Patent ID: 6366497
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
An apparatus comprising:a first column load; a first current mirror coupled in parallel with the first column load, the first column load capable of being coupled to a FLASH cell and to a sense amplifier; a first bias circuitry coupled to the first column load and the first current mirror, the first bias circuitry capable of being coupled to the sense amplifier and to the FLASH cell; a sense amplifier having a first input, the first input coupled to the first column load, the sense amplifier having a second input and an output; a FLASH cell coupled to the first bias circuitry; a second column load coupled to the second input of the sense amplifier; a second current mirror coupled in parallel to the second column load; a second bias network coupled to the second column load; a reference FLASH cell coupled to the second bias network; a column select coupled to the first bias network and coupled to the FLASH cell, the column select disposed between the first bias network and the FLASH cell; and a reference column select coupled to the second bias network and coupled to the reference FLASH cell, the column select disposed between the second bias network and the reference FLASH cell.