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:
Oct. 08, 1996
Filed:
Apr. 17, 1995
Luigi Pascucci, Sesto San Giovanni, IT;
Carla M Golla, Sesto San Giovanni, IT;
Marco Maccarrone, Palestro, IT;
SGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.r.l., Agrate Brianza, IT;
Abstract
A read circuit comprises at least one array branch connected to at least one bit line, and a reference branch connected to a reference line. The array and reference branches each comprise a precharge circuit and load interposed between the supply and the bit line and reference line respectively. The reference load is so formed as to generate a reference current which, during evaluation, is twice the current supplied to the bit line. The reference line is connected to an extra-current transistor which is only turned on during equalization so that, during equalization, the selected bit line is supplied with a high current approximating that supplied to the reference line. As such, if the cell to be read is written, the output voltage of the array branch is brought rapidly to its natural high value; whereas, if the cell to be read is erased, the output voltage may return to its low value when the extra-current transistor is turned off, thus permitting reading in advance.