Patents by Inventor Tim G. Damon

Tim G. Damon 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: 6510533
    Abstract: A method of testing and/or repairing a memory device having two arrays of memory cells arranged in rows and columns. Sense amplifiers shared by the arrays are selectively coupled by isolation transistors to the digit lines of respective columns in each array. The sense amplifiers and isolation transistors are controlled to sequentially writing known data bits to a plurality of rows in each of the arrays. The rows in the first and second arrays remain activated for a testing interval of sufficient duration to allow charge to transfer through any inter-cell defects between the cells in the activated rows and cells that are not in an activated row. Cells in each non-activated row are then read. Inter-cell defects may also be repaired by activating the rows in the first and second arrays in a manner that couples adjacent memory cells to digit lines having different complimentary voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David D. Siek, Tim G. Damon
  • Patent number: 6167541
    Abstract: A method of testing a memory device having two arrays of memory cells arranged in rows and columns. Sense amplifiers for respective columns are shared by the arrays, with the sense amplifiers being selectively coupled to the digit lines of respective columns in each array by respective isolation transistors. Cells of the memory array are tested by first writing known data bits to each of the cells. The isolation transistors for the first array are then turned on, and the isolation transistors for the second array are turned off. Predetermined voltages are coupled to the sense amplifiers through the digit lines of the first array by activating a row in the first array. A plurality of rows in the first array are then activated to couple the memory cells in each activated row to respective digit lines. The sense amplifiers are then coupled to respective digit lines in the second array by turning on the isolation transistors for the second array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David D. Siek, Tim G. Damon