Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Circuit and method for small swing memory signals
- Patent Title (中): 小摆动记忆信号的电路和方法
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Application No.: US12687571Application Date: 2010-01-14
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Publication No.: US08116149B2Publication Date: 2012-02-14
- Inventor: Yi-Tzu Chen , Chia-Wei Su , Ming-Zhang Kuo , Chung-Cheng Chou
- Applicant: Yi-Tzu Chen , Chia-Wei Su , Ming-Zhang Kuo , Chung-Cheng Chou
- Applicant Address: TW Hsin-Chu
- Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
- Current Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
- Current Assignee Address: TW Hsin-Chu
- Agency: Slater & Matsil, L.L.P.
- Main IPC: G11C7/06
- IPC: G11C7/06

Abstract:
Circuits and methods for transmitting and receiving small swing differential voltage data to and from a memory are described. A plurality of memory cells is formed in arrays within a plurality of memory banks. Each memory bank is coupled to a pair of small swing differential voltage global bit lines that extend across the memory. A small signal write driver circuit is coupled to the global bit lines and configured to output a small signal differential voltage on the global bit lines during write cycles. A global sense amplifier is coupled to the global bit line pairs and configured to output a full swing voltage on a data line during a read cycle. Methods for providing small swing global bit line signals to memory cells are disclosed. The use of small swing differential voltage signals across the memory reduces power consumption and shortens memory cycle time.
Public/Granted literature
- US20100260002A1 Circuit and Method for Small Swing Memory Signals Public/Granted day:2010-10-14
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