Patent · US Expired

Single-cell reference signal generating circuit for reading nonvolatile memory

US5946238A · kind A · utility

32Cited by
10References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 17, 1997
Grant dateAug 31, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 17, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C16/28
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A nonvolatile memory having a memory array including a plurality of data cells and a read circuit. The read circuit includes a plurality of sense amplifiers, each connected to a respective array branch to be connected to the data cells. The nonvolatile memory also includes a reference generating circuit including a single reference cell arranged outside the memory array and generates a reference signal. The reference generating circuit includes a plurality of reference branches, each connected to a respective sense amplifier, and circuits interposed between the reference cell and the reference branches to supply the reference branches with a signal based on the reference signal.

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