Patent · US Active

Fast and accurate current driver with zero standby current and features for boost and temperature compensation for MRAM write circuit

US8217684B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
7References
40Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 12, 2010
Grant dateJul 10, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 6, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C29/028
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Systems and methods for realizing current drivers without current or voltage feedback for devices that require accurate current drive with zero standby current has been disclosed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention this current driver is applied for write circuits for MRAMs. A fast and accurate reference current is generated by diode voltage divided by resistor without any feedback. The diode current is not fed back from the reference current. The diode current is generated from a regulated voltage. Temperature compensation of the write current is inherently built in the diode current reference. Fine-tuning of the temperature coefficient is achieved by mixing poly and diffusion resistors. A switch inserted in the current driver can turn on the driver fast and without a need for standby current. Leading boost in the current driver can fast charge the large coupling capacitance of word and bit lines and speed up write timing.

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