Sense Amplifier Offset Compensation via Dynamic Reconfiguration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The mismatch of transistors in semiconductor memory sense amplifiers leads to imbalance noise, affecting the performance and accuracy of data reading in DRAMs, causing errors in reading stored data as '1' as '0' or '0' as '1'.
Innovation Solution
A sense amplifier configuration with a control module that adjusts the amplification module to include a diode structure, current mirror structure, and an inverter with input and output connected together, compensating for offset noise by configuring the amplification module as an inverter in the first amplification stage and a cross-coupled amplification structure in the second stage, thereby adjusting voltages on bit lines to improve performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a conventional sense amplifier with standard amplification module is used, then the device complexity is low, but transistor mismatch causes imbalance noise that deteriorates measurement precision and reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The amplification module dynamically reconfigures its structure between two states: a cross-coupled amplification structure for normal operation and an offset compensation structure that includes a diode structure, current mirror structure, and inverter with feedback. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the system to compensate for transistor mismatch effects while maintaining low complexity during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The inverter with feedback connected together acts as an intermediary element that enables offset compensation. By introducing this feedback mechanism, the system can detect and compensate for imbalance noise caused by transistor mismatch, thereby improving measurement precision without requiring complete redesign of the amplification module.
2Reliability
If transistor mismatch is compensated through complex circuit configurations, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the operational parameters and configuration of existing components rather than introducing new component types. By adjusting the amplification module between two known structures (cross-coupled and offset compensation modes), the system achieves improved reliability while maintaining compatibility with standard fabrication processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The offset compensation structure is pre-configured within the amplification module, allowing mismatch compensation to occur automatically before data reading operations. This preliminary action ensures that imbalance noise is compensated in advance, improving reliability without adding complexity to the manufacturing process.
3Measurement precision
If offset compensation structures are added to compensate for transistor mismatch, then measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The offset compensation functionality is merged with the existing amplification module by integrating the diode structure, current mirror structure, and feedback inverter into the same circuit block. This merging approach allows offset compensation to be achieved without adding separate dedicated compensation circuits, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The amplification module is designed to perform multiple functions: normal signal amplification via the cross-coupled structure and offset compensation via the integrated feedback structure. This multi-functionality allows a single module to handle both tasks, reducing the need for additional dedicated compensation circuits and limiting complexity increase.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a sense amplifier, a memory, and a method for controlling a sense amplifier, relating to the technical field of semiconductor memories. The sense amplifier comprises: an amplification module; and a control module, electrically connected to the amplification module; wherein, in an offset compensation stage of the sense amplifier, the control module is used to configure the amplification module to comprise a diode structure, a current mirror structure, and an inverter with an input and an output connected together; and in a first amplification stage of the sense amplifier, the control module is used to configure the amplification module as an inverter. The present disclosure can realize the offset compensation of the sense amplifier, thereby improving the performance of semiconductor memories.