Sgs-thomson Microelectronics S.r.l.

Armando Conci

Carla Maris Golla

Maurizio Branchetti

The invention relates to a method of recovering faulty non-volatile memories. This method can be applied to an electrically programmable semiconductor non-volatile memory device set up as a multi-sector memory matrix and including selection circuitry for selecting words or individual bytes of the memory. According to this method, the memory matrix is addressed by byte, rather than by memory word, by selection circuitry, whenever the device fails an operation test. The use of a Hamming code for error correction to remedy malfunctions due to manufacture allows the method to be applied to those devices which fail their test and would otherwise be treated as rejects.

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Cusano Milanino, Italy

Armando Conci