Patent ID: 8947964
Filing Date: 2015-02-03
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
1. A current sense amplifier, comprising: first and second current sense transistors, the first current sense transistor including a gate coupled to a drain of the second current sense transistor and the second current sense transistor including a gate coupled to a drain of the first current sense transistor; an output node coupled to the drain of one of the first and second current sense transistors; an input node coupled to a source of one of the first and second current sense transistors; a first clamping circuit coupled between drains of the first and second current sense transistors, the clamping circuit being configured to couple the drains of the first and second current sense transistors to each other responsive to a first lamp signal; a second clamping circuit coupled between the drains of the first and second current sense transistors, the second clamping circuit configured to couple the drains of the first and second current sense transistors to each other responsive to a second clamp signal; and a control circuit coupled to the clamping circuit, the control circuit configured to generate both the first clamp signal and the second clamp signal and apply the first clamp signal to the first clamping circuit and apply the second clamp signal to the second clamp signal to the second clamping circuit to actuate the first and second clamping circuits during at least some of a time that the current sense amplifier is sensing current coupled to or from the input node of the current sense amplifier and to deactivate the first and second clamping circuits before the current sense amplifier has completed sensing current coupled to or from the input node of the current sense amplifier.