Automatic test circuitry with non-volatile status write

Abstract

An integrated circuit (IC) includes a functional module such as FLASH memory with automatic program and erase circuits, test circuitry coupled with the functional module which executes a test of the functional module and generates status information as a result of the test, and non-volatile status write circuitry coupled with the test circuitry on the chip. A circuit in the non-volatile status write circuitry is responsive to the test of the functional circuitry to write the status information to the non-volatile memory. A port on the integrated circuit is coupled to the non-volatile memory through which the status information stored in the non-volatile memory is accessible in a test read mode to external devices. In a FLASH EPROM embodiment, the IC includes an array of FLASH EPROM memory cells, a test set of FLASH EPROM memory cells, and a port through which data in the array is accessible by external devices. Program and erase circuitry, coupled to the array, has a test mode to exercise the program and erase circuitry to generate status information indicating results of the test and test read mode to read out the status information. Non-volatile status write circuitry is coupled to the program and erase circuitry and the test set, and writes the status information to the test set. The program and erase circuits include retry counts with programmable thresholds for reducing the test times of the devices.