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. 26, 1999
Filed:
Jul. 22, 1998
Danilo Gerna, Montagna In Valtellina, IT;
Roberto Canegallo, Tortona, IT;
Ernestina Chioffi, Pavia, IT;
Marco Pasotti, S. Martino Siccomario, IT;
Pier Luigi Rolandi, Monleale, IT;
STMicroelectronics S.r.l., Agrate Brianza, IT;
Abstract
A reading circuit comprises a current mirror circuit connected, at a first and a second output node, to the drain terminals of an array cell and of a reference cell; a comparator whose inputs are connected to the output nodes of the current mirror circuit; a ramp generator having an enabling input connected to the output of the comparator and an output connected to the control terminal of the reference cell. Biasing the gate terminal of the array cell to a constant voltage, when the currents flowing in the array cell and in the reference cell are equal, the value assumed by the ramp voltage is proportional to the threshold value of the array cell; at that time the comparator is triggered and discontinues the ramp increase, supplying as output the desired threshold value.