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US 8,300,493 B2Granted
Encoded read-only memory (ROM) decoder
AssigneeBroadcom Corporation
InventorsMyron Buer, Brandon Bartz, Dechang Sun
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Abstract
Decoder circuits capable of decoding encoded ROM memory are provided. Embodiments provide several improvements over prior solutions which rely primarily on CMOS logic (e.g., inverters). For example, embodiments provide faster decoding by limiting the number of decoding stages to a single stage. Further, embodiments allow the use of partial swing (as opposed to full swing) on the bit lines, which results in significant power reduction. This, in turn, results in reduced amounts of capacitor discharges when reading the data.
Claims18
A decoder circuit, comprising:
- input circuitry having a plurality of input branches, each of said input branches including a plurality of series-coupled transistors;
- and
- output circuitry, including a cross-coupled transistor structure, coupled to said input circuitry;
- wherein each of said plurality of series-coupled transistors receives a respective one of a plurality of bit lines of a memory cell;
- and wherein said output circuitry produces a decoded bit value based on the plurality of bit lines.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.