Patent ID: 7185245

Claim:
A test reading apparatus comprising: a memory device having individual memory cells in which values are stored corresponding to one of two logical states; a buffer device, which is connected to the memory device, and which stores nominal values; a sense amplifier comprising a first input, a second input, and an output, the sense amplifier amplifying a difference of signals at its inputs and connected to the memory device with the first input for receiving a signal which corresponds to the logical state of one memory cell of the memory device; at least one test reference source; a switching device being arranged between the at least one test reference source and the second input of the sense amplifier for coupling the at least one test reference source with the second input of the sense amplifier depending on a signal of the buffer device, wherein the signal corresponds to the nominal value of the one memory cell; and a test apparatus, which is connected to the buffer device and to the output of the sense amplifier, which is designed to compare a signal at the output of the sense amplifier with the signal of the buffer device and which provides a testing result.