Current-mode sense amplifier and reference current circuitry

US9564188B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Alexander Fritsch · Eßlingen, DE
• Gerhard Hellner · Lenggries, DE
• Michael Kugel · Eppelheim, DE
• Rolf Sautter · Nagold, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 31, 2015
• Grant date: Feb 7, 2017
• Expiry date: Aug 31, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G11C7/065
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An electronic circuit comprising is provided with a current sense amplifier. The amplifier comprises a reference current input terminal, a sense current input terminal, and a first output terminal. The electronic circuit includes a reference current source. The reference current source includes two reference n-FET stacks connected in series, and the reference current input terminal is coupled to a ground terminal via the two reference n-FET stacks. The electronic circuit includes a plurality of memory cells each coupled in parallel via a respective sense n-FET stack to the sense current input terminal. The amplifier is configured to generate a first logical value at the first output terminal of the amplifier in response to a sense current of the sense current input terminal being lower than a reference current of the reference current input terminal. The amplifier is further configured to generate a second logical value at the first output terminal of the amplifier in response to the sense current being higher than the reference current.