Patents Examined by Gere N. Auduong
  • Patent number: 6515920
    Abstract: A memory core of a semiconductor data storing circuit device in a semiconductor chip is composed of a memory cell array having memory cells of rows and columns, data input/output circuits of a normal operation in which a data input line and a data output line for one bit of data are arranged at every four columns of the memory cell array, and checking circuits of a test operation in which a test data input line and a test data output line for one bit of test data are arranged at every eight (or two) columns of the memory cell array. In cases where the test data input/output lines for one bit of test data are arranged at every eight columns, because the number of test data input/output lines is lower than the number of data input/output lines, the number of input/output pins for the test operation can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirofumi Nakano, Atsushi Miyanishi, Sizuo Morizane