Patent ID: 7944766

Claim:
A sense amplifier comprising: a differential amplifier circuit configured to generate an amplified signal depending on a difference in voltage between a first input signal and a second input signal; an output circuit connected to said differential amplifier circuit and receiving said amplified signal; and a load connected to said differential amplifier circuit, wherein said differential amplifier circuit comprises: a first output node supplying said amplified signal to said output circuit; and a second output node symmetrically placed with respect to said first output node and connected to said load, wherein said output circuit comprises an output terminal for outputting an output signal generated based on said amplified signal, and wherein said load is configured to switch between a first capacitance value with which an offset voltage at said output terminal becomes a first voltage and a second capacitance value with which said offset voltage becomes a second voltage and to shift said offset voltage from said first voltage to said second voltage by switching from said first capacitance value to said second capacitance value in response to a control signal.