US 7,126,869 B1 · Sense amplifier with dual cascode transistors and improved noise margin

Abstract

A sense amplifier, system and methods for increasing a noise margin of the sense amplifier are contemplated herein. In general, the sense amplifier includes a pair of cascode transistors coupled in parallel between a power supply node and a sense line of the sense amplifier. The sense amplifier also includes a precharge node coupled to the power supply node through a first precharge transistor, and a sense node coupled to the power supply node through a second precharge transistor. The sense amplifier described herein functions to separate the sense node from the precharge node with the pair of cascode transistors, which in turn, increases the noise margin of the sense amplifier by decoupling the sense node from any voltage fluctuations that may be present on the sense line during a sensing state.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A sense amplifier, comprising:

a precharge node coupled to a power supply node through a first precharge transistor;
a sense node coupled to the power supply node through a second precharge transistor;
and
a pair of cascode transistors coupled in parallel between the power supply node and a sense line, wherein one of the pair of cascode transistors is configured for separating the sense node from the precharge node.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Sense amplifier with dual cascode transistors and improved noise margin

Life of this patent

Sense amplifier with dual cascode transistors and improved noise margin

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21