Methods and apparatus to improve performance while reading a one-time programmable memory
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorsSuresh Balasubramanian, Stephen Wayne Spriggs, George B Jamison
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to improve performance while reading a one-time programmable memory. An example apparatus includes: a voltage boost circuit including a first output, a second output, a first input configured to be coupled to a controller, a second input coupled to a first output of a decoder, a third input coupled to a second output of the decoder; and a multiplexer including a first input coupled to the first output of the voltage boost circuit, a second input coupled to the second output of the voltage boost circuit, a third input coupled to an array of memory, and an output coupled to a sensing circuit.
Claims18
An apparatus comprising:
- a voltage boost circuit including a first output, a second output, a first input configured to be coupled to a controller, a second input coupled to a first output of a decoder, a third input coupled to a second output of the decoder;
- and
- a multiplexer including a first input coupled to the first output of the voltage boost circuit, a second input coupled to the second output of the voltage boost circuit, a third input coupled to an array of memory, and an output coupled to a sensing circuit.
A method process of operating a memory circuit comprising:
- providing a gate signal to a first transistor of a multiplexer at a first voltage;
- receiving from a controller a control signal having an edge changing from one logic level to another logic level;
- in response to the edge change, boosting the gate signal from the first voltage to a second voltage for a certain period;
- and
- passing a bit current from a memory cell through the first transistor to a sensing circuit during the certain period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.