Back to results
US 6,473,349 B1Granted
Cascode sense AMP and column select circuit and method of operation
AssigneeMotorola, Inc.
InventorStephen T. Flannagan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sense amplifier uses a cascode stage (76 or 100) that receives a predetermined bit line pair differential signal and provides an output. The cascode stage output is coupled to a true and a complement output of the sense amplifier. In one form, a pair of pass transistors (77, 78) and an amplifier (79) are coupled to the cascode stage and to complementary outputs and are controlled by a sense enable signal. The amplifier is operative only when the pair of pass transistors are made nonconductive. In another form, the cascode stage is connected directly to a bit line pair differential signal and to sense nodes (82, 86) that are separately coupled to a data line pair by a coupler (102) and an amplifier (104).
Claims17
A sense amplifier comprising:
- a pair of pass transistors having first and second inputs respectively connected to a data path and complementary data path for receiving a differential data signal, the pair of pass transistors respectively connecting the data path and complementary data path at first and second outputs thereof in response to a sense enable signal, the first and second inputs of the pair of pass transistors are not electrically the same as the first and second outputs thereof when the pair of pass transistors are disabled by the sense enable signal;
- and
- an amplifier having a first input connected to the first output of the pair of pass transistors, a second input connected to the second output of the pair of pass transistors, and first and second outputs for providing sense amplifier data signals in complementary form, the amplifier being controlled by the sense enable signal and being operative only when the pair of pass transistors are made nonconductive by the sense enable signal.
A sense amplifier comprising:
- a pair of pass transistors having first and second inputs respectively connected to a data path and complementary data path for receiving a differential data signal, the pair of pass transistors respectively connecting the data path and complementary data path at first and second outputs thereof in response to a sense enable signal;
- and
- an amplifier having a first input connected to the first output of the pair of pass transistors, a second input connected to the second output of the pair of pass transistors, and first and second outputs for providing sense amplifier data signals in complementary form, the amplifier being controlled by the sense enable signal and being operative only when the pair of pass transistors are made nonconductive by the sense enable signal, wherein the first output and the second output of the amplifier are electrically the same as the first input and the second input of the amplifier, respectively.
A sense amplifier comprising:
- a cascode stage having a first input connected to a first data path, a second input connected to a first complementary data path, an output connected to a second data path, and a complementary output connected to a second complementary data path;
- a coupler having a first pair of current electrodes connected to the second data path and second complementary data path, a control electrode, and a second pair of current electrodes connected to a third data path and a third complementary data path;
- and
- a latch having a first input connected to the third data path, a second input connected to the third complementary data path, a control input connected to the third data path a complementary control input connected to the third complementary data path.
1 more element
A method of sensing a differential signal on a pair of input conductors, comprising:
- receiving the differential signal;
- using a pair of pass transistors to connect the pair of input conductors to a first output and a second output in response to a sense enable signal, a first of the pair of pass transistors having an input connected to a first signal of the differential signal and electrically connecting the first signal to the first output in response to the sense enable signal, a second of the pair of pass transistors having an input connected to a second signal of the differential signal and electrically connecting the second signal to the second output in response to the sense enable signal;
- and
- coupling a first input of an amplifier to the first output and coupling a second input of the amplifier to the second output, and coupling first and second outputs of the amplifier to a data line pair of conductors, the amplifier being controlled by the sense enable signal and being operative only when the pair of pass transistors are made nonconductive by the sense enable signal.
1 more element
A sense amplifier comprising:
- a first transistor of a first conductivity type having a first current electrode connected to a bit line, a control electrode, and a second current electrode;
- a second transistor of the first conductivity type having a first current electrode connected to a complement of the bit line, a control electrode connected to the second current electrode of the first transistor, and a second current electrode connected to the control electrode of the first transistor;
- a third transistor of a second conductivity type having a first current electrode connected to the second current electrode of the first transistor, a control electrode for receiving a column select signal, and a second current electrode for providing a first output of the sense amplifier;
- a fourth transistor of the second conductivity type having a first current electrode connected to the second current electrode of the second transistor, a control electrode for receiving the column select signal, and a second current electrode for providing a second output of the sense amplifier;
- a fifth transistor of the second conductivity type having a first current electrode connected to the second current electrode of the third transistor, a control electrode connected to the second current electrode of the fourth transistor, and a second current electrode connected to a reference voltage terminal;
- and
- a sixth transistor of the second conductivity type having a first current electrode connected to the second current electrode of the fourth transistor, a control electrode connected to the second current electrode of the third transistor, and a second current electrode connected to the reference voltage terminal.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.