QUANTIZING CIRCUITS WITH VARIABLE PARAMETERS

• US 20090212984A1
• Filed: 05/05/2009
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Baker, R. Jacob
• Granted Patent: US 8,089,387 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/142
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 11/5642 Sensing or reading circuits; Data output circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 16/26 Sensing or reading circuits; Data output circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 3/0231 Astable circuits H03K3/0315 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 1/60 with intermediate conversion to frequency of pulses

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices for obtaining data from a data location. The method may include generating a first value by sensing a data location under a first condition and generating a second value by sensing the data location under a second condition. The method may further include combining the first value with the second value to identify data conveyed by the data location.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a data location; and

a quantizing circuit coupled to the data location and configured to read a data value from the data location, wherein the quantizing circuit comprises;

a comparator configured to compare a reference parameter with a data location parameter; and

a controller coupled to the comparator and configured to supply the reference parameter to the comparator.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to vary the reference parameter supplied to the comparator.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein varying the parameter of the data location comprises varying a reference voltage applied to an inverting input of the comparator.

4. The system of claim 1, comprising an interfuser coupled to the comparator, wherein the interfuser is configured to latch an output indicative of a read data value from the data location.

5. The system of claim 4, comprising a counter coupled to the controller, the interfuser, and the comparator, wherein the counter is configured generate a count indicative of the read data value and shift the count to the interfuser in response to a reset signal received from the controller.

6. A system, comprising:

a data location;

an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the data location;

a digital filter coupled to the analog-to-digital converter;

an interfuser coupled to the digital filter; and

a controller coupled to the data location, wherein the controller is configured to vary a parameter of at least one of the analog-to-digital converter and the data location.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the data location comprises a floating-gate transistor and the controller is configured to vary a gate voltage of the floating-gate transistor.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the interfuser is configured to receive a first value from the digital filter and a second value from the digital filter and combine the first value with the second value to identify data conveyed by the data location.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the interfuser is configured to combine the first value with the second value by adding, subtracting, dividing, multiplying, or a combination thereof.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the interfuser is configured to combine the first value with the second value by using a fusion algorithm.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the analog-to-digital converter comprises a delta sigma modulator.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to vary a parameter of the delta-sigma modulator.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the interfuser is configured to combine first and second values generated when the parameter of the data location is varied and a third value generated when the parameter of the delta-sigma modulator is varied.

14. The system of claim 6, wherein the digital filter comprises a counter.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the counter is configured to continue a count after the parameter changes.

16. A method, comprising:

generating a first value by sensing a data location under a first condition;

generating a second value by sensing the data location under a second condition; and

combining the first value with the second value to identify data conveyed by the data location.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein generating the first value comprises generating a count at a counter while a reference voltage is at one level, latching the count, and resetting the counter.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein generating the second value comprises generating a second count while a reference voltage is at a second level and latching the second count.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein combining the first value with the second value comprises using a fusion algorithm configured to generate a single output value based on the first value and the second value.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein sensing a data location under a first condition comprises quantizing and filtering a value read from the data location.