Hybrid-mode SRAM sense amplifiers : new approach on transistor sizing

A novel high-speed sense amplifier for ultra-low-voltage SRAM applications is presented. It introduces a completely different way of sizing the aspect ratio of the transistors on the data-path, hence realizing a current-voltage hybrid mode Sense Amplifier. Extensive post-layout simulations have prov...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Do, Anh Tuan, Kong, Zhi Hui, Yeo, Kiat Seng
Other Authors: School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: 2010
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10356/79962
http://hdl.handle.net/10220/6260
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Institution: Nanyang Technological University
Language: English
Description
Summary:A novel high-speed sense amplifier for ultra-low-voltage SRAM applications is presented. It introduces a completely different way of sizing the aspect ratio of the transistors on the data-path, hence realizing a current-voltage hybrid mode Sense Amplifier. Extensive post-layout simulations have proved that the new Sense Amplifier provides both high-speed and low-power properties, with its delay and power reduced to 25.8% and 37.6% of those of the best prior art. It also offers a much better read-effectiveness and robustness against the bit- and data-line capacitances as well as VDD variations. Furthermore, the new Sense Amplifier is able to tolerate a large difference between the parasitic capacitances associated with the complementary DLs. It can operate down to a supply voltage of 0.9 V, the lowest reported for a 0.18 µm CMOS process. A modified cross-coupled amplifier is also introduced, allowing the Sense Amplifier to operate down to 0.55 V.