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:
Jul. 11, 1995
Filed:
Dec. 08, 1993
Marc Guedj, Aix En Provence, FR;
SGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.A., Gentilly, FR;
Abstract
The invention relates to integrated circuit memories and more particularly to non-volatile memories of the EEPROM type. The memory is organized in p-bit words (p>1) with p-read circuits operating in a differential way with respect to a reference line. The memory operates with a balancing phase of the bit line and of the reference line prior to the actual read phase. The reference line is common to the p-read circuits and, for this purpose, a balancing circuit is provided in the read circuits, which acts without shorting the bit line and the reference line. Such circuit includes a follower amplifier in a feedback loop arrangement. The follower amplifier changes the bit line potential in a direction tending to null the output of a differential amplifier used for reading the memory cell state.