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US 8,014,220 B2Granted
Current mode data sensing and propagation using voltage amplifier
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorDonald M. Morgan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and a circuit for current mode data sensing and propagation by using voltage amplifier are provided. Example embodiments may include providing an output signal from a voltage amplifier in response to the voltage amplifier receiving an input signal. The method may include providing a current output signal from a voltage-to-current converter in response to the voltage-to-current converter receiving the output signal. The output signal may be used to drive a current sense amplifier.
Claims21
A method comprising:
- providing an output voltage signal from a flip-flop amplifier in response to the flip-flop amplifier receiving an input voltage signal;
- providing a current output signal from a voltage-to-current converter in response the voltage-to-current converter receiving the output voltage signal;
- driving a current sense amplifier using the current output signal;
- and
- latching the output voltage signal using the flip-flop amplifier and isolating the flip-flop amplifier from the input voltage signal substantially concurrent with latching and/or after latching.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a voltage amplifier configured to receive an input voltage signal and to operatively provide an output voltage signal in response thereto;
- a voltage-to-current converter arranged to receive the output voltage signal and to operatively generate a current output signal based on the output voltage signal;
- a current sense amplifier responsive to the current output signal;
- and
- a control element placed to isolate the voltage amplifier from the input voltage signal, wherein the control element is to isolate the voltage amplifier substantially concurrent with a latch operation and/or after the latch operation.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a voltage-to-current converter configured to receive a voltage input signal and transmit a current signal based on the voltage input signal;
- a current sense amplifier configured to receive the current signal and to operatively provide a voltage signal in response thereto;
- a voltage amplifier configured to receive the voltage signal and to provide a voltage output signal;
- and
- a control transistor placed to isolate the voltage amplifier from the voltage input signal, wherein the control transistor is to isolate the voltage amplifier substantially concurrent with a latch operation and/or after the latch operation.
2 more elements
A memory device comprising:
- a voltage amplifier configured to receive an input signal from a memory cell and to operatively provide an output signal;
- a voltage-to-current converter configured to receive the output signal and operatively generate a current output signal based on the output signal;
- a current sense amplifier configured to provide an output voltage signal, in response to receiving the current output signal, the current sense amplifier to transmit the output voltage to an output pad coupled to an output terminal of the memory device;
- and
- an isolating means placed to isolate the voltage amplifier from the input signal, wherein the isolating means is to isolate the voltage amplifier substantially concurrent with a latch operation and/or after the latch operation.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.