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:
Nov. 10, 1998
Filed:
Nov. 25, 1996
Kevin W Glass, Scottsdale, AZ (US);
John R Spence, Villa Park, CA (US);
Lester J Pastuszyn, Riverside, CA (US);
William W Decker, Huntington Beach, CA (US);
Rockwell International Corporation, Newport Beach, CA (US);
Abstract
A high speed current sense amplifier useful in memory devices, which includes a current-to-voltage amplifier that is coupled to a voltage amplifier. The current-to-voltage amplifier has an input impedance that is lower than its output impedance. The voltage amplifier has an input impedance that is larger than the input impedance of the current-to-voltage amplifier. The current sense amplifier can sense the current relationship between two current inputs in about 200 pico-seconds. Embodiments of the current sense amplifier enable current sensing either near the power supply voltage or near ground, thus eliminating the need for intermediate voltages. Embodiments of the current sense amplifier draw current from the current inputs only during the 200 pico-second sensing time and does not require external latching circuitry.