Timed sense amplifier circuits and methods in a semiconductor memory
First Claim
1. A memory, comprising:
- a memory cell;
at least one bitline coupled to the memory cell;
a sense amplifier coupled to the at least one bitline;
a timing circuit configured to enable the sense amplifier during a read operation;
a control circuit configured to enable the sense amplifier independent of the timing circuit for an extended time period longer than a period for the read operation and determine whether the sense amplifier changes states during the extended enabling period; and
a pull-up circuit configured to pull up the at least one bitline while the sense amplifier is enabled by the control circuit.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A memory includes a memory cell, one bitline coupled to the memory cell, a sense amplifier coupled to the one bitline, a timing circuit configured to enable the sense amplifier during a read operation, a control circuit configured to enable the sense amplifier independent of the timing circuit, and a pull-up circuit configured to pull up the one bitline while the sense amplifier is enabled by the control circuit. The method includes enabling a sense amplifier in a read operation by a timing circuit. The sense amplifier is coupled to at least one bitline, and the at least one bitline is coupled to a memory cell. The method further includes enabling the sense amplifier independent of the timing circuit in a second operation and pulling up the at least one bitline by a pull-up circuit while the sense amplifier is enabled in the second operation.
-
Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A memory, comprising:
-
a memory cell; at least one bitline coupled to the memory cell; a sense amplifier coupled to the at least one bitline; a timing circuit configured to enable the sense amplifier during a read operation; a control circuit configured to enable the sense amplifier independent of the timing circuit for an extended time period longer than a period for the read operation and determine whether the sense amplifier changes states during the extended enabling period; and a pull-up circuit configured to pull up the at least one bitline while the sense amplifier is enabled by the control circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for operating a memory, comprising:
-
enabling a sense amplifier in a read operation by a timing circuit, the sense amplifier being coupled to at least one bitline, and the at least one bitline being coupled to a memory cell; enabling the sense amplifier for an extended time period longer than a period for the read operation independent of the timing circuit in a second operation; pulling up the at least one bitline by a pull-up circuit while the sense amplifier is enabled in the second operation; and determining whether the sense amplifier changes states during the extended enabling period. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A memory, comprising:
-
a plurality of memory cells; a plurality of wordlines respectively coupled to the plurality of memory cells; at least one bitline coupled to one memory cell of the plurality of memory cells; a sense amplifier coupled to the at least one bitline; a control circuit configured to enable the sense amplifier for an extended time period longer than a period for a read operation and determine whether the sense amplifier changes states during the extended enabling period; and an address decoder configured to assert the plurality of wordlines while the sense amplifier is enabled by the control circuit. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. An apparatus, comprising:
-
a plurality of memory cells; a plurality of wordlines respectively coupled to the plurality of memory cells; at least one bitline coupled to one memory cell of the plurality of memory cells; sense amplifying means for sensing data on the at least one bitline; timing means for enabling the sense amplifier means during a read operation; control means for enabling the sense amplifying means independent of the timing circuit means for an extended time period longer than a period for the read operation and determine whether the sense amplifier changes states during the extended enabling period; and address decoding means for asserting the plurality of wordlines.
-
Specification