Patent ID: 7262638

Claim:
A current sense amplifier, comprising: a pair of cross-coupled transistors, a first transistor of the pair being connected between a first input signal line and a first output signal generating node and responding to an output signal of a second output signal generating node, a gate of the first transistor connected to the second output signal generating node, and a second transistor of the pair being connected between a second input signal line and a second output signal generating node, a gate of the second transistor connected to the first output signal generating node and responding to an output signal of the first output signal generating node, for amplifying a voltage difference between the first output signal generating node and the second output signal generating node; a constant current circuit connected between the output signal generating nodes and a common node for allowing current to flow between the common node and the first output signal generating node and between the common node and the second output signal generating node in response to a bias voltage; an enabling circuit for transmitting a first power voltage to the common node by being turned on in response to an enable signal; and a voltage generating circuit for increasing a voltage difference between the first output signal generating node and the second output signal generating node generated by the pair of cross-coupled transistors by being turned on in response to respective output signals of the first output signal generating node and the second output signal generating node, wherein the voltage generating circuit comprises a third transistor being connected between a second power voltage and the first output signal generating node, a gate of the third transistor directly connected to the first output signal generating node, and responding to the output signal of the first output signal generating node, and a fourth transistor being connected between the second power voltage and the second output signal generating node, a gate of the fourth transistor directly connected to the second output signal generating node, and responding to the output signal of the second output signal generating node.