Patent ID: 8305815
Filing Date: 2012-11-06
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
1. A sense amplifier comprising: a sense input; a precharge unit configured to provide a precharge voltage during a precharge phase; a voltage generator having an output and configured to provide a bias voltage; a cascode transistor comprising a gate terminal, a drain terminal configured to receive the precharge voltage, and a source terminal configured to supply the sense input with a bitline voltage lower than the precharge voltage; first, second, and third capacitors configured to supply a control voltage to the gate terminal of the cascode transistor based on the bias voltage, the first capacitor being coupled between the gate terminal and a ground terminal, the second capacitor being coupled between the gate and source terminals, and the third capacitor being coupled between the gate and drain terminals; and an isolating element configured to isolate the gate terminal of the cascode transistor from the output of the voltage generator during a first period of the precharge phase, so as to boost the bitline voltage, and link the gate terminal to the output of the voltage generator during a second period of the precharge phase.