Patent ID: 8953384
Filing Date: 2015-02-10
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
1. A sense amplifier for sensing data stored in a selected memory cell of a flash memory array, comprising: a differential amplifier; a reference cell current branch comprising a reference cell, a first drain bias section coupled to the reference cell, and a first load section coupled to the first drain bias section and to a first input of the differential amplifier; a main cell current branch comprising the selected memory cell, a second drain bias section coupled to the selected memory cell, and a second load section coupled to the second drain bias section and to a second input of the differential amplifier; a boost circuit comprising a pull-up section coupled to the second input of the differential amplifier and a pull-down section coupled to the selected memory cell; a boost activation signal node; and a bias voltage node; wherein the pull up section of the boost circuit comprises a MOSFET pull-up transistor having a gate coupled to the boost activation signal node; the pull down section of the boost circuit comprises a MOSFET pull-down transistor having a gate coupled to the bias voltage node; the second load section comprises a MOSFET load transistor having a predetermined pull-up strength; the MOSFET pull-up transistor has a pull-up strength greater than the pull-up strength of the MOSFET load transistor; and the MOSFET pull-down transistor has a pull-down strength to substantially compensate for any change in the DC voltage level in the main cell current branch from the MOSFET pull-up transistor.