Patent ID: 6147514
Filing Date: 2000-11-14
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
A sense amplifier circuit comprising:first and second input terminals;a voltage source terminal connected to a voltage source;a reference potential terminal connected to a reference potential;a clock signal terminal for receiving a clock signal;a first amplifier electrically connected to the first and second input terminals and the voltage source terminal, for sensing a potential difference between the input terminals and outputting differential outputs;a first activation circuit connected to the clock signal terminal, the first amplifier, and the reference voltage terminal, for activating the first amplifier in accordance with the clock signal;a second amplifier of latch-type connected to the voltage source terminal, having first and second input/output nodes respectively connected to the differential outputs from the first amplifier, for amplifying the differential output from said first amplifier and latching the amplified differential outputs;first and second output terminals respectively connected to the first and second input/output nodes, for extracting output signals therefrom;a second activation circuit connected to the second amplifier, for activating the second amplifier in association with said first amplifier; andswitching elements arranged on paths of current flowing from the input/out nodes to the reference potential terminal through said first amplifier, for interrupting the current flow on the paths.