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:
Jun. 05, 2001
Filed:
Aug. 03, 1999
Michael Duc Ho, Houston, TX (US);
Duy-Loan T. Le, Missouri City, TX (US);
Scott E. Smith, Sugar Land, TX (US);
Texas Instruments Incorporated, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
A circuit (,) that drives word lines and tests a word line (,) in a semiconductor device is disclosed. A charge circuit (,) couples a supply voltage (VPP) to a charge node (,) according to a potential at a boot node (,). The charge node (,) supplies a charge voltage for the word line (,). In a standard cycle, the boot node (,) is charged to a high voltage, and maintained at the high potential, to keep the word line (,) charged. In a test cycle, the boot node (,) is charged to a high voltage, and then discharged to a low voltage, thereby isolating the charge node (,) and the word line (,). In the event the word line (,) suffers from current leakage, a drop in potential will be detected at the charge rode (,).