Repairable semiconductor memory circuit having parrel redundancy replacement wherein redundancy elements replace failed elements

摘要

The present disclosure relates to semiconductor memories and more particularly, to an improved method and apparatus for replacing defective row/column lines. In accordance with the present invention, a high replacement flexibility redundancy and method is employed to increase chip yield and prevent sense amplifier signal contention. Redundancy elements are integrated in at least two of a plurality of memory arrays, which don't share the sense amplifiers. Thus, no additional sense amplifiers are required. A defective row/column line in a first array or block is replaced with a redundant row/column line from its own redundancy. A corresponding row/column line whether defective or not is replaced in a second array or block, which does not share sense amplifiers with the first block. The corresponding row/column is replaced to mimic the redundancy replacement of the first block thereby increasing flexibility and yield as well as preventing sensing signal contention.