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:
Sep. 12, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 19, 1999
Ming-Huei Shieh, Cupertino, CA (US);
Bhimachar Venkatesh, Cupertino, CA (US);
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Abstract
A page mode memory senses a large number of bits simultaneously. The associated read current creates a source bias in the core cells which alters the sense margin at the sense amplifier. To address this problem, a memory integrated circuit (100) includes an array (102) of core cells, each core cell having a ground node (220, 222, 224). A ground line (230) couples the ground node of each core cell to a ground potential (Vss) and establishes a variable parasitic potential between the ground node and Vss. For sensing the data state of the core cells, a reference core cell (252) matches the array core cells and has a reference ground node (262). A circuit element (256) is coupled between the reference ground node and Vss to establish a variable reference potential to match the variable parasitic potential.