Metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor offset-cancelling (OC), zero-sensing (ZS) dead zone, current-latched sense amplifiers (SAs) (CLSAs) (OCZS-SAs) for sensing differential voltages
US9852783B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 23, 2016 |
| Grant date | Dec 26, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 23, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C2207/063
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor offset-cancelling (OC), zero-sensing (ZS) dead zone, current-latched sense amplifiers (SAs) (CLSAs) (OCZS-SAs) for sensing differential voltages are provided. An OCZS-SA is configured to amplify received differential data and reference input voltages with a smaller sense amplifier offset voltage to provide larger sense margin between different storage states of memory bitcell(s). The OCZS-SA is configured to cancel out offset voltages of input and complement input transistors, and keep the input and complement input transistors in their activated state during sensing phases so that sensing is not performed in their “dead zones” when their gate-to-source voltage (Vgs) is below their respective threshold voltages. In other aspects, sense amplifier capacitors are configured to directly store the data and reference input voltages at gates of the input and complement input transistors during voltage capture phases to avoid additional layout area that would otherwise be consumed with additional sensing capacitor circuits.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.