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AssigneeSTMicroelectronics S.r.I.
InventorsSalvatore Giove, Luca De Ambroggi, Salvatore Nicosia, Francesco Tomaiulo, Kumar Promod, Giuseppe Piazza, Francesco Pipitone
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A circuit for controlling a reference node in a sense amplifier switchable between an operating mode and a stand-by mode is provided. The reference node provides a reference voltage in the operating mode. The circuit may include circuitry for bringing the reference node to a starting voltage upon entry into the stand-by mode, circuitry for keeping the reference node at a pre-charging voltage in the stand-by mode, and circuitry for providing a comparison voltage closer to the pre-charging voltage than the starting voltage. Pulling circuitry may also be included for pulling the reference node toward a power supply voltage. Further, a controller may activate the pulling circuitry upon entering the stand-by mode, and disable the pulling circuitry when the voltage at the reference node reaches the comparison voltage.
A circuit (165) for controlling a reference node (Nr) in a sense amplifier (145) switchable between an operating mode and a stand-by mode, the reference node providing a reference voltage in the operating mode, wherein the circuit includes means (Cp) for bringing the reference node to a starting voltage upon entry into the stand-by mode, and first means (Rda1, Rda2) for keeping the reference node at a pre-charging voltage in the stand-by mode, characterized in that:
The circuit (165, 170) according to any claim from 1 to 6, further including third means (Mdc1, Mdc2) for providing a further comparison voltage comprised between the reference voltage and the pre-charging voltage, further pulling means (Md4) for pulling the reference node (Nr) towards a further power supply voltage, and further control means (215, Id1, Id2) for activating the further pulling means upon exit from the stand-by mode and for disabling the further pulling means when the voltage at the reference node reaches the further comparison voltage.
A sense amplifier (145) having a reference node (Nr) for providing a reference voltage, the circuit (165) according to any claim from 1 to 8 for controlling the reference node, an input node for receiving an input voltage, and means (147) for comparing the input voltage with the reference voltage.
A method of controlling a reference node (Nr) in a sense amplifier (145) switchable between an operating mode and a stand-by mode, the reference node providing a reference voltage in the operating mode, wherein the method includes the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.