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:
Jun. 23, 1998
Filed:
Nov. 19, 1996
Nien-Chao Yang, Hsinchu, TW;
Macronix International Co, Ltd., Hsinchu, TW;
Abstract
The sense amplifier of the present invention contains a circuit that can pre-charge its output to a default state (e.g., the '0' state) during one time period and sets the output to a second state in another time period only if there is a need to do so. In this sense amplifier, cell leakage (and not cell current) is used as reference. Further, only the second state needs to be developed. As a result, the sensing margin increases. One characteristics of the present sense amplifier is that different parts of the circuit is active during different time period. As a result, both noise and power consumption is reduced. The sense amplifier is coupled to a timing circuit that can provide appropriate timing signals to operate the sense amplifier. In addition, a power-on reset circuit is disclosed. This reset circuit is operative when power is first applied to the system. It causes the timing circuit to generates a timing signal so that valid data can be detected by the sense amplifier when power is turned on.