Repair device and method for integrated circuit structured arrays

摘要

A method and apparatus for repairing digital addressable structured arrays, such as memory devices. In one example, a repair mechanism includes adding a number of redundant repair elements to the array, and coupling one or more skip units to the array ahead of the address decode unit(s). The skip unit compares a received logical address with a skip address identifying a defective element within the array, and modifies the input address based on a comparison of the input address and the skip address. The modified address is then decoded to access an element of the array.

主权项

1. A repair device for a digital addressable structured array of elements comprising:
at least one set of repair elements placed within the structured array; at least one skip unit configured to receive and modify an input address of a defective array element within the array and to provide a modified address corresponding to a non-defective array element within the array; and an address decode unit coupled between the at least one skip unit and the array and configured to receive and decode the modified address from the skip unit.