Static information storage and retrieval – Read/write circuit – Bad bit
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-27
2003-05-06
Lam, David (Department: 2818)
Static information storage and retrieval
Read/write circuit
Bad bit
C365S201000, C365S225700
Reexamination Certificate
active
06560149
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an integrated semiconductor memory device that can be subjected to a memory cell test in order to determine functional and defective memory cells, having addressable normal memory cells, a first redundancy unit having first addressable redundant memory cells and optically programmable switches for replacing an address of a defective normal memory cell by the address of a first redundant memory cell, and a second redundancy unit having second addressable redundant memory cells and electrically programmable switches for replacing an address of a defective normal memory cell by the address of a second redundant memory cell.
To repair defective memory cells, integrated semiconductor memories generally have redundant memory cells, which are usually combined to form redundant row lines and redundant column lines that can replace, in address terms, the regular lines with defective memory cells.
In such a case, for example, an external test device or a self-test device tests the integrated memory is tested and programming of the redundant elements is subsequently performed based upon a so-called redundancy analysis. A redundancy circuit then has programmable elements, for example, in the form of programmable fuses, which serve for replacing the address of a defective cell, row line, or column line by a defect-free redundant cell, row line, or column line.
Programmable switches that, in the event of programming, are brought from a conducting (low-impedance) to a non-conducting (high-impedance) state (so-called fuses) and programmable switches that, in the event of programming, are changed from a high-impedance to a low-impedance state (so-called anti-fuses) are both customary.
The programming of the fuses is a one-off, irreversible operation by which the programmable switch is brought permanently to the desired state. In such a case, the programming can be effected by applying a laser pulse or an electrical voltage or current pulse to the programmable switch. The term laser fuses is used in the former case and the term e-fuses in the latter case.
The prior art includes providing two separate redundancy units in an integrated semiconductor memory. In such a case, a first redundancy unit usually has a large number of redundant memory cells whose addresses can replace the addresses of defective normal memory cells through the programming of laser fuses. These memory cells are used to repair the memory at the wafer level, where the laser fuses are still accessible to the laser beam without any difficulty.
Once the memory modules are housed, the laser fuses are no longer accessible to a laser beam. Nevertheless, in order to be able to repair memory cell defects that occur during later tests on housed modules, in such a concept a very limited number of redundant memory cells are provided, which can be activated by electrical fuses. A repair using e-fuses does not take place at the wafer level because a large number of laser fuses are still present here.
In the case of this redundancy concept, the problem arises that the electrical fuses and their drive circuits, during the tests at the wafer level, during which their functionality is not yet required, can nevertheless have repercussions on the function of other components of the semiconductor memory, which makes it more difficult to test for the functionality of these components or can even make it impossible to perform the test in the case of defective e-fuse drive circuits.
Furthermore, the electrical fuses and the logic required for their driving and programming cause additional production complexity and, hence, additional costs. These factors become superfluous if a production process or the test technique for a specific memory configuration has settled so well that only very few defects occur at the module level.
If the electrical fuses are completely omitted, that is to say, the corresponding process steps are left out during production, short circuits then result on the module instead of unblown anti-fuses with high resistance, which short circuits would be interpreted incorrectly as blown fuses during the read-out of the anti-fuses. Consequently, such a procedure does not constitute a practicable method.
One solution lies in using a separate mask for the processing, in which the logic for the repair for the electrical fuses is generally switched off. However, this solution requires an additional mask.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,081,910 to Mifsud et al. discloses an integrated semiconductor memory device having a redundancy unit that can be programmed in two passes by permanently programmable switches for the replacement of defective memory cells. In such a case, at least the permanently programmable switches can be electrically programmable for the second pass, which makes it possible to perform the second pass on housed modules as well. U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,632 to Irrinki et al. also describes an integrated semiconductor memory device having a redundancy unit that can be programmed in two passes for the replacement of defective memory cells. In such a case, defective memory cells are replaced by redundant memory cells only in the second pass, while the first pass serves for definitely disconnecting defective memory cells.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an integrated semiconductor memory device that overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type and that does not have the second redundancy unit with its electrically programmable switches adversely affect the tests for functionality of the other components of the semiconductor memory at the wafer level.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, an integrated semiconductor memory device to be subjected to a memory cell test for determining functional and defective memory cells including addressable memory cells, a first redundancy unit having first addressable redundant memory cells and optically programmable switches for replacing an address of a defective one of the memory cells by an address of one of the first redundant memory cells, a second redundancy unit having second addressable redundant memory cells and electrically programmable switches for replacing an address of a defective one of the memory cells by an address of one of the second redundant memory cells, and an irreversibly programmable switch connected to the second redundancy unit for activating the second redundancy unit.
According to the invention, the second redundancy unit of the integrated semiconductor memory device can be connected by the activation of an irreversibly programmable switch. What the configuration makes possible is that, during the tests at the wafer level, the repair of memory cells by electrically programmable switches is generally still disconnected. Only at the end of the wafer test is a decision taken as to whether or not the second redundancy unit is connected by activation of the irreversibly programmable switch.
If the second redundancy unit is connected at the end of the tests at the wafer level, then defective memory cells can be repaired subsequently at the module level in a conventional manner with the aid of the electrically programmable switches.
However, it is also possible for the second redundancy unit also not to be connected at the end of the wafer test and, thus, for the repair at the module level to be generally left switched off. This is advantageous, for example, when the production process has settled so well that the number of defects at the module level is so small that it is not worth the outlay for the provision and repair by electrically programmable switches. In such a case, it is possible to dispense with repair at the module level, and, by the same token, save the additional costs for the processing of the electrically programmable switches and the drive logic required for these switches.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, th
Greenber Laurence A.
Lam David
Locher Ralph E.
Stemer Werner H.
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