Memory cell system and method

摘要

A memory cell system/method incorporating reduced transistor counts and/or improved design-for-manufacturability (DFM) is disclosed. The system/method incorporates cross-coupled feedthru (3410)/feedback (3420) amplifiers to implement memory cell state memory, wherein the feedback amplifier incorporates a multi-state output drive capability (3423) allowing the memory cell to be read/written using only one access device (3430) connected to the output (3412) of the feedthru (3410) amplifier. The multi-state output drive capability (3423) modulates the feedback amplifier (3420) drive strength to enable reading/writing of the feedthru amplifier (3410) state with greatly reduced memory cell input fan-in requirements. The invention anticipates replacement of traditional DP/8T/6T/4T memory cell structures with corresponding 6T/6T/5T/3T memory cell configurations, resulting in a 16%-25% transistor reduction depending on memory array application context.

主权项

1. A memory cell system comprising:
(a) feedthru amplifier comprising an input port and an output port; (b) feedback amplifier comprising an input port, an output port, and a control port; and (c) access device comprising an input port, an output port, and an enable port; wherein said input port of said feedthru amplifier is electrically connected to said output port of said feedback amplifier; said output port of said feedthru amplifier is electrically connected to said input port of said feedback amplifier; said control port of said feedback amplifier modulates the drive strength of said output port of said feedback amplifier; said output port of said access device is electrically connected to said output port of said feedthru amplifier and said input port of said feedback amplifier; said access device electrically connects said input port of said access device and said output port of said access device in response to the state of said enable port of said access device; and said access device input port permits read access to the state of said feedthru amplifier output port in response to the state of said access device enable port.