Noise resistant small signal sensing circuit for a memory device
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorR. Jacob Baker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and method for data sensing circuitry that uses averaging to sense small differences in signal levels representing data states. The apparatus periodically switches the coupling of input terminals and output terminals of an integrator circuit from a first configuration to a second configuration, where the second configuration changes the polarity of the integrator circuit from the first configuration. The output signals of the integrator circuit are periodically compared, and based on the comparison, output signals having a voltage representative of a value are generated. The values of the output signals are then averaged over time to determine the data state.
Claims5
A method of sensing a dare stare of a memory cell, comprising:
- coupling input and output terminals of an integrator circuit according to a first configuration for a first portion of a first time period;
- coupling the input and output terminals of the integrator circuit according to a second configuration for a second portion or the first time period;
- the second configuration changing polarity of the input terminals and changing polarity of the output terminals of the integrator circuit from the first configuration;
- based on voltage levels at the output terminals of the integrator circuit, generating a clocked output signal representative of a value;
- and
- averaging the value of the clocked output signal over a second time period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.