Patents by Inventor Carsten Ohlhoff

Carsten Ohlhoff has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7574643
    Abstract: In a method for testing an electric circuit comprising circuit subunits, the electric circuit is connected to a test system via a tester channel with a connection unit. The tester channel is connected to the circuit subunits by means of a connecting unit, test signals are generated for the electric circuit and response signals generated by the electric circuit in response to the test signals are evaluated. The test signals and the response signals are interchanged between the circuit subunits by means of at least one compression/decompression unit associated with at least one of the circuit subunits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Stefan Gollmer, Carsten Ohlhoff, Hans-Christoph Ostendorf
  • Patent number: 7490274
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally provide methods and apparatus for testing memory devices having normal memory elements and redundant memory elements. During a front-end testing procedure, normal memory elements that are found to be defective are replaced by redundant memory elements. During the front-end test, redundant memory elements that are found to be defective may be marked as defective by blowing associated mask fuses. During a back-end testing procedure, the results of testing a normal memory element may be masked (e.g., forced to a passing result) if the normal memory element has been replaced by a redundant memory element. Similarly, the results of testing a redundant memory element may be masked if the redundant memory element was previously found to be defective, as indicated by an associated mark fuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Jochen Hoffmann, Carsten Ohlhoff, Peter Beer
  • Publication number: 20080246505
    Abstract: A semiconductor device test method and system. One embodiment provides a method for testing semiconductor devices forming a group of semiconductor devices to be tested. For addressing or selection of one of the semiconductor devices of the group, at least two different signals are supplied to the respective semiconductor device to be addressed or selected via at least two different semiconductor device connections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: QIMONDA AG
    Inventors: Markus Kollwitz, Carsten Ohlhoff
  • Patent number: 7231562
    Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated memory module having a memory unit and a self-test circuit, the self-test circuit being embodied in such a way as to make available test data and test addresses for testing memory areas in the memory unit and to generate defect data depending on the detection of a defect, a test circuit being provided in order to receive defect data from one or a plurality of connectable memory modules to be detected, the test circuit being configured in such a way as to store the received defect data depending on addresses assigned thereto in the memory unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Carsten Ohlhoff, Peter Beer
  • Patent number: 7197678
    Abstract: A test circuit for testing a memory circuit has a data input line for providing test data and a comparator unit. The comparator unit is connected to the data input line and to the memory circuit for comparing the test data written into the memory circuit with the test data read from the memory area. The data input line is connected to the memory circuit via a data change circuit. The data change circuit is controllable depending on a result of a comparison in the comparator unit such that when an error occurs, subsequent test data can be written in an altered manner to the memory circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Carsten Ohlhoff, Peter Beer
  • Patent number: 7137049
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally provide methods and apparatus for testing memory devices having normal memory elements and redundant memory elements. During a front-end testing procedure, normal memory elements that are found to be defective are replaced by redundant memory elements. During the front-end test, redundant memory elements that are found to be defective may be marked as defective by blowing associated mask fuses. During a back-end testing procedure, the results of testing a normal memory element may be masked (e.g., forced to a passing result) if the normal memory element has been replaced by a redundant memory element. Similarly, the results of testing a redundant memory element may be masked if the redundant memory element was previously found to be defective, as indicated by an associated mark fuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Jochen Hoffmann, Carsten Ohlhoff, Peter Beer
  • Publication number: 20060242492
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally provide methods and apparatus for testing memory devices having normal memory elements and redundant memory elements. During a front-end testing procedure, normal memory elements that are found to be defective are replaced by redundant memory elements. During the front-end test, redundant memory elements that are found to be defective may be marked as defective by blowing associated mask fuses. During a back-end testing procedure, the results of testing a normal memory element may be masked (e.g., forced to a passing result) if the normal memory element has been replaced by a redundant memory element. Similarly, the results of testing a redundant memory element may be masked if the redundant memory element was previously found to be defective, as indicated by an associated mark fuse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Inventors: Jochen Hoffmann, Carsten Ohlhoff, Peter Beer
  • Patent number: 7120841
    Abstract: A data generator for generating test data for a word-oriented semiconductor memory is integrated on a semiconductor chip of the semiconductor memory. The data generator has a shift register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Carsten Ohlhoff
  • Publication number: 20060202706
    Abstract: In a method for testing an electric circuit comprising circuit subunits, the electric circuit is connected to a test system via a tester channel with a connection unit. The tester channel is connected to the circuit subunits by means of a connecting unit, test signals are generated for the electric circuit and response signals generated by the electric circuit in response to the test signals are evaluated. The test signals and the response signals are interchanged between the circuit subunits by means of at least one compression/decompression unit associated with at least one of the circuit subunits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Stefan Gollmer, Carsten Ohlhoff, Hans-Christoph Ostendorf
  • Patent number: 7107501
    Abstract: A test device has an interface for connecting a memory circuit that is to be tested and for receiving fault addresses. The test device further has a fault address memory for storing fault addresses and a control unit for allocating the received fault addresses to a fault address which is to be stored. A first sequence of memory cells can be addressed with a first access time, and a second sequence of memory cells can be addressed with a second access time, in the fault address memory. The second access time is longer than the first access time. First fault addresses are received at a first data rate, and second fault addresses are received at a second data rate, via the interface. The second data rate is lower than the first data rate. The control unit stores the first fault addresses in the fault address memory on the basis of the first sequence of memory cells, and stores the second fault addresses in the fault address memory on a basis of the second sequence of memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Carsten Ohlhoff, Peter Beer
  • Patent number: 7092303
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dynamic memory having a memory cell array, a test controller to test the memory cell array and an oscillator to control the refreshing of the memory cell array. According to the invention, the memory includes a device for using the oscillator as a time base for the test controller, such that a slow time base is achieved which may be used for different self-tests of the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Carsten Ohlhoff
  • Publication number: 20060120199
    Abstract: An electronic circuit comprises a volatile memory unit and a non-volatile memory unit which stores a repair information related to the volatile memory unit. The non-volatile and volatile memory units are connected together by a connecting device and are formed as a single electronic module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Inventors: Carsten Ohlhoff, Hans-Christoph Ostendorf, Stefan Gollmer
  • Patent number: 6891431
    Abstract: To measure the current consumption of a circuit device with a current measuring device, the circuit device being supplied by a current/voltage supply line device, as simply as possible without the need for additional measuring devices, an integrated circuit configuration includes integrating the circuit configuration, the current measuring device, and, also, the current/voltage supply line device in a common chip and forming the current measuring device with a Hall sensor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Peter Beer, Carsten Ohlhoff
  • Publication number: 20040260987
    Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated memory module having a memory unit and a self-test circuit, the self-test circuit being embodied in such a way as to make available test data and test addresses for testing memory areas in the memory unit and to generate defect data depending on the detection of a defect, a test circuit being provided in order to receive defect data from one or a plurality of connectable memory modules to be detected, the test circuit being configured in such a way as to store the received defect data depending on addresses assigned thereto in the memory unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Carsten Ohlhoff, Peter Beer
  • Publication number: 20040233745
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dynamic memory comprising a memory cell array (10), a test controller (12) for testing the memory cell array (10) and an oscillator (14) for controlling the refreshing of said memory cell array (10). According to the invention, said memory includes means (16) for using the oscillator (14) as a time base for the test controller. Hereby, a slow time base is achieved, which may be used for different self-tests of the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventor: Carsten Ohlhoff
  • Publication number: 20040221210
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally provide methods and apparatus for testing memory devices having normal memory elements and redundant memory elements. During a front-end testing procedure, normal memory elements that are found to be defective are replaced by redundant memory elements. During the front-end test, redundant memory elements that are found to be defective may be marked as defective by blowing associated mask fuses. During a back-end testing procedure, the results of testing a normal memory element may be masked (e.g., forced to a passing result) if the normal memory element has been replaced by a redundant memory element. Similarly, the results of testing a redundant memory element may be masked if the redundant memory element was previously found to be defective, as indicated by an associated mark fuse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Jochen Hoffmann, Carsten Ohlhoff, Peter Beer
  • Patent number: 6756787
    Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated circuit having a circuit and a current measuring unit for measuring the current through the functional circuit. The current measuring unit is connected to an output device in order to output the value of the measured current to an external test system via an external connection of the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Carsten Ohlhoff, Peter Beer
  • Publication number: 20040066209
    Abstract: To measure the current consumption of a circuit device with a current measuring device, the circuit device being supplied by a current/voltage supply line device, as simply as possible without the need for additional measuring devices, an integrated circuit configuration includes integrating the circuit configuration, the current measuring device, and, also, the current/voltage supply line device in a common chip and forming the current measuring device with a Hall sensor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventors: Peter Beer, Carsten Ohlhoff
  • Publication number: 20040015757
    Abstract: A test circuit for testing a memory circuit has a data input line for providing test data and a comparator unit. The comparator unit is connected to the data input line and to the memory circuit for comparing the test data written into the memory circuit with the test data read from the memory area. The data input line is connected to the memory circuit via a data change circuit. The data change circuit is controllable depending on a result of a comparison in the comparator unit such that when an error occurs, subsequent test data can be written in an altered manner to the memory circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: Carsten Ohlhoff, Peter Beer
  • Patent number: 6670665
    Abstract: A memory module, in particular a DRAM, has a memory cell array with memory cells disposed in a matrix form. Dummy memory cells are formed in an edge region of the memory cell array, which dummy memory cells are not used for storing items of information. First electrodes of the dummy memory cells are connected to a reference potential. A counter electrode of the dummy memory cells is electrically connected to the counter electrode of the memory cells. A charge capacitance of the counter electrode of the memory cells is increased in this way. Consequently, there is an overall increase in the voltage stability of the memory module with respect to a large entry of charge into the memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Peter Beer, Carsten Ohlhoff, Helmut Schneider