Patent ID: 7974133
Filing Date: 2011-07-05
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
1. A sensing circuit comprising: a sensing device; a sense transistor coupled to the sensing device, the sense transistor has a threshold voltage; a first switch coupled to the sense transistor and to the sensing device, the first switch causes the sensing device to be charged to a first voltage that is a function of the threshold voltage of the sense transistor; and one or more second switches that are coupled to the sensing device and to a target element, the one or more second switches couple the sensing device to the target element to modify the first voltage on the sensing device, the one or more second switches decouple the target element from the sensing device during a sense phase in which the modified first voltage is applied to the sense transistor; a condition of the target element is determined based on whether or not the sense transistor turns on in response to applying the modified first voltage to the sense transistor.