Patent ID: 8423842

Claim:
A test apparatus for testing a memory device including a memory cell, the test apparatus comprising: a storage to store a first value; and a controller configured to execute at a given timing to include: determining a second value which is a threshold limit value to read data of the memory cell correctly on the basis of an output of the memory cell; calculating a difference between the first value and the second value; outputting a deterioration information on the basis of the difference between the first value and the second value; and updating the first value stored in the storage to the second value, wherein in determining the second value, the controller is configured to repeat an operation including: setting a read parameter to the memory device; writing data to the memory cell using a write parameter which is set in the memory device; reading the data of the memory cell on the basis of the output from the memory cell using the read parameter; judging whether or not the data of the memory cell which is read using the read parameter is correct; and changing a value of the read parameter, when the data of the memory cell is judged to be correct, so that the value of the read parameter deviates from a threshold value provided under normal operating conditions to simulate an environment severer than an environment under the normal operating conditions under which it becomes severer to read the data of the memory cell on the basis of the output from the memory cell; and detecting the second value from values of the read parameter, each of which is set when the data of the memory cell is judged to be correct in the operation.