Reduction of charge injection noise in sense amplifiers of high-speed data interfaces

A sense amplifier, comprising:

• a pair of load transistors that are cross-coupled to each other;
• a pair of input transistors coupled to the pair of load transistors, the pair of input transistors configured to receive a pair of input signals and enable generation of a pair of output signals from the pair of input signals during a first duty cycle of a clock signal;
• a first current path coupled to the pair of input transistors via a tail node, wherein the first current path is controlled by the clock signal to couple the tail node to a first power supply and enable generation of the pair of output signals during the first duty cycle of the clock signal;
• and
• a second current path coupled to the tail node and the first power supply, wherein the second current path is configured to guide a modulation current from the tail node to the first power supply, independently of switching of the clock signal.

A method for amplifying input signals in a high-speed wired communication link, comprising:

• receiving a pair of input signals by a pair of input transistors, wherein the pair of input transistors is coupled to a first current path via a tail node, and a pair of load transistors is cross-coupled to each other and coupled to the pair of input transistors;
• controlling a first current path using a clock signal to couple the tail node to a first power supply during a first duty cycle of the clock signal;
• generating a pair of output signals from the pair of input signals during the first duty cycle of the clock signal;
• and
• enabling a second current path coupled between the tail node and a first power supply to guide a modulation current from the tail node to the first power supply, independently of switching of the clock signal.