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:
Jul. 04, 2000
Filed:
Aug. 06, 1999
Timothy D Dorney, Houston, TX (US);
Texas Instruments Incorporated, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
A sensing arrangement (100) for a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) is disclosed. The sensing arrangement (100) includes a sense amplifier bank (104) that is logically divided into a number of sense amplifier groups (106-1 to 106-2.sup.m). In a read operation, a given number of memory cells are coupled to the sense amplifier bank (104), and one sense amplifier group will provide read data while the remaining sense amplifier groups will refresh memory cell data. A timing circuit (102) receives a timing signal (EVAL) and address information (A1-Am) and in response thereto, enables the sense amplifier group that provides read data before the sense amplifier groups that refresh memory cell data. Peak current is reduced and improved sensing speed result.