IP Library Granted Patent US 10,186,320
Granted Patent B2
US 10,186,320 · App. 15/659,891 · Granted Jan 22, 2019

Method for reading an EEPROM and corresponding device

Inventors: François Tailliet (Fuveau, FR); Marc Battista (Allauch, FR); Victorien Brecte (Aix-en-Provence, FR)
Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
G11C16/26G11C7/067G11C16/0433G11C16/24
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,186,320
App. No.
15/659,891
Granted
Jan 22, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A read amplifier of a memory device has two current generators, an inverter, and five transistors. The inverter is connected to the second current generator. The first transistor has a gate connected to the read amplifier, a drain connected to the first current generator, and a source connected to a reference ground. The second transistor has a gate connected to the first current generator, a drain connected to a reference voltage, and a source connected to the gate of the first transistor. The third transistor has a drain connected to the first current generator and a source connected to the reference ground. The fourth transistor has a gate connected to the first current generator, a drain connected to the second current generator, and a source connected to the reference ground. The fifth transistor has a drain connected to the second current generator and a source connected to the reference voltage.

Claims (45)

1. A memory device comprising a read amplifier, the read amplifier comprising:

a first current generator and a second current generator;

a first inverter having an input coupled to an output of the second current generator;

a first transistor having a gate node coupled to an input node of the read amplifier, a drain node coupled to an output of the first current generator, and a source node coupled to a reference ground;

a second transistor having a gate node coupled to the output of the first current generator, a drain node coupled to a reference voltage, and a source node coupled to the gate node of the first transistor;

a third transistor having a drain node coupled to the output of the first current generator and a source node coupled to the reference ground;

a fourth transistor having a gate node coupled to the output of the first current generator, a drain node coupled to the output of the second current generator, and a source node coupled to the reference ground; and

a fifth transistor having a drain node coupled to the output of the second current generator and a source node coupled to the reference voltage.

2. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the read amplifier further comprises a second inverter having an input coupled to the output of the first inverter.

3. The memory device of claim 2 , wherein the output of the second inverter is the output of the read amplifier.

4. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth transistors comprise an N-type MOSFET transistor, and wherein the fifth transistor comprises a P-type MOSFET transistor.

5. The memory device of claim 1 , further comprising a third current generator coupled to the input of the read amplifier.

6. The memory device of claim 1 , further comprising a memory plane, wherein the memory plane comprises a column of memory cells coupled to a bit line, and wherein a select transistor couples the bit line to the input node of the read amplifier.

7. The memory device of claim 6 , wherein each memory cell comprises a floating gate transistor coupled in series with a selection transistor, and wherein a body of the selection transistor and a body of the floating gate transistor are coupled to the reference ground.

8. The memory device of claim 6 , further comprising a pre-charge circuit coupled to the bit line.

9. The memory device of claim 6 , further comprising a controller with an output coupled to a gate of the select transistor.

10. A memory device comprising a read amplifier, the read amplifier comprising:

a first current generator and a second current generator;

a first transistor having a gate node coupled to an input node of the read amplifier, a drain node coupled to an output of the first current generator, and a source node coupled to a reference ground;

a second transistor having a gate node coupled to the output of the first current generator, a drain node coupled to a reference voltage, and a source node coupled to the gate node of the first transistor;

a third transistor having a drain node coupled to the output of the first current generator and a source node coupled to the reference ground; and

a fourth transistor having a gate node coupled to the output of the first current generator, a drain node coupled to the output of the second current generator, and a source node coupled to the reference ground.

11. The memory device of claim 10 , further comprising a fifth transistor having a drain node coupled to the output of the second current generator and a source node coupled to the reference voltage.

12. The memory device of claim 10 , further comprising:

a fifth transistor having a drain node coupled to the output of the second current generator and a source node coupled to the reference voltage;

a first inverter having an input coupled to an output of the second current generator; and

a second inverter having an input coupled to the output of the first inverter.

13. The memory device of claim 12 , wherein the output of the second inverter is the output of the read amplifier.

14. The memory device of claim 10 , further comprising a memory plane, wherein the memory plane comprises a column of memory cells coupled to a bit line, and wherein a select transistor couples the bit line to the input node of the read amplifier.

15. The memory device of claim 14 , further comprising:

a pre-charge circuit coupled to the bit line; and

a controller with an output coupled to a gate of the select transistor.

16. A memory device comprising a read amplifier, the read amplifier comprising:

a first current generator, a second current generator, and a third current generator;

a first transistor having a gate node coupled to an input node of the read amplifier and the third current generator, a drain node coupled to an output of the first current generator, and a source node coupled to a reference ground;

a second transistor having a gate node coupled to the output of the first current generator, a drain node coupled to a reference voltage, and a source node coupled to the gate node of the first transistor; and

a third transistor having a drain node coupled to the output of the first current generator and a source node coupled to the reference ground.

17. The memory device of claim 16 , further comprising a memory plane, wherein the memory plane comprises a column of memory cells coupled to a bit line, and wherein a select transistor couples the bit line to the input node of the read amplifier.

18. The memory device of claim 17 , wherein the memory plane further comprises an input node coupled to the reference voltage.

19. The memory device of claim 16 , further comprising:

a fourth transistor having a gate node coupled to the output of the first current generator, a drain node coupled to the output of the second current generator, and a source node coupled to the reference ground;

a fifth transistor having a drain node coupled to the output of the second current generator and a source node coupled to the reference voltage;

a first inverter having an input coupled to an output of the second current generator; and

a second inverter having an input coupled to the output of the first inverter.

20. The memory device of claim 19 , wherein the output of the second inverter is the output of the read amplifier.

Priority Claims (1)
FR 15 60515 · Nov 3, 2015 · national
Continuity (2)
Division 15183515 · Jun 15, 2016
Related Publication 20170323684A1 · Nov 9, 2017