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:
Feb. 22, 2005
Filed:
Sep. 20, 2002
Applicant:
Kinya Ashikaga, Tokyo, JP;
Inventor:
Kinya Ashikaga, Tokyo, JP;
Assignee:
Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G11C011/22 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract
A ferroelectric memory reads data from a memory cell by using a sense amplifier to compare a reference potential with a potential produced on a bit line by the memory cell. The reference potential may generated by a pre-charge circuit connected to the sense amplifier. Alternatively, the reference potential may be generated by the memory cell itself. In either case, the reference potential is obtained without the need for a reference cell, and without the need to drive a bit line to the reference potential. Current consumption is accordingly reduced, and integration density can be increased.