Sense amplifier

A sense amplifier configured to amplify and output complementary input signals, comprising: a pair of first and second transistors; a pair of first and second resistor elements which are connected to at least one of source terminals and drain terminals of the first and second transistors, and pass electric current corresponding to a difference between threshold voltages of the first and second transistors; and an output terminal which is connected to a terminal different from the terminal to which the first and second resistor elements are connected, among the source terminal and the drain terminal of the first and second transistors, or which is connected to an end different from an end to which the source terminal and the drain terminal of the first and second transistors are connected, among both the ends of the first and second resistor elements.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Applications No. 2001-188558, filed on Jun. 21, 2001, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sense amplifier used for a semiconductor integrated circuit such as an SRAM (Static Random Memory).

2. Related Background Art

FIG. 18is a circuit of the conventional sense amplifier. The sense amplifier ofFIG. 18has PMOS transistors Q1and Q2composing a current mirror circuit, a pair of NMOS transistors Q3and Q4connected to the current mirror circuit, and an NMOS transistor Q5connected between source terminals of the NMOS transistors Q3and Q4, and a ground terminal. The gate terminals of the NMOS transistors Q3and Q4are connected to a pair of bit lines BL and /BL, and a sense signal is outputted via an inverter IV10from a connection point between the PMOS transistor Q2and the NMOS transistor Q4.

Because it is desirable that electrical properties of a pair of the NMOS transistors Q3and Q4are equal, channel widths, channel lengths and threshold voltages of the NMOS transistors Q3and Q4are equalized to each other.

However, due to dispersion in fabrication, sizes and threshold voltages of the NMOS transistors Q3and Q4are not necessarily equal to each other. Because of this, when the voltage difference of the pair of bit lines is small, due to the dispersion of the threshold voltages of the NMOS transistors Q3and Q4, the output of the sense amplifier becomes a polarity opposite to the original polarity according to circumstances. The minimum voltage difference between the pair of the bit lines necessary for normalizing the output of the sense amplifier is called as an input offset voltage, merely an offset voltage or an offset.

Hereinafter, the problem of the conventional technologies will be explained based on an example of the sense amplifier used for the SRAM.

The sense amplifier used for the SRAM amplifies a very little voltage difference between the pair of bit lines for transferring data of the memory cell. Because the voltage difference between the pair of bit lines is generated due to the current drawn the memory cell, the longer the time required for the memory cell to draw the current from the bit lines is, the larger the voltage difference becomes. When the voltage difference surpasses the offset voltage of the memory cell, the sense operation is carried out for the first time. Accordingly, if it is necessary to operate the SRAM at a high speed, it is desirable to speed up the sense operation by minifying the offset voltage of the sense amplifier.

Here, it is assumed that the sense timing of the sense amplifier is adjusted by using a dummy bit line sense amplifier for sensing a dummy bit line. In this case, it is desirable to decide the timing that the dummy bit line sense amplifier outputs an output signal, based on only the voltage difference of the dummy bit line without depending on an activation signal from outside.

FIG. 19is a conventional dummy bit line sense amplifier, an output of which varies in accordance with the input voltage difference. The sense circuit2performs the sense operation based on the output of the dummy bit line sense amplifier1. If the offset voltage of the dummy bit line sense amplifier is different from each chip, the activation timing of the sense amplifier fluctuates. Because of this, it is desirable to set the offset voltage to be, for example 0V.

There is a single-phase input sense amplifier as shown inFIG. 20as the dummy bit line sense amplifier. In this case, the timing in which the sense output is obtained is decided by the threshold voltage Vth of the transistor Q7in the dummy bit line sense amplifier. Because the threshold voltage Vth fluctuates in the chip, for example, if the threshold voltage Vth of the transistor Q7becomes small, the output timing of the dummy bit line sense amplifier becomes early, thereby causing a malfunction.

Incidentally, the gate length of the transistor composing the sense amplifier and the dummy bit line sense amplifier fluctuates wafer by wafer or lot by lot due to fabrication dispersion. It is well known that as the gate length is shorter, the threshold voltage Vth of the transistor fluctuates largely. When the gate length becomes short, the offset voltage of the sense amplifier or the dummy bit line sense amplifier becomes large. Because of this, there is a likelihood that a malfunction occurs if the activation signal of the sense amplifier is not delayed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A sense amplifier according to an embodiment of the present invention, configured to amplify and output complementary input signals, comprising: a pair of first and second transistors; a pair of first and second resistor elements which are connected to at least one of source terminals and drain terminals of said first and second transistors, and pass electric current corresponding to a difference between threshold voltages of said first and second transistors; and an output terminal which is connected to a terminal different from the terminal to which said first and second resistor elements are connected, among the source terminal and the drain terminal of said first and second transistors, or which is connected to an end different from an end to which the source terminal and the drain terminal of said first and second transistors are connected, among both the ends of said first and second resistor elements.

Furthermore, a sense amplifier configured to amplify and output signals on a pair of bit lines, comprising: a dummy bit line sense amplifier which amplifies and outputs a signal on a dummy bit line; and a sense circuit which controls a timing for amplifying the signals on the pair of bit lines based on the output of said dummy bit line sense amplifier, wherein said dummy bit line sense amplifier includes a first transistor having a gate terminal connected to said dummy bit line, and a first resistor element which passes electric current in accordance with a threshold voltage of said first transistor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a sense amplifier according to the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to drawings.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1is a circuit diagram of a first embodiment of a sense amplifier according to the present invention. The sense amplifier ofFIG. 1is a current mirror type of sense amplifier. The sense amplifier has a current mirror circuit composed of PMOS transistors Q1and Q2, a pair of NMOS transistors Q3and Q4each having a gate terminal connected to a pair of bit lines, resistor elements R1and R2connected between source terminals of NMOS transistors Q3and Q4, and an NMOS transistor Q5which composes a constant current source and is connected between a connection point of the resistor elements R1, R2and a ground terminal.

That is, the sense amplifier ofFIG. 1has a configuration in which the resistor elements R1and R2are added to the sense amplifier ofFIG. 18.

Here, the threshold voltages Vth of the NMOS transistors Q3and Q4are different from each other by ΔVth. The same voltage V is applied to the gate terminals of the NMOS transistors Q3and Q4. It is assumed that the voltage difference between the resistor elements R1and R2is 0V, and the NMOS transistors Q3and Q4operate at a pentode region.

FIG. 2is a diagram showing a direction of the current flowing through the circuit ofFIG. 1. As shown inFIG. 2, when the current flowing though the resistor element R1at left side is assumed as I′, the voltage V′ at both ends of the resistor element R1is expressed by equation (1).
V′=RI′(1)

Because the current flowing through the NMOS transistor Q3is equal, a relationship of equation (2) is established. β is a current gain.
I′=β/2{(V−RI′)−(Vthn+ΔVth/2)2(2)

Similarly, the current I′′ flowing through the resistor element R2at the right side of the sense amplifier is expressed by equation (3).
I′′=β/2{(V−RI′′)−(Vthn−ΔVth/2)2(3)

If simultaneous equations (2) and (3) are solved as I′=I′′, the values of the resistor elements R1and R2to satisfy I′=I′′ can express as a function of the voltage V, the threshold voltage Vthn and ΔVth. It is possible to set the offset voltage of the sense amplifier to be substantially zero by inserting the resistor elements R1and R2having the resistance near to substantially R, to the source sides of the NMOS transistors Q3and Q4.

Thus, according to the present embodiment, the resistor elements R1and R2are connected between the source terminals of the NMOS transistors Q3and Q4, and the resistances of the resistor elements R1and R2are set so that the offset voltage of the sense amplifier become substantially zero. Because of this, it is possible to cancel out the offset voltage of the sense amplifier, even if a circuit for offset cancel is not provided separately. Accordingly, even if the voltage difference of the pair of bit lines BL and /BL is small, there is no likelihood that the sense amplifier operates erroneously.

Second Embodiment

In the second embodiment, the resistor elements R1and R2for offset cancel are connected to a dummy bit line sense amplifier.

FIG. 3is a circuit diagram of a second embodiment of a sense amplifier according to the present invention. The sense amplifier ofFIG. 3has a dummy bit line sense amplifier1and a sense circuit2for performing sense operation of a pair of bit lines in accordance with the output of the dummy bit line sense amplifier1. The sense circuit2ofFIG. 3has a PMOS transistor Q1and Q2composing a current mirror circuit, a pair of NMOS transistors Q3and Q4each having a gate terminal connected to the pair of bit lines, and an NMOS transistor Q5connected to the respective source terminals of the NMOS transistors Q3and Q4.

The dummy bit line sense amplifier1ofFIG. 3has a PMOS transistor Q6and an NMOS transistor Q7connected in series between a power supply terminal VDD and a ground terminal, an inverter IV1connected to a connection point of the transistors Q6and Q7, and a resistor R3connected between a source terminal of the NMOS transistor Q7and the ground terminal.

Because the gate and drain of the PMOS transistor Q6are short-circuited to each other, the transistor Q6acts as a resistor. A dummy bit line dummyBL is connected to the gate terminal of the NMOS transistor Q7.

The resistor element R3is provided to cancel out the dispersion of the threshold voltage of the NMOS transistor Q7, similarly to the resistor elements R1and R2ofFIG. 1. For example, when the threshold voltage Vth of the NMOS transistor Q7is low, the NMOS transistor Q7is easy to turn on. When the current between the drain and source of the NMOS transistor Q7increases, the voltage at both ends of the resistor R3becomes high, and the threshold voltage Vth appears to be high. By such an operation, it is possible to cancel out the offset voltage of the NMOS transistor Q7.

It is desirable to form the resistor R3ofFIG. 3by using polysilicon used as the material for forming the gate terminal of the NMOS transistor Q7, and in the same fabrication step as that of the gate terminal. The reason for this is to make narrower the width of the resistor element R3as the gate length of the NMOS transistor Q7becomes shorter.

That is, when the gate length of the NMOS transistor Q7becomes short due to the fabrication dispersion and so on, the fluctuation of the threshold voltage of the NMOS transistor Q7becomes large. Because of this, if the output timing of the dummy bit line sense amplifier1is not delayed, the sense amplifier2operates erroneously. It is desirable to heighten the resistance of the resistor element R3by slenderizing the width of the resistor element R3in order to delay the output timing of the dummy bit line sense amplifier1. In the second embodiment, the gate terminal of the NMOS transistor Q7and the resistor element R3are formed of the same material to each other in the same fabrication step. Therefore, the shorter the gate length becomes, the narrower the width of the resistor element R3becomes.

FIG. 4is an upper-face diagram of the resistor element R3ofFIG. 3, andFIG. 5is a cross section diagram of A—A line ofFIG. 4. As shown in these diagrams, a plurality of leptosomic type polysilicon layers3are arranged in parallel by sandwiching the insulation layer4. These polysilicon layers3are connected to an upper metal layer6via contacts5. The gate length direction (channel length direction) of the NMOS transistor Q7and the wiring width direction of the resistor element R3are arranged in parallel to each other. That is, the gate length direction (channel length direction) of the NMOS transistor Q7and the direction flowing through the current to the resistor R3are arranged to be substantially orthogonal.

As understood fromFIG. 4, the gate is formed of the polysilicon, similarly to the resistor element R3. The shorter the gate length becomes, the shorter the wiring width direction of the resistor element R3becomes, and the resistance increases.

Thus, according to the second embodiment, the resistor element R3is connected to the source terminal of the NMOS transistor Q7in order to cancel out the offset voltage of the NMOS transistor Q7of the dummy bit line sense amplifier1. Because of this, the sense amplifier ofFIG. 3is not affected by the fluctuation of the threshold voltage of the NMOS transistor Q7. Furthermore, because the resistor element R3is formed of the polysilicon which is the same material as that of the gate terminal of the NMOS transistor Q7, as the gate length becomes short, it is possible to heighten the resistance of the resistor element R3in order to delay the output timing of the dummy bit line sense amplifier. Therefore, there is no likelihood in which the sense amplifier operates erroneously.

Other Embodiment

Although the current mirror type sense amplifier has been explained in the first embodiment, the present invention is applicable to the sense amplifier having the other circuit configuration.

For example,FIG. 6is a circuit diagram showing an example in which the resistor elements R1and R2are provided to a latch type sense amplifier. The sense amplifier ofFIG. 6has PMOS transistors Q8and Q9and NMOS transistor Q10and Q11composing a latch, PMOS transistors Q14and Q15for precharge, resistors R1and R2connected between source terminals of the NMOS transistors Q10and Q11, and NMOS transistors Q16and Q17for sense operation control.

The resistor elements R1and R2ofFIG. 6are set to the resistance which can cancel out the offset voltages of the PMOS transistors Q8and Q9and the NMOS transistors Q10and Q11composing the latch. Therefore, there is no likelihood in which the sense operation is affected by the fluctuation of the threshold voltages of the transistors Q8–Q11.

FIG. 7is a diagram showing an example in which a resistor R3is provided to the latch type dummy bit line sense amplifier1. The dummy bit line sense amplifier1ofFIG. 7has a PMOS transistor Q18having a gate terminal connected to the dummy bit line dummyBL, an NMOS transistor Q19for precharge and an NMOS transistor Q20and an inverter IV2for performing latch operation.

As described above, the resistor R3ofFIG. 7is formed of the same fabrication step as that of the gate terminal by using the same material as that of the gate terminal, for example, a polysilicon. Therefore, the shorter the gate length becomes, the higher the resistance of the resistor R3becomes, thereby delaying the sense timing.

Although a simple phase type of the dummy bit line sense amplifier has been described in the above embodiment, concrete circuit configurations of the dummy bit line sense amplifier are not limited. For example, as shown inFIG. 8, the resistor elements R1and R2may be provided in the latch type dummy bit line sense amplifier.

Although an example in which the resistor elements are connected to the NMOS transistors or the PMOS transistors has been described in the above embodiment, even if the resistor elements are connected to the drain terminal as shown inFIG. 9andFIG. 10, it is possible to cancel out the offset voltage of the transistors on some level.FIG. 9is a modified example ofFIG. 1, andFIG. 10is a modified example ofFIG. 3.

Furthermore, a conductive type of each transistor in the circuits shown inFIGS. 1,3,6–10may be inverse. In this case, the circuit ofFIG. 1is replaced with the circuit ofFIG. 11, the circuit ofFIG. 3is replace with the circuit ofFIG. 12, the circuit ofFIG. 6is replace with the circuit ofFIG. 13, the circuit ofFIG. 7is replace with the circuit ofFIG. 14, the circuit ofFIG. 8is replace with the circuit ofFIG. 15, the circuit ofFIG. 9is replace with the circuit ofFIG. 16, the circuit ofFIG. 10is replace with the circuit ofFIG. 17.

Even in the circuits ofFIGS. 11–17, because the resistor elements R1, R2and R3are provided, it is possible to cancel out the offset voltages of the sense amplifier and the dummy bit line sense amplifier.