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:
Jan. 19, 2010
Filed:
Jul. 10, 2008
Kazuhiro Teramoto, Tokyo, JP;
Yoji Idei, Tokyo, JP;
Takenori Sato, Tokyo, JP;
Elpida Memory, Inc., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A semiconductor memory device is provided that is capable of detecting a short circuit defect to be detected in a memory array without causing an error due to off-current of a sense amplifier circuit. Sense amplifier circuits amplify a potential between a pair of bit lines, which occurs based on potential of memory cells selected by driving word lines and bit lines. Selection transistors are provided between the bit lines and the sense amplifier circuits. A word-SE interval control circuit included in an X timing generating circuit turns off the selection transistors and disconnects the bit lines from the sense amplifier circuits based on a signal representing a test state for expanded time when a test to expand an interval between word line driving and activation of the sense amplifier circuits and detect defect sites of the bit lines is performed.