Patent ID: 7929329

Claim:
A memory array comprising: an array of memory cells; a plurality of data lines coupling respective signals within the array, each of the data lines being divided into a plurality of data line segments; and a bidirectional buffer interposed in each of the data lines and connecting two of the data line segments to each other, each of the bidirectional buffers being structured to couple data from one of the data line segments to the other in either of two opposite directions, each of the bidirectional buffers comprising: a first transistor of a first conductivity type having a gate, a source and a drain, the gate of the first transistor being coupled to a first one of the data line segments; a second transistor of the first conductivity type having a gate, a source and a drain, the gate of the second transistor being coupled to a second one of the data line segments, and the source of the second transistor being coupled to the source of the first transistor; a third transistor of a second conductivity type that is different from the first conductivity type, the third transistor having a gate coupled to the drain of the second transistor, a drain coupled to the first one of the data line segments, and a source coupled to a first voltage source; a fourth transistor of the second conductivity type, the fourth transistor having a gate coupled to the drain of the first transistor, a drain coupled to the second one of the data line segments, and a source coupled to a second voltage source; a fifth transistor of the second conductivity type having a gate coupled to receive a first enable signal to render the fifth transistor conductive, a drain coupled to the gate of the third transistor, and a source coupled to a third voltage source; and a sixth transistor of the second conductivity type having a gate coupled to receive a second enable signal to render the sixth transistor conductive, a drain coupled to the gate of the first transistor, and a source coupled to a fourth voltage source.