Read circuitry for an integrated circuit having memory cells and/or a memory cell array, and method of operating same
First Claim
1. A method of reading a memory cell comprising:
- applying read control signals to a selected memory cell of a plurality of memory cells arranged in a matrix of rows and columns, wherein each memory cell of the plurality of memory cells comprises an electrically floating body transistor including a body region which is electrically floating and configured to store one of a plurality of data states including (i) a first data state representative of a first charge in the body region of the electrically floating body transistor, and (ii) a second data state representative of a second charge in the body region of the electrically floating body transistor;
generating a current on a bit line coupled to the selected memory cell in response to the read control signals, wherein the current is representative of a data state stored in the selected memory cell;
controlling the generated current on the bit line by the selected memory cell by sinking or sourcing at least a portion of the current on the bit line generated by the selected memory cell;
sensing a first voltage potential on the bit line to determine the data state stored in the selected memory cell based at least in part on a reference signal and the first voltage potential on the bit line, wherein sinking or sourcing at least a portion of the current on the bit line generated by the selected memory cell includes sinking or sourcing a substantial portion of the current on the bit line generated by the selected memory cell after sensing the first voltage potential on the bit line; and
outputting a data state signal which is representative of the data state stored in the selected memory cell.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated circuit device (e.g., a logic device or a memory device) having a memory cell array which includes (i) a plurality of memory cells, wherein each memory cell is programmable to store one of a plurality of data states, and (ii) a bit line, having a plurality of memory cells coupled thereto. Memory cell control circuitry applies one or more read control signals to perform a read operation wherein, in response to the read control signals, a selected memory cell conducts a current which is representative of the data state stored therein. Sense amplifier circuitry senses the data state stored in the selected memory cell using a signal which is responsive to the current conducted by the selected memory cell. Current regulation circuitry is responsively and electrically coupled to the bit line during a portion of the read operation to sink or source at least a portion of the current provided on the bit line. Sensing circuitry responsively couples the current regulation circuitry to the bit line during the portion of the read operation.
293 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of reading a memory cell comprising:
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applying read control signals to a selected memory cell of a plurality of memory cells arranged in a matrix of rows and columns, wherein each memory cell of the plurality of memory cells comprises an electrically floating body transistor including a body region which is electrically floating and configured to store one of a plurality of data states including (i) a first data state representative of a first charge in the body region of the electrically floating body transistor, and (ii) a second data state representative of a second charge in the body region of the electrically floating body transistor; generating a current on a bit line coupled to the selected memory cell in response to the read control signals, wherein the current is representative of a data state stored in the selected memory cell; controlling the generated current on the bit line by the selected memory cell by sinking or sourcing at least a portion of the current on the bit line generated by the selected memory cell; sensing a first voltage potential on the bit line to determine the data state stored in the selected memory cell based at least in part on a reference signal and the first voltage potential on the bit line, wherein sinking or sourcing at least a portion of the current on the bit line generated by the selected memory cell includes sinking or sourcing a substantial portion of the current on the bit line generated by the selected memory cell after sensing the first voltage potential on the bit line; and outputting a data state signal which is representative of the data state stored in the selected memory cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification