Memory circuit

Claim 2

A memory circuit allowing for the storing and reading out of data selectively corresponding to HIGH and LOW levels in selected memory cells and for rapid refreshing of said HIGH levels after said read out, said memory circuit comprising a pair of bit lines, a plurality of memory cells connected to said bit lines, each said memory cell comprising means for storing said data in correspondence to charged and discharged states, a sense amplifying circuit selectively connected for sensing said data stored in said memory cells, said sense amplifying circuit comprising a pair of cross-coupled transistors, the gate of each said cross-coupled transistor being connected to a respective terminal of the other, and a pair of capacitors connected in series between said respective terminals of said cross-coupled transistors, a pair of connecting transistors each connecting through source and drain electrodes thereof between a respective one of said bit lines and a respective one of said respective terminals of said cross-coupled transistors, the gates of said connecting transistors being connected in common, and means for shutting off the connecting transistors during said sensing of said stored data for said rapid refreshing of said HIGH level memory cells by selectively raising the potentials of the terminals of said connecting transistors that are respectively connected to said respective terminals of said cross-coupled transistors, said means comprising first means for providing a first pulse (φ 2 ) to the common connection point between said series connected pair of capacitors.

Claim 3

The memory circuit of claim 1, said first means providing said first pulse (φ 2 ) in a manner for maintaining the potential on said bit lines in correspondence to said data stored in said memory cells so that the status of those of said memory cells in said charged state are prevented from falling to a point that prevents the rapid refreshing of said charged status.

Claim 4

The memory circuit of claim 2, said first means providing said first pulse (φ 2 ) in a manner for selectively cutting off said connecting transistors.

Claim 5

The memory circuit of claim 1 comprising a drain supply voltage for said cross-coupled transistors, and means for precharging said bit lines to a voltage approximately equal to the level of said drain supply voltage by means of precharge transistors connected directly to said bit lines.

Claim 6

The memory circuit of claim 4 comprising means for raising the voltages of the gates of said connecting transistors higher than said pre-charged voltage of said bit lines during selected portions of said reading-out of said stored data.

Claim 7

The memory circuit of claim 5 comprising a control circuit for lowering the voltage of the gates of said connecting transistors to a voltage close to said pre-charged voltage of said bit lines selectively during said reading out of said stored date.

Claim 8

The memory circuit of claim 6, said control circuit comprising at least a first control capacitor and a first control transistor, said first control capacitor being connected to the gate of said first control transistor.

Claim 9

The memory circuit of claim 7, said sense amplifying circuit comprising a pair of parallel-connected transistors connected between ground and the terminals of said cross-coupled transistors not connected to said gates of said cross-coupled transistors and means for applying said first pulse (φ 2 ) and a second pulse (φ 0 ) to respective gates of said parallel-connected transistors.

Claim 10

The memory circuit of claim 8 comprising means for applying said second pulse (φ 1 ) to the terminal of said first control capacitor not connected to said gate of said first control transistor in said control circuit.

Claim 11

In a memory circuit for selectively storing data in the form of charge in a plurality of memory cells, for selectively reading out said stored data, and for rapidly restoring memory cells having said stored charge, said memory circuit comprising a pair of bit lines selectively connected to said memory cells, a pair of connecting transistors connected respectively to said bit lines, a sense amplifier connected to said pair of bit lines through said connecting transistors, a control circuit connected to the gates of said connecting transistors, said sense amplifier comprising a pair of cross-coupled transistors respectively connected between said connecting transistors at a first pair of terminal points and to ground through at least a fifth transistor connected in parallel to a second pair of terminal points of said cross-coupled transistors, each said pair of connecting transistors being connected through source and drain electrodes thereof between a respective one of said bit lines and a respective one of said first pair of terminals of said cross-coupled transistors, the improvement comprising a pair of capacitors connected in series between said first pair of terminal points of said cross-coupled transistors, a first means, for selectively applying a first voltage pulse (φ 2 ) to the common point between said series connected capacitors for shutting-off the connecting transistors by raising the potential of the terminals of said connecting transistors that are respectively connected to said first pair of terminals of said cross-coupled transistors upon application of said first voltage pulse to the connecting point of said pair of capacitors, said rapid shut off providing for said rapid refreshing, and for selectively maintaining the voltage of said bit lines for allowing the refreshing of said stored charge of said memory cells selected for said sensing, and said gates of said connecting transistors being connected in common to said control circuit.

Claim 12

In a memory circuit for selectively storing data in the form of charge in a plurality of memory cells, for selectively reading out said stored data, and for rapidly restoring memory cells having said stored charge, said memory circuit comprising a pair of bit lines selectively connected to said memory cells, a pair of connecting transistors connected respectively to said bit lines, a sense amplifier connected to said pair of bit lines through said connecting transistors, a control circuit connected to the gates of said connecting transistors, said sense amplifier comprising a pair of cross-coupled transistors respectively connected between said connecting transistors at a first pair of terminal points and to ground through at least a fifth transistor connected in parallel to a second pair of terminal points of said cross-coupled transistors, each said pair of connecting transistors being connected through source and drain electrodes thereof between a respective one of said bit lines and a respective one of said first pair of terminals of said cross-coupled transistors, the improvement comprising a pair of capacitors connected in series between said first pair of terminal points of said cross-coupled transistors, a first means, for selectively applying a first voltage pulse (φ 2 ) to the common point between said series connected capacitors for shutting-off the connecting transistors by raising the potential of the terminals of said connecting transistors that are respectively connected to said first pair of terminals of said cross-coupled transistors upon application of said first voltage pulse to the connecting point of said pair of capacitors, said rapid shut off providing for said rapid refreshing, and for selectively maintaining the voltage of said bit lines for allowing the refreshing of said stored charge of said memory cells selected for said sensing, and said gates of said connecting transistors being connected in common to said control circuit.

Claim 13

The improved memory circuit of claim 10, said control circuit comprising second means for raising the voltages on said gates of said connecting transistors for said shutting-off of said connecting transistors.

Claim 14

The improved memory circuit of claim 11, said control circuit and said second means comprising selective means for applying a drain supply voltage to said gates of said connecting transistors and for floating said gates at a higher potential than said drain supply voltage, during said reading out and refreshing of said selected memory cells.

Claim 15

The improved memory circuit of claim 12, said control circuit comprising a seventh transistor connected between said gates of said connecting transistors and said drain supply voltage, an eighth transistor connected between said drain supply voltage and the gate of said seventh transistor, a capacitor connected to said gate of said seventh transistor, and means for selectively applying second and third pulses respectively to the gate of said eighth transistor and through said capacitor to said gate of said seventh transistor.

Claim 16

The improved memory circuit of claim 10, said cross-coupled transistors being connected to ground through two parallel-connected transistors comprising said fifth and sixth transistors, and means for applying a fourth and fifth voltage pulses respectively to the two gates of said two parallel-connected transistors.

Claim 17

The improved memory circuit of claim 14, said third pulse being identical to said fourth pulse (φ 1 ), said first pulse being identical to said fifth pulse (φ 2 ), said second pulse going to a low value from a high value during said sensing and then returning to a high value, said first (φ 2 ) and third (φ 1 ) pulses having a high value only while said second pulse (φ 0 ) has a low value, and said third pulse (φ 1 ) not having a low value while said first pulse (φ 2 ) has a high value.

Claim 18

The improved memory circuit of claim 15, comprising means for applying said drain supply voltage to said bit lines after said sensing, in conjunction with said means for floating said gates of said connecting transistors, to produce a voltage at the gates of said connecting transistors that is higher than said drain supply voltage.

Claim 19

The improved circuit of claim 15 said means for providing said pulses resulting in said first pulse (φ 2 ) being identical to said third pulse. (φ 1 ).