The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 26, 1994
Filed:
Dec. 23, 1992
Richard S Phillips, Constance Bay, CA;
Northern Telecom Limited, Montreal, CA;
Abstract
In a self-latching sense amplifier, a first pair of matched transistors is connected as a differential pair. A second pair of matched transistors is connected each to a respective one of the transistors of the first pair as a load transistor. A feedback circuit responsive to a differential output of the differential pair cross-couples the load transistors when the differential output is greater than a threshold value, and defeats cross-coupling of the load transistors when the differential output is less than the threshold value. The cross-coupling causes the output of the sense amplifier to latch. The sense amplifier is useful in memory circuits in which it is desired to shut down core components between memory operations to conserve power, and in other small signal detection circuits.