A method for testing a semiconductor memory device includes forcing the device
into a logic state configuration that does not occur during normal operation of
the device. The method may also include holding the logic state configuration for
a user-variable length of time. In an embodiment, the device testing method includes
flowing a direct current through a first input node of a bi-stable latch. This
node may be electrically arranged between a node coupled to a voltage source and
a node coupled to a circuit ground potential. An embodiment of a memory device
may include testmode circuitry adapted to maintain a pair of bitlines at logic
states that are not maintained during ordinary operation of the device. A system
for testing a semiconductor memory device may include testmode circuitry adapted
to force a pair of bitlines to the same logic state for a user-determined length
of time.