Patent · US Active

Memory having read assist device and method of operating the same

US8982609B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
2References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 13, 2012
Grant dateMar 17, 2015
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 7, 2033

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C11/419
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A memory includes a first bit line, a memory cell coupled to the first bit line, and a read assist device coupled to the first bit line. The read assist device is configured to pull a first voltage on the first bit line toward a predetermined voltage in response to a first datum being read out from the memory cell. The read assist device includes a first circuit configured to establish a first current path between the first bit line and a node of the predetermined voltage during a first stage. The read assist device further includes a second circuit configured to establish a second current path between the first bit line and the node of the predetermined voltage during a second, subsequent stage.

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