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US4287576A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Sense amplifying system for memories with small cells

Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1980-03-26
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Granted: 1981-09-01
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Expires: 2000-03-26
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Abstract

Abstract A sense amplifying system is provided having first and second bit lines and first and second differential amplifiers arranged in tandem with a first isolation device connecting one side of the first amplifier to the first bit line and a second isolation device connecting the other side of the first amplifier to the second bit line and with a third isolation device connecting one side of the second amplifier to the first bit line and a fourth isolation device connecting the other side of the second amplifier to the second bit line. A precharging circuit charges the first and second lines to the same potential. The first amplifier is used to sense signals on the first line while using a reference voltage derived from the second line and the second amplifier is used to sense signals on the second line while using a reference voltage derived from the first word line.

Inventors

  • 👤 Wilbur D. Pricer

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 21:02
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C5/00; G11C5/02; G11C5/025; G11C11/00; G11C11/21; G11C11/34; G11C11/40; G11C11/401; G11C11/4063; G11C11/407; G11C11/409; G11C11/4097

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 74 words
A sense amplifying system comprising; first and second access lines, first and second differential amplifiers, means including a first pair of isolation devices for selectively coupling said first differential amplifier to said first and second access lines, means including a second pair of isolation devices for selectively coupling said second differential amplifier to said first and second access lines, and means for establishing a reference potential coupled to said first and second access lines.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 74 words
A sense amplifying system comprising; first and second access lines, first and second differential amplifiers, means including a first pair of isolation devices for selectively coupling said first differential amplifier to said first and second access lines, means including a second pair of isolation devices for selectively coupling said second differential amplifier to said first and second access lines, and means for establishing a reference potential coupled to said first and second access lines.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 55 words
A sense amplifying system comprising; first and second access lines, a differential amplifier, first and second isolation devices coupling said differential amplifier to said access lines, means for controlling said first and second isolation devices independently, and means for charging each of said first and second access lines to a voltage of a predetermined magnitude.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 55 words
A sense amplifying system comprising; first and second access lines, a differential amplifier, first and second isolation devices coupling said differential amplifier to said access lines, means for controlling said first and second isolation devices independently, and means for charging each of said first and second access lines to a voltage of a predetermined magnitude.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 83 words
A sense amplifying system comprising; first and second bit lines, an amplifying latch, a first isolation device connected between said first bit line and one side of said amplifying latch, a second isolation device connected between said second bit line and the opposite side of said amplifying latch, first means for controlling said first isolation device, second means for controlling said second isolation device, and means for charging each of said first and second bit lines to a voltage of a predetermined magnitude.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 83 words
A sense amplifying system comprising; first and second bit lines, an amplifying latch, a first isolation device connected between said first bit line and one side of said amplifying latch, a second isolation device connected between said second bit line and the opposite side of said amplifying latch, first means for controlling said first isolation device, second means for controlling said second isolation device, and means for charging each of said first and second bit lines to a voltage of a predetermined magnitude.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 40 words
A sense amplifying system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first and second isolation devices each include a field effect transistor having a gate electrode and said first and second controlling means are coupled to said gate electrodes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 47 words
A sense amplifying system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said charging means include a third field effect transistor coupled to said first bit line, a fourth transistor coupled to said second bit line and a fifth transistor connected between said first and second bit lines.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 39 words
A sense amplifying system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first pair of isolation devices is a pair of field effect transistors and said first and second amplifiers are first and second amplifying latches arranged in tandem.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 81 words
A sense amplifying system comprising; first and second bit lines, first and second differential amplifiers, first and second isolation devices connected between said first differential amplifier and said first and second bit lines, third and fourth isolation devices connected between said second differential amplifier and said first and second bit lines, first means for controlling said first and fourth isolation devices, second means for controlling said second and third isolation devices, and means for charging said first and second bit lines.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 81 words
A sense amplifying system comprising; first and second bit lines, first and second differential amplifiers, first and second isolation devices connected between said first differential amplifier and said first and second bit lines, third and fourth isolation devices connected between said second differential amplifier and said first and second bit lines, first means for controlling said first and fourth isolation devices, second means for controlling said second and third isolation devices, and means for charging said first and second bit lines.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 38 words
A sense amplifying system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first and third isolation devices are connected to said first bit line and said second and fourth isolation devices are connected to said second bit line.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 235 words
A memory comprising; an array including; first, second, third and fourth consecutively and parallelly arranged bit lines, a plurality of parallel word lines arranged orthogonal to said bit lines and a cell disposed at the intersection of each of said bit and word lines, a first sense amplifying system; first and second tandemly arranged differential amplifiers connected to the ends of said first and third bit lines at one edge of said array, first means including a first pair of isolation devices for selectively coupling said first differential amplifier to said first and third bit lines, second means including a second pair of isolation devices for selectively coupling said second differential amplifier to said first and third bit lines, and third means for establishing a reference potential coupled to said first and third bit lines, and a second sense amplifying system including; third and fourth tandemly arranged differential amplifiers connected to the ends of said second and fourth bit lines at an edge of said array opposite to that of said one edge, fourth means including a third pair of isolation devices for selectively coupling said third differential amplifier to said second and fourth bit lines, fifth means including a fourth pair of isolation devices for selectively coupling said fourth differential amplifiers to said second and fourth bit lines, and sixth means for establishing said reference potential coupled to said second and fourth bit lines.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 235 words
A memory comprising; an array including; first, second, third and fourth consecutively and parallelly arranged bit lines, a plurality of parallel word lines arranged orthogonal to said bit lines and a cell disposed at the intersection of each of said bit and word lines, a first sense amplifying system; first and second tandemly arranged differential amplifiers connected to the ends of said first and third bit lines at one edge of said array, first means including a first pair of isolation devices for selectively coupling said first differential amplifier to said first and third bit lines, second means including a second pair of isolation devices for selectively coupling said second differential amplifier to said first and third bit lines, and third means for establishing a reference potential coupled to said first and third bit lines, and a second sense amplifying system including; third and fourth tandemly arranged differential amplifiers connected to the ends of said second and fourth bit lines at an edge of said array opposite to that of said one edge, fourth means including a third pair of isolation devices for selectively coupling said third differential amplifier to said second and fourth bit lines, fifth means including a fourth pair of isolation devices for selectively coupling said fourth differential amplifiers to said second and fourth bit lines, and sixth means for establishing said reference potential coupled to said second and fourth bit lines.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 30 words
A memory as set forth in claim 9 wherein each of the isolation devices of said first, second, fourth and fifth means is controlled independently of the other isolation device.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3387286A Cited
US3811076A Cited
US3841926A Cited
US3979734A Cited
US4040017A Cited
US4080590A Cited
US4181865A Cited
US4160275A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1984-08-31 1985-03-02 1985-09-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1988-08-31 1989-03-02 1989-09-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1992-08-31 1993-03-02 1993-09-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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