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US 6,487,111 B2Granted
Magneto-resistive memory having sense amplifier with offset control
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorsYong Lu, Michael F. Dries
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A magneto-resistive memory is disclosed that includes a high-speed sense amplifier that can reliably operate at low signal levels. The sense amplifier includes offset cancellation to reduce or eliminate the internal offsets of the amplifier. The offset cancellation is controlled by one or more switches, which during operation, selectively enable the offset cancellation of the amplifier and store the offsets in one or more coupling capacitors.
Claims27
A magneto-resistive memory, comprising:
- a memory cell that generates a differential voltage signal indicative of a magneto-resistive state of the memory cell;
- an amplifier stage that receives the differential voltage signal from the memory cell, the amplifier stage including offset cancellation and at least one switch, the offset cancellation being controlled by the at least one switch, the amplifier stage generating an output signal;
- a controller that controls the at least one switch of the amplifier stage to enable the offset cancellation and subsequently disable the offset cancellation;
- and
- a storage element that stores the output signal of the amplifier stage after the offset cancellation is disabled.
2 more elements
A magneto-resistive memory, comprising:
- a memory cell that generates a differential voltage signal indicative of a magneto-resistive state of the memory cell;
- an amplifier stage having an input that receives the differential voltage signal through at least one coupling capacitor, having an output that transmits an output signal generated by the amplifier stage, and having at least one switch that selectively connects the input to the output;
- a controller that selectively turns on and subsequently turns off the at least one switch of the amplifier stage;
- and
- a storage element that stores the output signal generated by the amplifier stage after the at least one switch of the amplifier stage is turned off.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.