Patents by Inventor ALEXANDER FRITSCH

ALEXANDER FRITSCH has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11664068
    Abstract: A singled ended current sense amplifier circuit including an input stage having a bitline node, a sense node and a feedback circuit comprising a feedback inverter configured to provide an amplified voltage from the bitline node. The feedback inverter may include first and second NMOS transistors serially connected to a feedback node and first and second PMOS transistors serially connected to the feedback node. The feedback circuit may include a third NMOS transistor having a gate terminal connected to the feedback node and a drain terminal connected to the sense node. The input stage may include a third PMOS transistor operating as a current source to generate a sense current which flows in a current sensing path between the sense node and the bitline node. The input stage may act as a regulator to keep the voltage at the bitline node constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rajiv Joshi, Sudipto Chakraborty, Alexander Fritsch, Holger Wetter
  • Publication number: 20230005521
    Abstract: A singled ended current sense amplifier circuit including an input stage having a bitline node, a sense node and a feedback circuit comprising a feedback inverter configured to provide an amplified voltage from the bitline node. The feedback inverter may include first and second NMOS transistors serially connected to a feedback node and first and second PMOS transistors serially connected to the feedback node. The feedback circuit may include a third NMOS transistor having a gate terminal connected to the feedback node and a drain terminal connected to the sense node. The input stage may include a third PMOS transistor operating as a current source to generate a sense current which flows in a current sensing path between the sense node and the bitline node. The input stage may act as a regulator to keep the voltage at the bitline node constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2021
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Rajiv Joshi, Sudipto Chakraborty, Alexander Fritsch, Holger Wetter
  • Patent number: 11527283
    Abstract: A sense amplifier circuit includes a bitline node, a sense node, and a feedback circuit which is connected to the bitline node and to the sense node. The feedback circuit includes a cascode-connected pair of transistors configured to isolate the bitline node from an occurrence of a voltage variation on the sense node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sudipto Chakraborty, Rajiv Joshi, Alexander Fritsch, Holger Wetter
  • Publication number: 20220230678
    Abstract: A sense amplifier circuit includes a bitline node, a sense node, and a feedback circuit which is connected to the bitline node and to the sense node. The feedback circuit includes a cascode-connected pair of transistors configured to isolate the bitline node from an occurrence of a voltage variation on the sense node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Sudipto Chakraborty, Rajiv Joshi, Alexander Fritsch, Holger Wetter
  • Patent number: 10984160
    Abstract: Circuit analysis and modification by receiving a first description of a circuit, the first description having a first level of detail, receiving a second description of the circuit, the second description having a second level of detail, performing a circuit simulation according to the first description, identifying an active node of the first description according to the simulation, and modifying the second description according to the active node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Bernhard Schmidt, Alexander Fritsch, Werner Juchmes, Simon Brandl
  • Patent number: 10832763
    Abstract: Embodiments for global bit line latch performance and power optimization are described herein. An aspect includes a bit line including a first section, a second section, and coupling circuitry arranged between the first section and the second section, the coupling circuitry adapted to causes a voltage drop between the first section and the second section, and at least one logic element including a first branch connected to a first power supply and a second branch connected to a second power supply, wherein the first branch is connected to the first section of the bit line, and wherein the second branch is connected to the second section of the bit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Bernhard Schmidt, Harry Barowski, Alexander Fritsch, Matthias Hock
  • Publication number: 20200194060
    Abstract: Embodiments for global bit line latch performance and power optimization are described herein. An aspect includes a bit line including a first section, a second section, and coupling circuitry arranged between the first section and the second section, the coupling circuitry adapted to causes a voltage drop between the first section and the second section, and at least one logic element including a first branch connected to a first power supply and a second branch connected to a second power supply, wherein the first branch is connected to the first section of the bit line, and wherein the second branch is connected to the second section of the bit line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Martin Bernhard Schmidt, Harry Barowski, Alexander Fritsch, Matthias Hock
  • Patent number: 10614884
    Abstract: A logic circuit is provided including at least two input cells and a sense circuit. The input cells are connected to a common result line. Further, the input cells are operable for influencing an electrical quantity at the result line. The sense circuit is connected to the result line, and is adapted to output a discrete value out of more than two possible values based on the electrical quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Eckert, Alexander Fritsch
  • Patent number: 10529388
    Abstract: A current sense amplifier is provided. The amplifier comprises a first cross coupled inverter, a second cross coupled inverter, and a transmission gate. The first cross coupled inverter has a first source coupled to sense current input. The second cross coupled inverter has a second source coupled to a reference current input. The transmission gate comprises a first transmission end, a second transmission end, and a gate input. The first transmission end is operatively coupled to a first input of the first cross coupled inverter. The second transmission end is operatively coupled to a second input of the second cross coupled inverter. The gate input is operatively coupled to the control line input. Each cross coupled inverter is configured for switching a coupling of the sense current input and the reference current input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Fritsch, Michael Kugel, Juergen Pille, Dieter Wendel
  • Patent number: 10347337
    Abstract: A logic circuit is provided including at least two input cells and a sense circuit. The input cells are connected to a common result line. Further, the input cells are operable for influencing an electrical quantity at the result line. The sense circuit is connected to the result line, and is adapted to output a discrete value out of more than two possible values based on the electrical quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Eckert, Alexander Fritsch
  • Publication number: 20190206492
    Abstract: A logic circuit is provided including at least two input cells and a sense circuit. The input cells are connected to a common result line. Further, the input cells are operable for influencing an electrical quantity at the result line. The sense circuit is connected to the result line, and is adapted to output a discrete value out of more than two possible values based on the electrical quantity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Martin ECKERT, Alexander FRITSCH
  • Publication number: 20180374517
    Abstract: A current sense amplifier is provided. The amplifier comprises a first cross coupled inverter, a second cross coupled inverter, and a transmission gate. The first cross coupled inverter has a first source coupled to sense current input. The second cross coupled inverter has a second source coupled to a reference current input. The transmission gate comprises a first transmission end, a second transmission end, and a gate input. The first transmission end is operatively coupled to a first input of the first cross coupled inverter. The second transmission end is operatively coupled to a second input of the second cross coupled inverter. The gate input is operatively coupled to the control line input. Each cross coupled inverter is configured for switching a coupling of the sense current input and the reference current input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Fritsch, Michael Kugel, Juergen Pille, Dieter Wendel
  • Patent number: 10096346
    Abstract: A current sense amplifier is provided. The amplifier comprises a first cross coupled inverter, a second cross coupled inverter, and a transmission gate. The first cross coupled inverter has a first source coupled to sense current input. The second cross coupled inverter has a second source coupled to a reference current input. The transmission gate comprises a first transmission end, a second transmission end, and a gate input. The first transmission end is operatively coupled to a first input of the first cross coupled inverter. The second transmission end is operatively coupled to a second input of the second cross coupled inverter. The gate input is operatively coupled to the control line input. Each cross coupled inverter is configured for switching a coupling of the sense current input and the reference current input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Fritsch, Michael Kugel, Juergen Pille, Dieter Wendel
  • Publication number: 20180204618
    Abstract: A logic circuit is provided including at least two input cells and a sense circuit. The input cells are connected to a common result line. Further, the input cells are operable for influencing an electrical quantity at the result line. The sense circuit is connected to the result line, and is adapted to output a discrete value out of more than two possible values based on the electrical quantity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Martin ECKERT, Alexander FRITSCH
  • Patent number: 10002661
    Abstract: A memory cell arrangement of SRAM cell groups may be provided in which in each of the groups multiple SRAM cells are connected to an input of a local read amplifier by at least one common local bit-line. Outputs of the amplifiers are connected to a shared global bit-line. The global bit-line is connected to a pre-charge circuit, and the pre-charge circuit is adapted for pre-charging the global bit-line with a programmable pre-charge voltage before reading data. The pre-charge circuit comprises a limiter circuit which comprises a pre-charge regulator circuit connected to the global bit-line to pre-charge the global bit-line with the programmable pre-charge voltage, and an evaluation and translation circuit connected to the pre-charge regulator circuit and the global bit-line to compensate leakage current of the global bit-line without changing its voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Fritsch, Amira Rozenfeld, Rolf Sautter, Dieter Wendel
  • Patent number: 9892789
    Abstract: A logic circuit is provided including at least two input cells and a sense circuit. The input cells are connected to a common result line. Further, the input cells are operable for influencing an electrical quantity at the result line. The sense circuit is connected to the result line, and is adapted to output a discrete value out of more than two possible values based on the electrical quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Eckert, Alexander Fritsch
  • Publication number: 20170316812
    Abstract: A current sense amplifier is provided. The amplifier comprises a first cross coupled inverter, a second cross coupled inverter, and a transmission gate. The first cross coupled inverter has a first source coupled to sense current input. The second cross coupled inverter has a second source coupled to a reference current input. The transmission gate comprises a first transmission end, a second transmission end, and a gate input. The first transmission end is operatively coupled to a first input of the first cross coupled inverter. The second transmission end is operatively coupled to a second input of the second cross coupled inverter. The gate input is operatively coupled to the control line input. Each cross coupled inverter is configured for switching a coupling of the sense current input and the reference current input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Fritsch, Michael Kugel, Juergen Pille, Dieter Wendel
  • Patent number: 9767872
    Abstract: An electronic circuit is provided with a current sense amplifier. The amplifier comprises a reference current input terminal, a sense current input terminal, and a first output terminal. The electronic circuit includes a reference current source. The reference current source includes two reference n-FET stacks connected in series, and the reference current input terminal is coupled to a ground terminal via the two reference n-FET stacks. The electronic circuit includes a plurality of memory cells each coupled in parallel via a respective sense n-FET stack to the sense current input terminal. The amplifier is configured to generate a first logical value at the first output terminal of the amplifier in response to a sense current of the sense current input terminal being lower than a reference current of the reference current input terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Fritsch, Gerhard Hellner, Michael Kugel, Rolf Sautter
  • Patent number: 9761286
    Abstract: A current sense amplifier is provided comprising a reference current input terminal, a control line input terminal, a sense current input terminal and a first output terminal. The amplifier further comprises a first NAND gate comprising first and second gate input terminals, and a second output terminal being coupled to the first output terminal of the amplifier. The amplifier also comprises two cross coupled inverters each comprising an n-FET, an n-FET input terminal, and each n-FET having a respective source. The amplifier further comprises a transmission gate comprising two transmission terminals and a gate terminal. The gate terminal is coupled to the control line terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Fritsch, Michael Kugel, Juergen Pille, Dieter Wendel
  • Publication number: 20170243633
    Abstract: A memory cell arrangement of SRAM cell groups may be provided in which in each of the groups multiple SRAM cells are connected to an input of a local read amplifier by at least one common local bit-line. Outputs of the amplifiers are connected to a shared global bit-line. The global bit-line is connected to a pre-charge circuit, and the pre-charge circuit is adapted for pre-charging the global bit-line with a programmable pre-charge voltage before reading data. The pre-charge circuit comprises a limiter circuit which comprises a pre-charge regulator circuit connected to the global bit-line to pre-charge the global bit-line with the programmable pre-charge voltage, and an evaluation and translation circuit connected to the pre-charge regulator circuit and the global bit-line to compensate leakage current of the global bit-line without changing its voltage level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Alexander Fritsch, Amira Rozenfeld, Rolf Sautter, Dieter Wendel