Method and apparatus for operating with a close to ground signal
US6128226A · kind A · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 4, 1999 |
| Grant date | Oct 3, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 4, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C16/32
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for sensing a close to ground signal recieved from an array cell within a memory array includes the steps of providing a reference unit with a reference cell having a similar structure and a similar current path therethrough to that of the array cell, providing a timing unit with a timing cell having a similar structure and a similar current path therethrough to that of the array cell, discharging the array, the reference unit and the timing unit prior to charging them, generating a cell signal, a reference signal and a timing signal, respectively, upon charging, generating a read signal when the timing signal at least reaches a predefined voltage level and generating a sensing signal from the difference of the cell and reference signals once the read signal is generated. The reference unit has a reference capacitance which is a multiple of the expected capacitance of a bit line of the array and the timing unit has a predefined timing capacitance.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.