Patent ID: 7076700

Claim:
A method for reconfiguring a memory for replacing faulty memory cells in a plurality of blocks of the memory with redundant memory cells, each block having a plurality of first and second regular address lines with assigned memory cells and a plurality of first and second redundant address lines with assigned memory cells for replacing the first and second regular address lines, the first redundant address lines of a block being utilizable in at least one other block of the memory, faulty memory cells of the first redundant address lines displaced to another block being replaceable by second redundant address lines of the other block, the method comprising the following steps; a) determining a fault image; b) reconfiguring the memory, so as to replace faulty memory cells; c) determining whether the reconfiguration in step b) has resulted in at least one first redundant address line with faulty memory cells being displaced from one block to another block; d) if one or more first redundant address lines with faulty memory cells have been displaced from one block to another block, assigning the displaced first redundant address lines with faulty memory cells to the other block; e) determining whether the fault image is covered by the reconfiguration taking account of the assignment in step d); f) if the fault image is not covered, performing the steps b) to e) with a new configuration; and g) if the fault image is covered, outputting the reconfiguration as a valid solution.