US 8,804,406 B2 · Conditional read-assist feature to accelerate access time in an electronic device

Abstract

An electronic storage device includes a bit cell circuit, feedback circuit, and read accelerator circuit. The bit cell circuit is adapted for connection with true and complementary bit lines. The feedback circuit includes a first transistor which is coupled to a first voltage potential and responsive to the complementary bit line. The read accelerator circuit includes second, third, and fourth transistors coupled between the feedback circuit and a second voltage potential. The second transistor is responsive to a read line, the third transistor is responsive to the true bit line, and the fourth transistor is responsive to the complementary bit line. The read accelerator circuit is configured to provide a discharge path for at least one of the true bit line and the complementary bit line during a read access of the bit cell. Embodiments of a corresponding electronic read access accelerator device and method are also provided.

Claims26

Dependent claims

An electronic storage device, comprising:

a bit cell circuit adapted for connection with a first bit line and a second bit line in the storage device;
a feedback circuit, the feedback circuit comprising a first transistor, the first transistor being operatively coupled to a first voltage potential, the first transistor being responsive to the first bit line;
and
a read accelerator circuit, the read accelerator circuit comprising second, third, and fourth transistors, the second, third, and fourth transistors being operatively coupled between the feedback circuit and a second voltage potential, the second transistor being responsive to a read line, the third transistor being responsive to the second bit line, the fourth transistor being responsive to the first bit line, the read accelerator circuit being configured to provide a discharge path for at least one of the first bit line and the second bit line during a read access of the bit cell.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Conditional read-assist feature to accelerate access time in an electronic device

Life of this patent

Conditional read-assist feature to accelerate access time in an electronic device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26