阅读说明：本技术 灵敏放大器、存储器和灵敏放大器的控制方法 (Sense amplifier, memory and control method of sense amplifier ) 是由 彭春雨 葛骏林 何军 应战 李新 曹堪宇 卢文娟 蔺智挺 吴秀龙 陈军宁 于 2020-08-13 设计创作，主要内容包括：本公开提供了一种灵敏放大器、存储器和灵敏放大器的控制方法,涉及半导体存储器技术领域。灵敏放大器包括：放大模块；控制模块,与放大模块电连接；其中,在灵敏放大器的失调补偿阶段,控制模块用于将放大模块配置为包括二极管结构、电流镜结构和输入输出相连的反相器；在灵敏放大器的第一放大阶段,控制模块用于将放大模块配置为反相器。本公开可以实现灵敏放大器的失调补偿,进而提高半导体存储器的性能。(The disclosure provides a sense amplifier, a memory and a control method of the sense amplifier, and relates to the technical field of semiconductor memories. The sense amplifier includes: an amplifying module; the control module is electrically connected with the amplifying module; in the offset compensation stage of the sensitive amplifier, the control module is used for configuring the amplifying module into a phase inverter which comprises a diode structure, a current mirror structure and an input/output connection; in a first amplification stage of the sense amplifier, the control module is configured to configure the amplification module as an inverter. The offset compensation of the sensitive amplifier can be realized, and the performance of the semiconductor memory is improved.)

1. A sense amplifier, comprising:

an amplifying module;

the control module is electrically connected with the amplifying module;

in the offset compensation stage of the sensitive amplifier, the control module is used for configuring the amplifying module to be an inverter which comprises a diode structure, a current mirror structure and an input-output connection; in a first amplification stage of the sense amplifier, the control module is configured to configure the amplification module as an inverter.

2. The sense amplifier of claim 1, wherein the amplification module comprises:

a first PMOS tube;

a grid electrode of the second PMOS tube is connected with a drain electrode of the first PMOS tube through a first node;

the grid electrode of the first NMOS tube is connected with a first bit line, and the drain electrode of the first NMOS tube is connected with the first node;

a grid electrode of the second NMOS tube is connected with a second bit line, and a drain electrode of the second NMOS tube is connected with a drain electrode of the second PMOS tube through a second node;

in the offset compensation stage of the sense amplifier, the second NMOS transistor is configured as a diode structure, the first PMOS transistor and the second PMOS transistor are configured as a current mirror structure, and the first PMOS transistor and the first NMOS transistor are configured as an inverter with input and output connected.

3. The sense amplifier of claim 2, wherein the control module comprises:

a first end of the first switch is connected with the first node, and a second end of the first switch is connected with a grid electrode of the first PMOS tube;

a second switch, a first terminal of the second switch being connected to a second terminal of the first switch, a second terminal of the second switch being connected to the second node;

a third switch, a first end of the third switch connected to the first node, a second end of the third switch connected to the first bit line;

a fourth switch, a first terminal of the fourth switch being connected to the second bit line, and a second terminal of the fourth switch being connected to the second node;

in the offset compensation stage of the sense amplifier, the first switch, the third switch and the fourth switch are closed, and the second switch is opened.

4. The sense amplifier of claim 3, wherein during the offset compensation phase of the sense amplifier, the sources of the first PMOS transistor and the second PMOS transistor receive a first voltage, and the sources of the first NMOS transistor and the second NMOS transistor are grounded.

5. The sense amplifier of claim 4, wherein during a first amplification stage of the sense amplifier, the second PMOS transistor and the second NMOS transistor are controlled to be in a cut-off region, and the first PMOS transistor and the first NMOS transistor are configured as inverters.

6. The sense amplifier of claim 5, wherein the control module further comprises:

a fifth switch, a first end of the fifth switch being connected to the second node, a second end of the fifth switch being connected to the first bit line;

a sixth switch, a first end of which is connected to the second bit line, and a second end of which is connected to the first node;

wherein, in the offset compensation phase of the sense amplifier, the fifth switch and the sixth switch are disconnected; in a first amplification stage of the sense amplifier, the first switch, the third switch and the fourth switch are open, and the second switch, the fifth switch and the sixth switch are closed.

7. The sense amplifier of claim 6, wherein during a first amplification stage of the sense amplifier, the source of the first PMOS transistor receives the first voltage, the source of the first NMOS transistor is grounded, and the source of the second PMOS transistor and the source of the second NMOS transistor receive a second voltage;

wherein the second voltage is less than the first voltage.

8. The sense amplifier of claim 7, wherein the control module is configured to configure the amplification module as a cross-coupled amplification structure in a second amplification stage subsequent to the first amplification stage of the sense amplifier.

9. The sense amplifier of claim 8, wherein the first switch, the third switch, and the fourth switch are open and the second switch, the fifth switch, and the sixth switch are closed during a second amplification stage of the sense amplifier.

10. The sense amplifier of claim 9, wherein during a second amplification stage of the sense amplifier, the sources of the first PMOS transistor and the second PMOS transistor receive the first voltage, and the sources of the first NMOS transistor and the second NMOS transistor are grounded.

11. The sense amplifier of claim 10, further comprising, in the sense amplifier:

the precharge module is used for precharging the first bit line and the second bit line in a precharge stage before an offset compensation stage of the sense amplifier.

12. The sense amplifier of claim 11, wherein during a precharge phase of the sense amplifier, the first switch, the second switch, the fifth switch, and the sixth switch are open, and the third switch and the fourth switch are closed.

13. The sense amplifier of claim 12, wherein the sources of the first PMOS transistor, the second PMOS transistor, the first NMOS transistor, and the second NMOS transistor all receive the second voltage during a precharge phase of the sense amplifier.

14. A memory comprising a sense amplifier as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. A control method of a sense amplifier, the sense amplifier including an amplifying module and a control module, the control method of the sense amplifier comprising:

in the offset compensation stage of the sensitive amplifier, the control module is used for configuring the amplifying module into an inverter which comprises a diode structure, a current mirror structure and an input-output connection;

and in the first amplification stage of the sensitive amplifier, the amplifying module is configured into an inverter by the control module.

Technical Field

The disclosure relates to the technical field of semiconductor memories, in particular to a sense amplifier, a memory and a control method of the sense amplifier.

Background

With the development of new and intensive applications, the generation of new computing modes (memory computing), and the increasing number of processor cores on a chip, semiconductor memory devices are becoming more and more important. There are roughly two categories according to whether data internally stored in the semiconductor memory device disappears after power is turned off: volatile memory (which loses stored data after power is turned off) and non-volatile memory (which retains stored data after power is turned off). Volatile memories include Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM). Non-volatile memory includes read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), electrically programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), NAND flash memory, NOR flash memory, phase change RAM (PRAM), Magnetic RAM (MRAM), Resistive RAM (RRAM), ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), and the like. DRAM, which is a volatile memory, is currently the mainstream semiconductor memory because of its advantages such as high bandwidth, low latency, low cost, and low power consumption.

In a DRAM, a sense amplifier is used to read data in a memory cell, having one bit line BL (read bit line) input and one bit line BLB (reference bit line) input. In a read operation (or refresh operation), the sense amplifier functions to read a voltage difference between the bit line BL and the reference bit line BLB and amplify a voltage difference between the two bit lines.

Metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) are included in the sense amplifier, however, in semiconductor technology, two MOSFETs that are theoretically identical may be mismatched due to process and temperature variations, i.e., have different characteristics, causing the sense amplifier to generate offset noise that seriously affects the performance of the semiconductor memory.

It is to be noted that the information disclosed in the above background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the present disclosure, and thus may include information that does not constitute prior art known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Disclosure of Invention

The present disclosure is directed to providing a sense amplifier, a memory, and a control method of the sense amplifier, thereby overcoming, at least to some extent, the problem of affecting the performance of a semiconductor memory due to the mismatch of transistors in the sense amplifier.

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a sense amplifier comprising: an amplifying module; the control module is electrically connected with the amplifying module; in the offset compensation stage of the sensitive amplifier, the control module is used for configuring the amplifying module into a phase inverter which comprises a diode structure, a current mirror structure and an input/output connection; in a first amplification stage of the sense amplifier, the control module is configured to configure the amplification module as an inverter.

Optionally, the amplifying module comprises: a first PMOS tube; the grid electrode of the second PMOS tube is connected with the drain electrode of the first PMOS tube through the first node; the grid electrode of the first NMOS tube is connected with the first bit line, and the drain electrode of the first NMOS tube is connected with the first node; the grid electrode of the second NMOS tube is connected with the second bit line, and the drain electrode of the second NMOS tube is connected with the drain electrode of the second PMOS tube through a second node; in the offset compensation stage of the sense amplifier, the second NMOS tube is configured to be a diode structure, the first PMOS tube and the second PMOS tube are configured to be a current mirror structure, and the first PMOS tube and the first NMOS tube are configured to be phase inverters with input and output connected.

Optionally, the control module comprises: a first end of the first switch is connected with the first node, and a second end of the first switch is connected with the grid electrode of the first PMOS tube; a first end of the second switch is connected with the second end of the first switch, and a second end of the second switch is connected with the second node; a first end of the third switch is connected with the first node, and a second end of the third switch is connected with the first bit line; a first end of the fourth switch is connected with the second bit line, and a second end of the fourth switch is connected with the second node; in the offset compensation stage of the sense amplifier, the first switch, the third switch and the fourth switch are closed, and the second switch is opened.

Optionally, in the offset compensation stage of the sense amplifier, the sources of the first PMOS transistor and the second PMOS transistor receive the first voltage, and the sources of the first NMOS transistor and the second NMOS transistor are grounded.

Optionally, in the first amplification stage of the sense amplifier, the second PMOS transistor and the second NMOS transistor are controlled to be in a cut-off region, and the first PMOS transistor and the first NMOS transistor are configured as an inverter.

Optionally, the control module further comprises: a first end of the fifth switch is connected with the second node, and a second end of the fifth switch is connected with the first bit line; a first end of the sixth switch is connected with the second bit line, and a second end of the sixth switch is connected with the first node; in the offset compensation stage of the sensitive amplifier, the fifth switch and the sixth switch are switched off; in the first amplification stage of the sense amplifier, the first switch, the third switch and the fourth switch are turned off, and the second switch, the fifth switch and the sixth switch are turned on.

Optionally, in a first amplification stage of the sense amplifier, the source of the first PMOS transistor receives a first voltage, the source of the first NMOS transistor is grounded, and the source of the second PMOS transistor and the source of the second NMOS transistor receive a second voltage; wherein the second voltage is less than the first voltage.

Optionally, the control module is configured to configure the amplifying module as a cross-coupled amplifying structure in a second amplifying stage after the first amplifying stage of the sense amplifier.

Optionally, in the second amplification stage of the sense amplifier, the first switch, the third switch and the fourth switch are turned off, and the second switch, the fifth switch and the sixth switch are turned on.

Optionally, in a second amplification stage of the sense amplifier, the sources of the first PMOS transistor and the second PMOS transistor receive the first voltage, and the sources of the first NMOS transistor and the second NMOS transistor are grounded.

Optionally, the sense amplifier further comprises: and the precharging module is used for precharging the first bit line and the second bit line in a precharging stage before the offset compensation stage of the sensitive amplifier.

Optionally, during the precharge phase of the sense amplifier, the first switch, the second switch, the fifth switch and the sixth switch are turned off, and the third switch and the fourth switch are turned on.

Optionally, in a pre-charge stage of the sense amplifier, the sources of the first PMOS transistor, the second PMOS transistor, the first NMOS transistor, and the second PMOS transistor all receive a second voltage.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a memory comprising a sense amplifier as defined in any one of the above.

According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a control method of a sense amplifier, the sense amplifier including an amplification block and a control block, the control method of the sense amplifier including: in the offset compensation stage of the sensitive amplifier, the control module is used for configuring the amplifying module into a phase inverter which comprises a diode structure, a current mirror structure and an input/output connection; in a first amplification stage of the sense amplifier, the amplifying block is configured as an inverter using the control block.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, under the control of the control module, in an offset compensation stage of the sense amplifier, the amplifying module is configured as an inverter including a diode structure, a current mirror structure and an input/output connection, and in a first amplifying stage of the sense amplifier, the amplifying module is configured as an inverter. Based on the circuit configuration disclosed by the invention, the voltages of the bit lines on two sides of the sensitive amplifier can be adjusted, so that the influence on the voltages of the bit lines on two sides of the sensitive amplifier caused by offset noise is compensated, and the performance of the semiconductor memory is further improved.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the disclosure.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present disclosure and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. It is to be understood that the drawings in the following description are merely exemplary of the disclosure, and that other drawings may be derived from those drawings by one of ordinary skill in the art without the exercise of inventive faculty. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a block diagram of a sense amplifier according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a circuit diagram of a sense amplifier according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram schematically illustrating a specific configuration of a sense amplifier according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a timing diagram of various control signals involved in a sense amplifier according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a circuit diagram of a sense amplifier during a precharge phase according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a circuit diagram of a sense amplifier during an offset compensation phase according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 7 shows a simulation schematic of the offset compensation phase according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a circuit diagram of a sense amplifier in a first amplification stage according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 9 schematically illustrates a circuit diagram of a sense amplifier at a second amplification stage according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

fig. 10 schematically shows a flowchart of a control method of a sense amplifier according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. Example embodiments may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of example embodiments to those skilled in the art. The described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to give a thorough understanding of embodiments of the disclosure. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the subject matter of the present disclosure can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, devices, steps, and the like. In other instances, well-known technical solutions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the present disclosure.

Furthermore, the drawings are merely schematic illustrations of the present disclosure and are not necessarily drawn to scale. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or similar parts, and thus their repetitive description will be omitted. The descriptions of "first," "second," "third," "fourth," "fifth," and "sixth" are for purposes of distinction only and are not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

It is noted that the term "coupled," as used herein, may include both direct and indirect connections. In the direct connection, there is no component between the terminals, for example, the first terminal of the switch a is connected to the first terminal of the switch B, and there may be only a connection line (e.g., a metal line) on the connection line between the first terminal of the switch a and the first terminal of the switch B, and there is no other component. In indirect connection, there may be other components between the terminals, for example, the first terminal of the switch C is connected to the first terminal of the switch D, and there may be at least one other component (e.g., the switch E, etc.) on the connection line between the first terminal of the switch C and the first terminal of the switch D in addition to the connection line.

In the sense amplifier, due to the difference in the manufacturing process and the influence of the operating environment, there may be differences in the sizes, mobilities, threshold voltages, etc. of the transistors, and the performances of the transistors may not be completely the same, which may cause the sense amplifier to be out of order, which is equivalent to the occurrence of out-of-order noise, and seriously affects the correctness of the read data of the memory.

For example, a sense amplifier includes two symmetrically configured NMOS transistors, and ideally, the two NMOS transistors are expected to perform exactly the same. However, in practice, the threshold voltages of the two NMOS transistors may be different, which may cause a circuit mismatch. At this time, if no measure is taken, when data is read from the memory cell, it is possible to read "1" originally stored as "0" error output or read "0" originally stored as "1" error output.

In view of this, the present disclosure provides a new sense amplifier.

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a block diagram of a sense amplifier according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in fig. 1, the sense amplifier 1 may include an amplifying module 11 and a control module 12.

The amplifying module 11 can be used for reading data of the memory cells on the first bit line or the second bit line;

the control module 12 is electrically connected to the amplification module 11.

During the offset compensation phase of the sense amplifier, the control module 12 is configured to configure the amplifying module 11 to include a diode structure, a current mirror structure, and an inverter with input and output connected.

In a first amplification stage of the sense amplifier, the control block 12 is used to configure the amplification block 11 as an inverter.

Based on the circuit configuration disclosed by the invention, the voltages of bit lines (a first bit line and/or a second bit line) on two sides of the sensitive amplifier can be adjusted, so that the influence of offset noise on the voltages of the bit lines on two sides of the sensitive amplifier is compensated, and the performance of the semiconductor memory is further improved.

It should be understood that the offset noise described in the present disclosure refers to a voltage difference generated by an inconsistency between at least two transistors (or components) in the amplification module 11. The offset noise refers to the offset noise of the entire amplification block 11 in the case of integrating the voltage differences between all transistors (or components).

The amplifying module 11 may include a first PMOS transistor (hereinafter, referred to as a transistor P1), a second PMOS transistor (hereinafter, referred to as a transistor P2), a first NMOS transistor (hereinafter, referred to as a transistor N1), and a second NMOS transistor (hereinafter, referred to as a transistor N2).

In this case, the offset noise may be an offset voltage of the transistor P1 and the transistor P2, an offset voltage of the transistor N1 and the transistor N2, or an offset voltage obtained by combining the two, which is not limited in the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a circuit diagram of a sense amplifier according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to fig. 2, the drain of the transistor P1 is connected to the gate of the transistor P2, and the drain of the transistor P1 is also connected to the drain of the transistor N1. For convenience of description later, a first node nL may be defined in the sense amplifier, and a drain of the transistor P1, a gate of the transistor P2, and a drain of the transistor N1 are connected to the first node nL.

The drain of the transistor P2 is connected to the drain of the transistor N2. For convenience of description later, a second node nR may be defined in the sense amplifier, and a drain of the transistor P2 and a drain of the transistor N2 are connected to the second node nR.

In addition, the gate of the transistor N1 is connected to the first bit line BL. The gate of transistor N2 is connected to a second bit line BLB.

The operation phase of the sense amplifier of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may be divided into: the amplifier comprises a pre-charging stage, an offset compensation stage, a first amplification stage and a second amplification stage.

In the offset compensation stage, the transistor N2 may be configured as a diode structure, the transistor P1 and the transistor P2 may be configured as a current mirror structure, and the transistor P1 and the transistor N1 may be configured as an inverter with input and output connected.

The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure realize the above-described configuration by the control module. Referring to fig. 2, the control module may include a first switch (hereinafter, simply referred to as a switch K1), a second switch (hereinafter, simply referred to as a switch K2), a third switch (hereinafter, simply referred to as a switch K3), and a fourth switch (hereinafter, simply referred to as a switch K4).

A first terminal of the switch K1 is connected to the first node nL, and a second terminal of the switch K1 is connected to the gate of the transistor P1; a first terminal of the switch K2 is connected to a second terminal of the switch K1, and a second terminal of the switch K2 is connected to the second node nR; a first terminal of the switch K3 is connected to the first node nL, and a second terminal of the switch K3 is connected to the first bit line BL; the first terminal of the switch K4 is connected to the second bit line BLB, and the second terminal of the switch K4 is connected to the second node nR.

During the offset compensation phase of the sense amplifier, the switch K1, the switch K3 and the switch K4 are closed, and the switch K2 is opened.

The present disclosure does not limit the types of the switch K1, the switch K2, the switch K3, and the switch K4. For example, the switch K1 may be a PMOS transistor, an NMOS transistor, or a CMOS transmission gate; the switch K2 can be a PMOS tube, an NMOS tube or a CMOS transmission gate; the switch K3 can be a PMOS tube, an NMOS tube or a CMOS transmission gate; the switch K4 may be a PMOS transistor, an NMOS transistor, or a CMOS transmission gate.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the switch K1 may include a control terminal for controlling the switch state of the switch K1 in response to a first control signal (denoted as control signal CM); the switch K2 may also include a control terminal for controlling the switch state of the switch K2 in response to a second control signal (denoted as control signal CC).

The switch K3 may include a control terminal for controlling the switch state of the switch K3 in response to a third control signal (denoted as a control signal Tran); the switch K4 may also include a control terminal for controlling the switch state of the switch K4 in response to a third control signal. That is, the control terminals of the switches K3 and K4 can both receive the third control signal.

In addition, the source of the transistor P1 may receive a fourth control signal (denoted as control signal ACT1), the source of the transistor P2 may receive a fifth control signal (denoted as control signal ACT2), the source of the transistor N1 may receive a sixth control signal (denoted as control signal NLAT1), and the source of the transistor N2 may receive a seventh control signal (denoted as control signal NLAT 2).

During the offset compensation phase of the sense amplifier, the sources of the transistors P1 and P2 both receive a first voltage, wherein the first voltage may be the power supply voltage VCC. That is, at this stage, the control signal ACT1 and the control signal ACT2 are both configured to the first voltage.

At this stage, the sources of the transistor N1 and the transistor N2 are grounded, that is, the voltages received by the control signal NLAT1 and the control signal NLAT2 are 0.

In the first amplification stage of the sense amplifier, the transistor P2 and the transistor N2 are controlled to be in an off region, and the transistor P1 and the transistor N1 are configured as an inverter.

To implement this configuration, referring to fig. 2, the sense amplifier of the present disclosure may further include a fifth switch (hereinafter, abbreviated as K5) and a sixth switch (hereinafter, abbreviated as K6).

A first terminal of the switch K5 is connected to the second node nR, and a second terminal of the switch K5 is connected to the first bit line BL; a first terminal of the switch K6 is connected to the second bit line BLB, and a second terminal of the switch K6 is connected to the first node nL.

Similarly, the present disclosure does not limit the type of switch K5 and switch K6. For example, the switch K5 may be a PMOS transistor, an NMOS transistor, or a CMOS transmission gate; the switch K6 may be a PMOS transistor, an NMOS transistor, or a CMOS transmission gate.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the switch K5 may include a control terminal for controlling the switch state of the switch K5 in response to an eighth control signal (denoted as control signal ISO); the switch K6 may also include a control terminal for controlling the switch state of the switch K6 in response to an eighth control signal. That is, the control terminals of the switches K5 and K6 can both receive the eighth control signal.

During the offset compensation phase of the sense amplifier, the switch K5 and the switch K6 are turned off. In the first amplification stage of the sense amplifier, the switch K1, the switch K3 and the switch K4 are open, and the switch K2, the switch K5 and the switch K6 are closed.

In addition, during the first amplifying stage of the sense amplifier, the source of the transistor P1 receives the first voltage, i.e., the control signal ACT1 is VCC; the source of transistor N1 is connected to ground; the sources of transistor P2 and transistor N2 receive a second voltage that places transistor P2 and transistor N2 in the off region, wherein the second voltage is less than the first voltage. In one embodiment, the second voltage may be VCC/2.

The control module is further configured to configure the amplification module in a cross-coupled amplification configuration during a second amplification stage of the sense amplifier subsequent to the first amplification stage.

Specifically, in the second amplification stage, the switch K1, the switch K3, and the switch K4 are open, and the switch K2, the switch K5, and the switch K6 are closed. Also, the sources of the transistor P1 and the transistor P2 receive the first voltage, i.e., the control signal ACT1 and the control signal ACT2 are VCC. The sources of the transistor N1 and the transistor N2 are grounded, that is, the control signal NLAT1 and the control signal NLAT2 are 0.

In addition, the sense amplifier further comprises a precharge module for precharging the first bit line and the second bit line in a precharge stage before the offset compensation stage of the sense amplifier.

During the pre-charging phase, the switch K1, the switch K2, the switch K5 and the switch K6 are opened, and the switch K3 and the switch K4 are closed. In addition, the sources of the transistor P1, the transistor P2, the transistor N1, and the transistor N2 all receive the second voltage.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a circuit diagram of a sense amplifier according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 3, switch K1 is configured as transistor N3, controlling the switch state in response to control signal CM; switch K2 is configured as transistor N4, controlling the switch state in response to control signal CC; the switch K3 is configured as a transistor N5, controlling the switch state in response to a control signal Tran; the switch K4 is configured as a transistor N6, controlling the switch state in response to a control signal Tran; the switch K5 is configured as a transistor N7, controlling the switch state in response to a control signal ISO; the switch K6 is configured as a transistor N8, controlling the switch state in response to a control signal ISO.

The precharge unit may include a transistor N9, a transistor N10, and a transistor N11.

The gates of transistor N9, transistor N10, and transistor N11 may each receive the precharge control signal PCE. The source of the transistor N9 is connected to the second bit line BLB, and the drain of the transistor N9 is connected to the first bit line BL; the source of the transistor N10 is connected to the first bit line BL, the drain of the transistor N10 is connected to the source of the transistor N11, and to a precharge voltage Veq, which may be configured to VCC/2; the drain of transistor N11 is connected to a second bit line BLB.

A memory cell corresponding to the first bit line BL is configured to include a transistor N12 and a capacitor C1, the transistor N12 controlling a switching state in response to a word line control signal WL; the memory cell corresponding to the second bit line BLB is configured to include a transistor N13 and a capacitor C2, and the transistor N13 controls a switching state in response to a word line control signal WLB.

FIG. 4 schematically shows a timing diagram of various control signals according to an embodiment of the disclosure. It should be noted that fig. 4 is a schematic diagram, and the abscissa time value shown in the figure is not meant to limit the embodiments of the disclosure.

The operation stages of the sense amplifier of some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the timing diagram of fig. 4.

In fig. 5, for the precharge stage of the sense amplifier, the voltages of the control signal PCE, the control signal Tran, the control signal ACT1, the control signal ACT2, the control signal NLAT1, and the control signal NLAT2 may be 1.5 times VCC, VCC/2, and VCC/2, respectively, and the voltages of the remaining control signals are 0.

Correspondingly, the transistor N9, the transistor N10, the transistor N11, the transistor N5, and the transistor N6 are turned on (corresponding to the closed state of the switch). Transistor N3, transistor N4, transistor N7, and transistor N8 are off (corresponding to the off state of the switch).

In this case, the first bit line BL and the second bit line BLB are connected to the precharge voltage Veq through the transistor N10 and the transistor N11, respectively, and are connected to each other through the transistor N9, so that the first bit line BL and the second bit line BLB are precharged to Veq. In addition, since the transistor N5 and the transistor N6 are turned on, the first node nL and the second node nR are precharged to Veq as well.

It should be noted that, in the precharge stage, the transistor N3, the transistor N4, the transistor N7, and the transistor N8 may also be in a closed state, and may be set as needed.

In fig. 6, for the offset compensation stage of the sense amplifier, the voltages of the control signal ACT1, the control signal NLAT1, the control signal ACT2, the control signal NLAT2, the control signal Tran, and the control signal CM are VCC, 0, 1.5 times VCC, and VCC, respectively.

In this case, the transistor N3, the transistor N5, and the transistor N6 are turned on, whereby the transistor P1 and the transistor N1 form an inverter having one input and output connected. Since the transistor N3 is turned on, the transistor P1 and the transistor P2 form a current mirror structure.

After the precharge phase, if there is a mismatch problem in the circuit, that is, there is a mismatch caused by the mismatch between the transistor P1 and the transistor P2 or a mismatch caused by the mismatch between the transistor N1 and the transistor N2, the current flowing through the transistor P1 and the transistor N1 is not equal to the current flowing through the transistor P2 and the transistor N2, that is, the driving capability of the two inverters is not the same, which results in an increased probability of data misreading.

By the offset compensation stage shown in fig. 6, the first bit line BL can be compensated to the flip point of the inverter based on the inverter whose input and output are connected, and the flip voltage can be varied based on the degree of offset. In addition, the inversion voltage of the inverter formed by the transistor P1 and the transistor N1 is the gate voltage of the transistor P2, and at this time, the transistor P1 and the transistor P2 form a current mirror structure, so that the current in the branch of the transistor P1 and the transistor N1 is approximately equal to the current in the branch of the transistor P2 and the transistor N2. For the transistor N2, its gate is connected to the drain to form a diode structure, and is connected to the second bit line BLB to compensate the voltage of the second bit line BLB. In this case, the voltage on the second bit line BLB will vary, so that the overdrive voltage of the transistor N2 is varied to meet the requirement of the current mirror.

Fig. 7 shows a simulation schematic of the offset compensation phase according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The simulation conditions are as follows: the conductivity factor of the N-type transistor is the same as that of the P-type transistor, the threshold voltage of the transistor N1 is 150mV less than the threshold voltage of the transistor N2, there is no mismatch between the transistor P1 and the transistor P2, and the threshold voltages of the transistor P2 and the transistor N2 are approximately equal.

The flip points identified in the figure are: the inversion voltage of the inverter formed by the transistor P1 and the transistor N1 on the left side of the sense amplifier is the intersection point of the input-output curve of the inverter and y ═ x. The compensation points identified in the figure are: the voltages of the first bit line BL and the second bit line BLB after the offset compensation stage. The conventional points identified in the figure are: the intersection of the cross-coupled amplifier transmission curves formed by transistor P1, transistor P2, transistor N1, and transistor N2 prior to offset compensation. The ideal points identified in the figure are: after offset compensation, the intersection of the cross-coupled amplifier transmission curves consisting of transistor P1, transistor P2, transistor N1, and transistor N2.

In the figure, the horizontal distance between the slope line with the slope of 1 at the overcompensation point and the slope line with the slope of 1 at the ideal point is the error range after compensation (error caused by offset), while the horizontal distance between the slope line with the slope of 1 at the conventional point and the slope line with the slope of 1 at the ideal point is the error range without compensation.

It can be seen from the simulation results of fig. 7 that the compensation point is very close to the ideal point, and the error range after compensation is smaller than the error range without compensation. Thus, the offset compensation stage of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure greatly reduces the impact on the circuit due to transistor mismatch.

In fig. 8, for the first amplification stage of the sense amplifier, the voltages of the control signal ACT1, the control signal NLAT1, the control signal ACT2, the control signal NLAT2, the control signal CC, and the control signal ISO are VCC, 0, VCC/2, VCC, and 1.5 times VCC, respectively.

Correspondingly, the transistor N4, the transistor N7, and the transistor N8 are turned on, and since the voltages of the control signal ACT1 and the control signal NLAT1 are VCC and 0, respectively, the transistor P1 and the transistor N1 form an inverter, an input end of the inverter is the first bit line BL, and an output end of the inverter is the second bit line BLB. In addition, since the voltages of the control signal ACT2 and the control signal NLAT2 are both VCC/2, the transistor P2 and the transistor N2 are in the off region, that is, the transistor P2 and the transistor N2 do not operate.

When the sense amplifier reads 0 for the memory cell of the first bit line BL, after the word line control signal WL is at a high level, the voltage of the first bit line BL decreases, that is, the input of the inverter composed of the transistor P1 and the transistor N1 is at a relatively low level, and due to the inverter, the voltage at the output end of the inverter continuously increases in the first amplification stage, that is, the voltage of the second bit line BLB continuously increases.

When the sense amplifier reads 1 for the memory cell of the first bit line BL, after the word line control signal WL is at a high level, the voltage of the first bit line BL is increased, that is, the input of the inverter composed of the transistor P1 and the transistor N1 is at a relatively high level, and due to the inverter, the voltage at the output end of the inverter is continuously decreased in the first amplification stage, that is, the voltage of the second bit line BLB is continuously decreased.

Therefore, in the first amplification stage of the sense amplifier of the present disclosure, the voltage difference between the first bit line BL and the second bit line BLB is greatly increased, which is beneficial to further amplifying the voltage difference between the first bit line BL and the second bit line BLB, thereby increasing the speed of data reading and being beneficial to preventing data from being amplified by mistake.

Fig. 9 shows that, for the second amplification stage of the sense amplifier, the voltages of the control signal ACT1, the control signal NLAT1, the control signal ACT2, the control signal NLAT2, the control signal CC, and the control signal ISO are VCC, 0, VCC, 1.5 times VCC, respectively. In contrast to the circuit arrangement shown in fig. 8, the voltages of the control signal ACT2 and the control signal NLAT2 are switched to VCC and 0, respectively. Thus, the transistor P1, the transistor P2, the transistor N1, and the transistor N2 constitute a cross-coupled amplification structure.

When the sense amplifier reads 0 for the memory cell of the first bit line BL, the voltage on the first bit line BL is lower than the voltage on the second bit line BLB, and at this time, the transistor N2 and the transistor N7 are turned on, and the voltage on the first bit line BL can be discharged to ground through the transistor N2. In addition, transistor P1 turns on, raising the voltage on second bit line BLB to VCC.

When the sense amplifier reads 1 for the memory cell of the first bit line BL, the voltage on the first bit line BL is higher than the voltage on the second bit line BLB, and at this time, the transistor N1 and the transistor N8 are turned on, discharging the voltage on the second bit line BLB to ground through the transistor N1. In addition, the transistor P2 is turned on, raising the voltage on the first bit line BL to VCC.

Therefore, the purpose of amplifying the small voltage difference read from the memory cell by the bit line to the full swing (0 or 1) can be realized by the cross-coupling amplifying structure.

It should be noted that, a transition stage may be further included between the offset compensation stage and the first amplification stage, in which the word line is in an on state, the second control signal CC and the eighth control signal ISO are in a low state, and the transistor N4, the transistor N7, and the transistor N8 are controlled to be in an off state, so that after the word line is turned on, the charges in the memory cell are fully shared to the first bit line or the second bit line. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be set as needed.

Further, the present disclosure also provides a control method of the sense amplifier.

Fig. 10 schematically shows a flowchart of a control method of a sense amplifier according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As described above, the sense amplifier may include an amplifying module and a control module.

Referring to fig. 10, the control method of the sense amplifier may include the steps of:

s102, in the offset compensation stage of the sensitive amplifier, the control module is used for configuring the amplifying module into a phase inverter which comprises a diode structure, a current mirror structure and an input/output connection;

s104, in the first amplification stage of the sensitive amplifier, the amplification module is configured to be an inverter by using the control module.

As mentioned above, the sense amplifier may further include a pre-charge stage and a second amplification stage, and details of these stages are described in the above description of the sense amplifier and are not described herein again.

By the control method of the sense amplifier of the exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, the voltages of the bit lines at two sides of the sense amplifier can be adjusted, so that the influence of offset noise on the voltages of the bit lines at two sides of the sense amplifier is compensated, and the performance of the semiconductor memory is improved.

Further, the present disclosure also provides a memory, which includes the above sense amplifier.

The memory of the exemplary embodiment of the disclosure has a low read error rate due to better offset compensation, and thus, the performance of the memory is greatly improved.

Other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosure disclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosure following, in general, the principles of the disclosure and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the disclosure pertains. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims.

It will be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the precise arrangements described above and shown in the drawings and that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope thereof. The scope of the present disclosure is to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims.