The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 07, 2000
Filed:
Sep. 01, 1999
Timothy B Cowles, Boise, ID (US);
Victor Wong, Boise, ID (US);
James S Cullum, Boise, ID (US);
Jeffrey P Wright, Boise, ID (US);
Micron Technology, Inc., Boise, ID (US);
Abstract
A semiconductor memory device including a memory-cell array divided into a plurality of memory sub-arrays that are arranged into rows and columns of memory cells. Each of the sub-arrays have a limited number of redundant rows and columns to repair defective memory cells. The redundant memory of at least two memory sub-arrays are coupled to an I/O line through a respective isolation circuit. A control circuit coupled to the isolation circuits selectively couples the redundant memory of the sub-arrays to the I/O line. Coupling the redundant memory of multiple sub-arrays facilitates using the redundant memory of one sub-array to repair the defective memory cells in other sub-arrays also coupled to the I/O line, when the redundant memory primarily associated with the other sub-arrays have been depleted.