IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,589,601
Granted Patent B2
US 9,589,601 · App. 14/659,270 · Granted Mar 7, 2017

Integrated circuit using topology configurations

Inventors: Mahmood Khayatzadeh (Mountain View, CA); Massimo Bruno Alioto (Singapore, SG); David Blaauw (Ann Arbor, MI); Dennis Michael Chen Sylvester (Ann Arbor, MI); Fakhruddin Ali Bohra (Austin, TX)
Assignees: ARM Limited; The Regents of the University of Michigan
G11C7/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,589,601
App. No.
14/659,270
Granted
Mar 7, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Various implementations described herein may refer to and may be directed to circuitry for an integrated circuit using topology configurations. For instance, in one implementation, such circuitry may include a memory array having a plurality of memory cells. Such circuitry may also include one or more reconfigurable sense amplifier devices coupled to the memory array and configured to amplify differential voltage levels received from the memory array. The reconfigurable sense amplifier devices may include a plurality of sense amplifier circuits configured to be arranged in one of a plurality of topology configurations, where the topology configurations include a parallel configuration and a cross parallel configuration. The reconfigurable sense amplifier devices may also include one or more switches configured to set the plurality of sense amplifier circuits into the plurality of topological configurations based on one or more control bits.

Claims (22)

1. An integrated circuit, comprising:

a memory array, comprising a plurality of memory cells; and

one or more reconfigurable sense amplifier devices coupled to the memory array and configured to amplify differential voltage levels received from the memory array, the one or more reconfigurable sense amplifier devices comprising:

a plurality of sense amplifier circuits configured to be arranged in one of a plurality of topology configurations, wherein the topology configurations comprise a parallel configuration and a cross parallel configuration; and

one or more switches configured to set the plurality of sense amplifier circuits into the plurality of topological configurations based on one or more control bits.

2. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the switches comprise one or more pass-gate switches driven by the one or more control bits.

3. The integrated circuit of claim 2 , wherein the one or more pass-gate switches are driven by the one or more control bits in conjunction with one or more combinational logic circuits.

4. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the control bits are configured to arrange the plurality of sense amplifier circuits into a topology configuration having a least amount of offset voltage.

5. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the one or more control bits are stored in one or more of the memory cells.

6. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein a total offset voltage of the one or more reconfigurable sense amplifier devices in a particular topology configuration comprises an average of individual offset voltages of the plurality of sense amplifier circuits used in the particular topology configuration.

7. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sense amplifier circuits comprise a first sense amplifier circuit and a second sense amplifier circuit, and wherein the one or more switches are configured to set the first sense amplifier circuit and the second sense amplifier circuit into one of four topology configurations.

8. The integrated circuit of claim 7 , wherein the four topology configurations comprise:

a first configuration using the first sense amplifier circuit;

a second configuration using the second sense amplifier circuit;

a third configuration using the first sense amplifier circuit and the second sense amplifier circuit, wherein the first sense amplifier circuit and the second sense amplifier circuit are directly connected and in parallel; and

a fourth configuration using the first sense amplifier circuit and the second sense amplifier circuit, wherein the first sense amplifier circuit and the second sense amplifier are cross connected and in cross parallel.

9. The integrated circuit of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first bit-line pair coupled to a respective memory cell of the memory array and to a respective reconfigurable sense amplifier device; and

a second bit-line pair coupled to the respective memory cell and to the respective reconfigurable sense amplifier device, wherein, during a read operation of the respective memory cell, the first bit-line pair or the second bit-line pair is selected to transmit data stored within the respective memory cell based on a readability of the first bit-line pair and the second bit-line pair.

10. The integrated circuit of claim 9 , further comprising:

a first set of bit-line switches configured to couple the first bit-line pair to the respective reconfigurable sense amplifier device; and

a second set of bit-line switches configured to couple the second bit-line pair to the respective reconfigurable sense amplifier device, wherein the first bit-line pair or the second bit-line pair is selected using the first set of bit-line switches and the second set of bit-line switches.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 3, 2017
From: KHAYATZADEH, MAHMOOD; ALIOTO, MASSIMO BRUNO; BLAAUW, DAVID; SYLVESTER, DENNIS MICHAEL CHEN
To: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Reel/Frame 041171/0930 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 3, 2017
From: BOHRA, FAKHRUDDIN ALI
To: ARM LIMITED
Reel/Frame 041627/0196 →
Continuity (1)
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