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. 07, 2008
Filed:
Jul. 26, 2006
Dennis E. Dudeck, Hazleton, PA (US);
Donald Albert Evans, Lancaster, PA (US);
Hai Quang Pham, Hatfield, PA (US);
Wayne E. Werner, Coopersburg, PA (US);
Ronald James Wozniak, Allentown, PA (US);
Dennis E. Dudeck, Hazleton, PA (US);
Donald Albert Evans, Lancaster, PA (US);
Hai Quang Pham, Hatfield, PA (US);
Wayne E. Werner, Coopersburg, PA (US);
Ronald James Wozniak, Allentown, PA (US);
Agere Systems Inc., Allentown, PA (US);
Abstract
A single-ended sensing circuit is provided for use with a memory circuit including a plurality of bit lines and a plurality of memory cells connected to the bit lines. The sensing circuit includes at least one charge sharing circuit and at least one switching circuit connected to the charge sharing circuit. The switching circuit is operative to selectively connect the charge sharing circuit to at least a given one of the bit lines as a function of a first control signal supplied to the switching circuit. The sensing circuit further includes at least one comparator circuit connected to the given bit line. The comparator circuit is operative to generate an output signal indicative of a logical state of a memory cell connected to the given bit line. The charge sharing circuit is operative to remove an amount of charge on the given bit line so as to reduce a voltage on the given bit line in conjunction with a read access of the memory cell.