US Patent 7242629 High speed latch circuits using gated diodes

A sense amplifier circuit comprises (1) an isolation device comprising a control terminal and first and second terminals, the first terminal of the isolation device coupled to a signal line, (2) a gated diode comprising first and second terminals, the first terminal of the gated diode coupled to the second terminal of the isolation device, and the second terminal of the gated diode coupled to a set line; and (3) control circuitry coupled to the control terminal of the isolation device and adapted to control voltage on the control terminal of the isolation device in order to enable and disable the isolation device. A latch circuit further comprises a precharge device comprising a control terminal and first and second terminals, the first terminal of the precharge device coupled to a power supply voltage, and the second terminal of the precharge device coupled to the first terminal of the isolation device.