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. 02, 1996
Filed:
Sep. 07, 1994
Eric Gross, Colorado Springs, CO (US);
Cathal G Phelan, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Cypress Semiconductor Corp., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
A differential latch sense amplifier for memories has (a) a first differential input circuit for detecting and shifting the voltage levels of the first and second input signals and coupled to first and second sense nodes, (b) a cross-coupled latch for providing gain to the first and second sense nodes, (c) a precharge circuit for precharging and equalizing the first and second sense nodes, (d) a first tristatable output driver for providing a first feedback, for outputting the voltage of the first sense node to a first output node, and for receiving data, (e) a second tristatable output driver for providing a second feedback, for outputting the voltage of the second sense node to a second output node, and for receiving data, and (f) a first feedback circuit for increasing the voltage gain and decreasing the sense output response time at the first and second sense nodes and for being controlled by the first and second tristatable output drivers. The feedback circuit is coupled to the first and second tristatable output drivers in such a way that the feedback circuit is disabled during a standby period or between read or write cycles. To minimize layout area, the differential latch sense amplifier may further include a second differential input circuit and a second feedback circuit sharing the cross-coupled latch and precharge circuits. To write data into the memory cells, the differential latch sense amplifier has data transfer pass gates controlled by a west write circuit and an east write circuit.