Patent ID: 7538584

Claim:
A sense amplifier comprising: a first current sense circuit that is activated based on a delay signal and that detects an electric current targeted for comparison and outputs a detection voltage corresponding to the electric current, wherein the first current sense circuit includes: a first transistor connected between a power supply potential and a first node from which the detection voltage is outputted, and brought to an on state when the delay signal is supplied, a second transistor connected between the first node and a second node supplied with the electric current targeted for comparison, and whose conducting state is controlled by a reference voltage, and a third transistor connected between the second node and a ground potential and whose conducting state is controlled by a potential applied to the first node; a second current sense circuit that is activated based on an operation enabling signal and that detects an electric current defined as the reference and outputs the reference voltage corresponding to the electric current, wherein the second current sense circuit includes: a fourth transistor connected between the power supply potential and a third node from which the reference voltage is outputted, and brought to an on state when the operation enabling signal is supplied, a fifth transistor connected between the third node and a fourth node supplied with the electric current defined as the reference, and whose conducting state is controlled by a potential applied to the third node, and a sixth transistor connected between the fourth node and the ground potential and whose conducting state is controlled by the potential applied to the third node; a comparison circuit that compares the detection voltage and the reference voltage and outputs a result of comparison by the comparison circuit; and a delay circuit that outputs the delay signal obtained by delaying the operation enabling signal.