Abstract:
A sensing circuit (120) for sensing currents, including at least one sense amplifier (122), comprising: a measure circuit branch (132i), having a measure node for receiving an input current (Ic) to be sensed, for converting the input current into a corresponding input voltage (V-); at least one comparison circuit branch (132o), having a comparison node for receiving a comparison current (Igs), for converting the comparison current into a corresponding comparison voltage (V+); and at least one voltage comparator (140) for comparing the input and comparison voltages, and means (N3s,135; N3s,135';N3s,135" ) for generating the comparison current based on a reference current (Ir), said means comprising: at least one voltage generator (135;135';135'') for receiving the reference current and for generating a corresponding sense amplifier biasing voltage (Vsab); and means (N3s) for converting the sense amplifier biasing voltage into the comparison current. The at least one voltage generator includes a first circuit branch (232i), having a first node for receiving the reference current, for converting the reference current into a corresponding reference voltage (Vref), a second circuit branch (232o), having a second node for receiving a regulation current (Ii), in current mirror configuration with the first circuit branch for mirroring a current (Img) corresponding to the reference current, the second circuit branch generating by conversion a non-regulated voltage (Vgen) corresponding to the mirrored current and to the regulation current, and voltage regulator means (N3g,240) receiving the reference voltage and the non-regulated voltage for regulating the sense amplifier biasing voltage by controlling the non-regulated voltage through the regulation current.
Abstract:
A level-shifter circuit (10) has: a pair of inputs which receive a first and a second low-voltage phase signal (FX, FN), having a first voltage dynamics with a first maximum value (Vdd); and a pair of outputs which supply a first high-voltage phase signal (FHX) and a second high-voltage phase signal (FHN), level-shifted with respect to the low-voltage signals and having a second voltage dynamics with a second maximum value (VddH), higher than the first maximum value (Vdd); the circuit is further provided with transfer transistors (M n1 , M n2 , M p1 , M p2 ) coupled between a first reference terminal or a second reference terminal, which are set at a first reference voltage (Gnd) or a second reference voltage (VddH), and the first output or second output; and protection elements (M nc1 , M nc2 , M pc1 , M pc2 ) coupled to a respective transfer transistor in such a way as to protect it from overvoltages between the corresponding conduction terminals and/or control terminals.
Abstract:
A memory device (10) formed by an array of memory cells (13) extending in rows and columns. The device is formed by a plurality of N-type wells (2) extending parallel to the rows; each N-type well (2) houses a plurality of P-type wells (3) extending in a direction transverse to the rows. A plurality of main bitlines (MBL) extend along the columns. Each P-type well is associated to a set of local bitlines (LBL) that extend along the respective P-type well and are connected to the drain terminals (D) of the cells accommodated in the respective P-type well. Local-bitlines managing circuits (14) are provided for each P-type well (3) and are arranged between the main bitlines (MBL) and a respective set of local bitlines (LBL) for controllably connecting each local bitline to a respective main bitline.