Patent ID: 6571353
Filing Date: 2003-05-27
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
A device for obtaining fail cell identification information of a semiconductor memory having blocks with remedial function with a main cell area having memory cells and a reserve cell area having reserve cells for replacing failed memory cells, the fail cell identification information indicating a failed memory cell, comprising:an input section for inputting the fail cell identification information; a memory for storing fail cell specification information to specify location of a failed memory cell indicated by the fail cell identification information; a block information memory for storing block specification information indicating a remedial block to which the failed memory cell indicated by the fail cell identification information belongs; a sub block identification information selector for outputting sub block identification information indicating a sub block of the remedial block to which the failed memory cell belongs, indicated by the fail cell identification information; a detector for detecting whether the failed memory cell indicated by the fail cell identification information belongs to one selected from the main cell area and said reserve cell area; and a sub block information memory for storing a sub block specification information specifying the sub block indicated by the sub block identification information only when the failed memory cell indicated by the fail cell identification information is detected to belong to the main cell area by said detector.