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:
May. 13, 2003
Filed:
Aug. 02, 2001
Applicant:
Inventors:
Stella Matarrese, Fremont, CA (US);
Luca Giovanni Fasoli, Fremont, CA (US);
Assignee:
STMicroelectronics, Inc., Carrollton, TX (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G11C 7/00 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G11C 7/00 ;
Abstract
A method and circuit are disclosed for replacing defective columns of flash memory cells in flash memory device. The circuit includes a plurality of sets of storage elements, each set of storage elements being capable of identifying at least one column of memory cells in any block of memory cells as being defective. The circuit further includes control circuitry for replacing an addressed column of memory cells with a redundant column of memory cells upon an affirmative determination that a set of storage elements identifies the addressed column of memory cells as being defective.