00; G11C29/04; G11C29/08; G11C29/12; G11C29/18; G11C29/30; G11C29/34; G11C29/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A semiconductor memory device comprising: a memory cell array; a plurality of word lines connected to said memory cell array; a burn-in enable signal generator responsive to a first state of external signals for generating a burn-in enable signal; a burn-in control signal generator responsive to a second state of said external signals, said burn-in control signal generator preventing said burn-in enable signal generator from generating said burn-in enable signal; and a word line stress voltage input circuit for applying a stress voltage to said plurality of word lines, to thus perform a burn-in test.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
A semiconductor memory device comprising: a memory cell array; a plurality of word lines connected to said memory cell array; a burn-in enable signal generator responsive to a first state of external signals for generating a burn-in enable signal; a burn-in control signal generator responsive to a second state of said external signals, said burn-in control signal generator preventing said burn-in enable signal generator from generating said burn-in enable signal; and a word line stress voltage input circuit for applying a stress voltage to said plurality of word lines, to thus perform a burn-in test.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, wherein said burn-in control signal generator includes a fuse, said fuse being blown in response to said second state of said external signals, said burn-in control signal generator thereafter preventing said burn-in enable signal generator from generating said burn-in enable signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, wherein said word line stress voltage input circuit is responsive to said burn-in enable signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, further comprising a row address decoder responsive to said burn-in enable signal for maintaining said plurality of word lines in a high-impedance state during said burn-in test.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
130 words
A semiconductor memory device comprising: a plurality of memory cells; a plurality of word lines connected to respective ones of said memory cells; and a burn-in test circuit having a burn-in signal generator for generating a burn-in enable signal to enable a burn-in test to be performed in said semiconductor memory device in response to a predetermined timing of external signals, and for fusably disabling said burn-in enable signal after said burn-in test is completed, a word line stress voltage input circuit connected to said plurality of word lines, said word line stress voltage input circuit supplying a stress voltage to said plurality of word lines in response to the burn-in enable signal, said stress voltage being applied to said memory device from an external source during said burn-in test.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
130 words
A semiconductor memory device comprising: a plurality of memory cells; a plurality of word lines connected to respective ones of said memory cells; and a burn-in test circuit having a burn-in signal generator for generating a burn-in enable signal to enable a burn-in test to be performed in said semiconductor memory device in response to a predetermined timing of external signals, and for fusably disabling said burn-in enable signal after said burn-in test is completed, a word line stress voltage input circuit connected to said plurality of word lines, said word line stress voltage input circuit supplying a stress voltage to said plurality of word lines in response to the burn-in enable signal, said stress voltage being applied to said memory device from an external source during said burn-in test.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
78 words
The semiconductor memory device according to claim 5, further comprising a row address decoder connected to said plurality of word lines, said row address decoder enabling a burn-in operation to be performed on said plurality of word lines in response to said burn-in enable signal, said row address decoder enabling a normal data operation to be performed on a selected one of said plurality of word lines in correspondence with a row address received from said external source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
79 words
The semiconductor memory device according to claim 6, wherein said row address decoder includes a plurality of transfer transistors, each of which is connected to a respective one of said plurality of word lines, and a plurality of discharge transistors, each of which is connected to a respective one of said plurality of word lines, each of said plurality of word line transfer transistors and said plurality of discharge transistors being in a non-conductive state during said burn-in operation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The semiconductor memory device according to claim 5, wherein said predetermined timing is a write enable before column address strobe (WBC) mode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
The semiconductor memory device according to claim 5, wherein said burn-in signal generator includes: a burn-in enable signal generator for generating said burn-in enable signal and a fuse blowing signal in response to said predetermined timing of external signals; and a burn-in control signal generator having an electrical fuse therein, said electrical fuse being blown in response to said fuse blowing signal, said burn-in control signal generator thereafter preventing generation of said burn-in enable signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
The semiconductor memory device according to claim 5, wherein said semiconductor memory device is a dynamic memory, each of said plurality of memory cells having an access transistor and a storage capacitor, and each of said plurality of word lines being connected to a gate of said access transistor of said respective ones of said memory cells.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
85 words
A burn-in test method of a semiconductor memory device, comprising the steps of: storing burn-in test data within a plurality of memory cells before a burn-in test; receiving external signals having a predetermined timing; maintaining a plurality of word lines in a high-impedance state in response to said predetermined timing; performing said burn-in test by applying a stress voltage to said plurality of word lines; and fusably disabling a circuit element to prevent said burn-in test from being repeated after said burn-in test is completed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
85 words
A burn-in test method of a semiconductor memory device, comprising the steps of: storing burn-in test data within a plurality of memory cells before a burn-in test; receiving external signals having a predetermined timing; maintaining a plurality of word lines in a high-impedance state in response to said predetermined timing; performing said burn-in test by applying a stress voltage to said plurality of word lines; and fusably disabling a circuit element to prevent said burn-in test from being repeated after said burn-in test is completed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The burn-in test method according to claim 11, wherein said step of receiving said external signals includes the step of generating a burn-in enable signal in response to receipt of said external signals having said predetermined timing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
157 words
A semiconductor device comprising: a memory array; a plurality of word lines connected to said memory array; a burn-in enable signal generator for generating a burn-in enable signal in response to a first condition of external signals; a burn-in control signal generator for generating a burn-in control signal in response to said external signals, said burn-in control signal having a first logic level in response to said first condition of said external signals and a second logic level in response to a second condition of said external signals, said burn-in enable signal generator being prevented from generating said burn-in enable signal when said burn-in control signal has said second logic level; a word line stress voltage input circuit for applying a stress voltage to said plurality of word lines in response to said burn-in enable signal, said word line stress input unit being operative when said semiconductor device is in a wafer state and a package state.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
157 words
A semiconductor device comprising: a memory array; a plurality of word lines connected to said memory array; a burn-in enable signal generator for generating a burn-in enable signal in response to a first condition of external signals; a burn-in control signal generator for generating a burn-in control signal in response to said external signals, said burn-in control signal having a first logic level in response to said first condition of said external signals and a second logic level in response to a second condition of said external signals, said burn-in enable signal generator being prevented from generating said burn-in enable signal when said burn-in control signal has said second logic level; a word line stress voltage input circuit for applying a stress voltage to said plurality of word lines in response to said burn-in enable signal, said word line stress input unit being operative when said semiconductor device is in a wafer state and a package state.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
80 words
The semiconductor device according to claim 13, further comprising a row address decoder connected to said plurality of word lines and responsive to said burn-in enable signal, said row address decoder having a plurality of transfer transistors and a plurality of discharge transistors, each of which is connected to a respective one of said plurality of word lines, said plurality of transfer transistors and said plurality of discharge transistors being turned off in response to said burn-in enable control signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
152 words
The semiconductor device according to claim 14, wherein: said row address decoder is further responsive to a precharge signal and a row address signal; and each of said plurality of discharge transistors includes: a first gate connected to a drain of a first transistor, a drain connected to said respective one of said plurality of word lines, and a source connected to a discharge potential, a voltage level of said first gate of said discharge transistor being dependent on logic states of said row address signal and said precharge signal in a normal mode and being independent of said logic states of said row address signal and said precharge signal in a burn-in mode, each of said plurality of discharge transistors being turned on or off in accordance with said logic states of said row address signal and said precharge signal in said normal mode and turned off in said burn-in mode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The semiconductor device according to claim 15, wherein said first transistor is a PMOS transistor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The semiconductor device according to claim 15, wherein said first transistor is an NMOS transistor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
130 words
The semiconductor device according to claim 15, wherein each of said plurality of transfer transistors includes a second gate connected to a drain of a second transistor, a drain connected to said respective one of said plurality of word lines, and a source connected to a transfer potential, a voltage level of said second gate being dependent on said logic states of said row address signal and said precharge signal in said normal mode, and being independent of said logic states of the row address signal and said precharge signal in said burn-in mode, each of said transfer transistors being turned on or off in accordance with said logic states of said row address signal and said precharge signal in said normal mode and turned off in said burn-in mode.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The semiconductor device according to claim 18, wherein said second transistor is a PMOS transistor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The semiconductor device according to claim 18, wherein said second transistor is an NMOS transistor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The semiconductor device according to claim 13, wherein said burn-in enable signal generator includes a latch structure for latching said first condition of external signals.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
The semiconductor device according to claim 13, wherein said burn-in control signal generator includes an electrical fuse, said burn-in control signal having one of said first and second logic levels dependent upon whether said electrical fuse is blown.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
The semiconductor device according to claim 22, wherein said burn-in control signal generator includes a latch structure for latching said first or second logic level of said burn-in control signal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
95 words
The semiconductor device according to claim 13, wherein said word line stress input unit includes: a connection node; a plurality of transistors, each of which is connected between a terminal of a respective one of said plurality of word lines and said connection node, said plurality of transistors being turned on only in a burn-in mode, an NMOS transistor connected between said connection node and a ground voltage, and a PMOS transistor connected between said connection node and a power supply voltage, said plurality of word lines being enabled by turning on said PMOS transistor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The semiconductor device according to claim 24, wherein said connection node is maintained to a logic low level in a normal mode and a stand-by mode.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
204 words
The semiconductor device according to claim 13, wherein: said plurality of word lines are comprised of even-positioned word lines and odd-positioned word lines; and said word line stress input unit includes: a first connection node, a second connection node, a plurality of first transistors, each of which is connected between a terminal of a respective one of said odd-positioned word lines and said first connection node, said plurality of first transistors being turned on only in a burn-in mode, a plurality of second transistors, each of which is connected between a terminal of a respective one of said even-positioned word lines and said second connection node, said plurality of second transistors being turned on only in a burn-in mode, a first NMOS transistor connected between said first connection node and a ground voltage, a first PMOS transistor connected between said first connection node and a power supply voltage, said odd-positioned word lines being enabled by turning on said first PMOS transistor, a second NMOS transistor connected between said second connection node and said ground voltage, and a second PMOS transistor connected between said second connection node and said power supply voltage, said even-positioned word lines being enabled by turning on said second PMOS transistor.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
163 words
A semiconductor memory device comprising: a plurality of memory cells each having an access transistor and a storage capacitor; a plurality of word lines connected to respective ones of said memory cells; and a burn-in test circuit having a burn-in signal generator for generating a burn-in enable signal in response to a predetermined timing of external signals, and for fusably disabling said burn-in enable signal after completion of a burn-in test, a row address decoder connected to said plurality of word lines, for selectively enabling one of said word lines in response to a row address during a normal data operation, and for placing said plurality of word lines in a high-impedance state in response to said burn-in enable signal, and a word line stress input unit for inputting a stress voltage applied through external pins of said memory device during said burn-in test in response to said burn-in enable signal, and for applying said stress voltage to said plurality of word lines.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
163 words
A semiconductor memory device comprising: a plurality of memory cells each having an access transistor and a storage capacitor; a plurality of word lines connected to respective ones of said memory cells; and a burn-in test circuit having a burn-in signal generator for generating a burn-in enable signal in response to a predetermined timing of external signals, and for fusably disabling said burn-in enable signal after completion of a burn-in test, a row address decoder connected to said plurality of word lines, for selectively enabling one of said word lines in response to a row address during a normal data operation, and for placing said plurality of word lines in a high-impedance state in response to said burn-in enable signal, and a word line stress input unit for inputting a stress voltage applied through external pins of said memory device during said burn-in test in response to said burn-in enable signal, and for applying said stress voltage to said plurality of word lines.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-06-09 | 2000-12-09 | 2001-06-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-06-09 | 2004-12-09 | 2005-06-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-06-09 | 2008-12-09 | 2009-06-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |