Patent · US Expired

Reading method and circuit for a non-volatile memory

US6473340B1 · kind B1 · utility

17Cited by
10References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 27, 2000
Grant dateOct 29, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 21, 2021

Classification

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

Abstract

A reading circuit having an array branch connected via an array bit line to an array memory cell, the content of which is to be read; a reference branch connected via a reference bit line to a current generator stage supplying a reference current; a current/voltage converter stage connected to the array branch and to the reference branch, and supplying at an array node and at a reference node respectively an array potential and a reference potential, which are correlated to the currents flowing respectively in the array branch and in the reference branch; a comparator stage connected to the array node and the reference node for comparing the array and reference potentials; a sample and hold stage arranged between the array node and the comparator stage and selectively operable to sample and hold the array potential; and a switching off stage for switching off the array branch.

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