CMOS differential-amplifier sense amplifier
US4791324A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 10, 1987 |
| Grant date | Dec 13, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 10, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C7/062
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A CMOS sense amplifier for use in a memory comprises two CMOS differential amplifiers. Each differential amplifier receives the same two signals generated from a selected bit line pair and each provides a different one of a complementary pair of signals. Each differential amplifier has a current mirror for loads. Each differential amplifier uses a transistor current source. A transistor will operate as a more ideal current source if it is in saturation. The transistor current source is biased by the current mirror of the differential amplifier of which it is a part. The resulting differential amplifier thus has a transistor current source which is biased closer to saturation than if biased by a normal clock signal which is either at the high or low power supply voltage. The self-biasing aspect avoids the problems associated with generating a special reference voltage for the differential amplifier.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.