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. 13, 2001
Filed:
Oct. 13, 1998
Frank P. Higgins, West Trenton, NJ (US);
Ilyoung Kim, Plainsboro, NJ (US);
Yervant Zorian, Princeton, NJ (US);
Agere Systems Guardian Corp., Orlando, FL (US);
Abstract
A method is provided for determining the location of faulty components in a computer memory array on a chip and for providing a software repair procedure. According to the method, the location of faulty components in a computer memory array is determined by successively reading and writing to locations in the array according to an algorithm. If a faulty component is detected, it is determined whether a spare component in a spare memory array on the chip is available. If a spare component is available, a spare component is designated to correspond to the faulty component. A look up table on the same chip stores information representing the location of the faulty component associated with information representing the location of the corresponding spare component. The method may also include, testing the memory array by successively reading and writing to locations on the memory array according to an algorithm, during which step, when a faulty component with which a spare component is associated is addressed, the look up table is used to identify the spare component corresponding to the faulty component, and the spare component is addressed.