Patent · US Active

Sense amplifier layout designs and related apparatuses and methods

US11948657B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
1References
19Claims
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Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 10, 2021
Grant dateApr 2, 2024
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 9, 2042

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F30/392
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Sense amplifier layout designs and related apparatuses and methods. An apparatus includes a cross-coupled pair of pull-up transistors of a sense amplifier, a cross-coupled pair of pull-down transistors of the sense amplifier, and a pair of conductive lines electrically connecting the cross-coupled pair of pull-up transistors to the cross-coupled pair of pull-down transistors. The apparatus also includes a sense amplifier control transistors sharing a continuous active material with one of the cross-coupled pair of pull-up transistors or the cross-coupled pair of pull-down transistors. A method includes asserting a shared control gate terminal of sense amplifier control transistors sharing a continuous active material with the cross-coupled pair of pull-down transistors, applying a pre-charge voltage potential to the pair of conductive lines, electrically connecting memory cells to the pre-charged pair of bit lines, and amplifying electrical charges delivered to the pair of bit lines by the memory cells.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.