Patent ID: 6944066

Claim:
A data path coupled to a read/write circuit for coupling data from the read/write circuit to an output buffer, the data path comprising: a local input/output (LIO) line coupled to the read/write circuit, the LIO having first and second signal lines to which complementary data from the read/write circuit are coupled; an input/output (IO) line coupling circuit having first and second control terminals coupled to the first and second signal lines of the LIO line, respectively, a supply terminal coupled to an internal voltage supply, and first and second output nodes to which the supply terminal is coupled and from which the supply terminal is decoupled according to the complementary data coupled to the first and second signal lines of the LIO line, respectively; a global input/output (GIO) line having first and second signal lines coupled to the first and second output terminals of the IO line coupling circuit; and an output data amplifier coupled to the first and second signal lines of the GIO line and adapted to generate complementary output voltage signals at output terminals coupled to the output buffer based on input currents coupled over the GIO line to the output data amplifier.