Bell Telephone Laboratories

Ronald P Cenker

Frank J Procyk

Donald G Clemons

William R Huber, Iii

Thomas W Fleming

Frank R Huff

An MOS dynamic random access memory (RAM) includes an array of memory cells arranged in rows and columns. The array is divided into two or more sub-arrays. In an operating cycle where a cell is being accessed for reading and/or writing, only the sub-array containing the accessed cell is fully selected while the other sub-arrays are partially selected. A fully selected sub-array is one in which both a row and a column are selected, whereas in a partially selected sub-array, only a row is selected. In the partially selected sub-array where only refreshing of the cells in the selected row takes place, the column decoders and drivers remain inactive throughout the memory cycle.

Organization for dynamic random access memory

A memory is provided with standard rows and columns and spare rows and columns for substitution for standard rows and columns found to have defective cells. Each of the decoders associated with a standard row and/or column includes provision for being disconnected if found to be associated with a defective row or column. Each of the decoders associated with a spare row and/or column is designed normally to be deselected for any address but to be able to assume the address of any disconnected row or column. Disconnection of the standard decoders and substitution of the spare decoders are made possible by appropriate inclusion of fusible links which can be selectively opened by laser irradiation.

Memory with redundant rows and columns

The storage space of the instant system is considered, for refresh purposes, to contain 512 groups of 26 bit digital words with each group containing 128 such words. Memory refresh is implemented by sequentially refreshing the groups of digital words at the rate of one group every 2.8 microseconds, giving an expected total memory refresh time of approximately 1.43 milliseconds. A particular digital word from each group of digital words refreshed is read from the memory and transmitted to a parity check circuit which generates fault signals for any digital word having faulty parity. At the end of each of the approximately 1.43 millisecond refresh cycles, the particular word read from each group refreshed is changed so that at the end of 128 full refresh cycles (approximately 184 milliseconds), the parity of every digital word in the memory has been checked. Further, circuitry is provided to store the location of the first failing digital word in a trap register in response to an indication of faulty parity.

Growing community of inventors

Coplay, PA, United States of America

Ronald P Cenker