Patent · US Expired

Sense amplification scheme for random access memory

US4421996A · kind A · utility

29Cited by
9References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 9, 1981
Grant dateDec 20, 1983
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 9, 2001

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03K3/356095
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In source-clocked type of cross-coupled latch sense amplifier of a dynamic random access memory device, there is provided a sense clock that employs multiple extended dummy memory cells to provide reference timing which tracks time constants of word line, cell transfer gate, cell capacitor, and bit line, and the sense clock is further compensated over large variations of fabrication process parameters and operating conditions. The trigger and slave clock circuit are chained in series to control the timing sequence of a plurality of clocked output signals. The clocked output signals are selectively amplified and summed in parallel to generate current with an intended dynamic characteristic. The current so generated is applied to the common source electrodes of the cross-coupled latch.

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