Elimination of address-sensitivity by synchronous reference for sense amplifier
AssigneeTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
InventorKwan-Jen Chu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for stabilizing a sense amplifier utilized in a memory array of a semiconductor integrated circuit. A memory cell of the memory array may be selected, wherein the selected memory cell is associated with a sense amplifier. A cell current associated with the selected memory cell and a reference current associated with a reference memory cell can be generated. Thereafter, the reference current may be synchronized with a plurality of address inputs to eliminate a source line resistance associated with the selected memory cell, thereby resulting in a stabilization the sense amplifier by the elimination of associated address sensitivity.
Claims20
A method for stabilizing a sense amplifier utilized in a memory array of a semiconductor integrated circuit, said method comprising the steps of:
- selecting a memory cell of said memory array, wherein said selected memory cell is associated with a sense amplifier;
- generating a cell current associated with said selected memory cell and a reference current associated with a reference memory cell;
- synchronizing said reference current with a plurality of address inputs to eliminate a source line resistance associated with said selected memory cell, thereby resulting in stabilization of said sense amplifier by the elimination of associated address sensitivity.
An apparatus for stabilizing a sense amplifier utilized in a memory array of a semiconductor integrated circuit, said apparatus comprising:
- a selected memory cell of said memory array, wherein said selected memory cell is associated with a sense amplifier, wherein a cell current is associated with said selected memory cell;
- a reference memory cell, wherein a reference current is associated with said reference memory cell;
- and
- a synchronizing circuit for synchronizing said reference current with a plurality of address inputs to eliminate a source line resistance associated with said selected memory cell, thereby resulting in a stabilization said sense amplifier by the elimination of associated address sensitivity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.