Characterization of sense amplifiers
US6314039A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 25, 2000 |
| Grant date | Nov 6, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 25, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C7/06
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A circuit and method characterizes a sense amplifier, such as the type utilized in computer memory systems. The sense amplifier characterization circuit comprises a sense amplifier having one or more inputs and an output, a BIT line connected to one of the one or more inputs of the sense amplifier, a register connected to the output of the sense amplifier; and control logic connected to the BIT line. Optionally, the register is further connected to the control logic, and the register is a scan register connectable to a tester. Preferably, the sense amplifier is a differential sense amplifier, and the circuit further comprises a complement BIT line connected to one of the one or more inputs of the sense amplifier. The method produces one or more signals like an output of a memory cell, operates one or more sense amplifier to produce one or more output states on the basis of the one or more signals, and records the one or more output states. Optionally, the method also records data related to the one or more signals. In one mode of operation, the method sets a voltage of the one or more signals like an output of a memory cell to be a static value during the operating step. In another…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.