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.

Date of Patent:
Jul. 11, 2000

Filed:

Dec. 18, 1998
Applicant:
Inventors:

Dong-Woo Lee, Seoul, KR;

Heung-Soo Im, Kyunggi-do, KR;

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G11C / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
327 51 ; 327 52 ; 327 53 ;
Abstract

A sense amplifier circuit includes a first voltage-controlled current source to supply current proportional to a first bias voltage to a reference node and a second voltage-controlled current source to supply current proportional to a second bias voltage to a sensing node. The first and second bias voltages are internally generated in response to an externally applied sense amp control signal. A current mirror circuit is also provided for the sense amplifier circuit. The current mirror circuit commonly deliver current proportional to the voltage level of the reference node to the reference and sensing nodes. A differential amplifier amplifies a difference voltage between reference and sensing nodes. This current mirror type sense amplifier circuit allows data sensing operation to be performed without being influenced from the external conditions and without sensing speed loss due to the instability of the precharge current since the voltage-controlled current sources are controlled by the internal bias voltages.


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