Sensing-amplifying device

Abstract

A sensing-amplifier device includes a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a reference unit, and a sense amplifier. The reference unit is configured to provide a reference signal. The switching unit is selectively coupled to the first input terminal, the second input terminal, and a reference unit. The sense amplifier includes two terminals. The two terminals of the sense amplifier are coupled to the first input terminal and the second input terminal respectively by switching of the switching unit so as to operate in a twin memory unit mode, or one terminal of the sense amplifier is coupled to the first input terminal or the second input terminal and the other terminal of the sense amplifier is coupled to the reference unit by switching of the switching unit so as to operate in a single memory unit mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sensing-amplifying device, comprising:
 a first input terminal, coupled to a first memory unit;   a second input terminal, coupled to a second memory unit;   a reference unit, configured to provide a reference signal;   a switching unit, selectively coupled to the first input terminal, the second input terminal, and the reference unit; and   a sense amplifier, comprising two terminals, wherein when the sense amplifier is operated in a twin memory unit mode, the two terminals of the sense amplifier are only coupled to the first input terminal and the second input terminal respectively by switching the switching unit, and   when the sense amplifier is operated in a single memory unit mode one terminal of the sense amplifier is only coupled to the first input terminal or the second input terminal and the other terminal of the sense amplifier is only coupled to the reference unit by switching the switching unit.   
     
     
         2 . The sensing-amplifying device of  claim 1 , wherein the switching unit comprises:
 a memory switch unit, coupling both the two terminals of the sense amplifier to the first input terminal and the second two terminal, otherwise, selectively coupling one of the two terminals of the sense amplifier to the first input terminal or the second input terminal; and   a reference switch unit, coupling the reference unit to the first input terminal or the second input terminal.   
     
     
         3 . The sensing-amplifying device of  claim 2 , wherein the two terminals of the sense amplifier are a first terminal and a second terminal respectively, wherein the memory switch unit comprises
 a first switch, selectively coupled to the first input terminal and the first terminal of the sense amplifier; and   a second switch, selectively coupled to the second input terminal and the second terminal of the sense amplifier, wherein when operating in the twin memory unit mode, the first switch is turned on to couple to the first input terminal and the first terminal of the sense amplifier, and the second switch is turned on to couple to the second input terminal and the second terminal of the sense amplifier.   
     
     
         4 . The sensing-amplifying device of  claim 3 , wherein the reference switch unit comprises:
 a third switch, selectively coupled to the reference unit and the second terminal of the sense amplifier, wherein when operating in the single memory unit mode, the first switch is turned on to couple to the first input terminal and the first terminal of the sense amplifier, and the third switch is turned on to couple to the reference unit and the second terminal of the sense amplifier.   
     
     
         5 . The sensing-amplifying device of  claim 3 , wherein the reference switch unit further comprises:
 a fourth switch, selectively coupled to the reference unit and the first terminal of the sense amplifier, wherein when operating in the single memory unit mode, the second switch is turned on to couple to the second input terminal and the second terminal of the sense amplifier, and the fourth switch is turned on to couple to the reference unit and the first terminal of the sense amplifier.   
     
     
         6 . The sensing-amplifying device of  claim 5 , wherein the single memory unit mode is that the sense amplifier reads a value of one of the first memory unit and the second memory unit and reads a value of the reference unit, so as to determine a bit of data; the twin memory unit mode is that the sense amplifier reads a value of the first memory unit and a value of the second memory unit, so as to determine a bit of data. 
     
     
         7 . The sensing-amplifying device of  claim 5 , wherein each of the first memory unit and the second memory unit comprises a memory element, and the reference unit comprises a reference element, wherein both a material and a structure of the reference element and the memory element are the same. 
     
     
         8 . The sensing-amplifying device of  claim 7 , wherein the memory element and the reference element are phase change memory elements.