| CPC H03K 19/018528 (2013.01) [H03F 3/45183 (2013.01); H03K 3/012 (2013.01); H03K 3/35613 (2013.01)] | 18 Claims |

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1. A semiconductor device, comprising:
a first sensing stage configured to sense a voltage differential of a data signal (DQ) and a reference signal (VRDQ) and output a first amplified voltage differential, wherein the first amplified voltage differential comprises a first voltage at a first output node and a second voltage at a second output node; and
a second sensing stage configured to sense the first amplified voltage differential and output a second amplified voltage differential, where the second amplified voltage differential comprises a third voltage at a third output node and a fourth voltage at a fourth output node;
wherein a first power gating circuit is coupled to the third output node and a second power gating circuit is coupled to the fourth output node;
wherein the first power gating circuit comprises a first p-channel transistor coupled to the third output node to increase transconductance at the third output node, and wherein the second power gating circuit comprises a second p-channel transistor coupled to the fourth output node to increase transconductance at the fourth output node;
wherein the second sensing stage comprises a first n-channel transistor coupled in series with the first p-channel transistor and to the third output node;
wherein the second sensing stage comprises a second n-channel transistor coupled in series with the second p-channel transistor and to the fourth output node;
wherein the gate of each of the of the first n-channel transistor and the first p-channel transistor receives the first voltage from the first output node; and
wherein the gate of each of the of the second n-channel transistor and the second p-channel transistor receives the second voltage from the second output node.
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