A memory device includes a conductive segment, first and second rows of memory cells. The conductive segment receives a first reference voltage signal. The first row of memory cells is coupled to a first word line. The second row of memory cells is coupled to a second word line. The first row of memory cells includes first and second memory cells. The first memory cell is coupled to the conductive segment to receive the first reference voltage signal. The second row of memory cells includes third and fourth memory cells. The third memory cell is coupled to the conductive segment to receive the first reference voltage signal. The first and third memory cells share the conductive segment, and the third memory cell is arranged between the first and second memory cells. The second memory cell is arranged between the third and fourth memory cells.

A memory device includes a conductive segment, first and second rows of memory cells. The conductive segment receives a first reference voltage signal. The first row of memory cells is coupled to a first word line. The second row of memory cells is coupled to a second word line. The first row of memory cells includes first and second memory cells. The first memory cell is coupled to the conductive segment to receive the first reference voltage signal. The second row of memory cells includes third and fourth memory cells. The third memory cell is coupled to the conductive segment to receive the first reference voltage signal. The first and third memory cells share the conductive segment, and the third memory cell is arranged between the first and second memory cells. The second memory cell is arranged between the third and fourth memory cells.

A random bit generator includes a voltage source, a bit data cell, and a sensing control circuit. The voltage source provides a scan voltage during enroll operations. The data cell includes a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor has a first terminal coupled to a first bit line, a second terminal coupled to the voltage source, and a control terminal. The second transistor has a first terminal coupled to a second bit line, a second terminal coupled to the voltage source, and a control terminal. The sensing control circuit is coupled to the first bit line and the second bit line, and outputs a random bit data according to currents generated through the first transistor and the second transistor during an enroll operation of the bit data cell.

A random bit generator includes a voltage source, a bit data cell, and a sensing control circuit. The voltage source provides a scan voltage during enroll operations. The data cell includes a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor has a first terminal coupled to a first bit line, a second terminal coupled to the voltage source, and a control terminal. The second transistor has a first terminal coupled to a second bit line, a second terminal coupled to the voltage source, and a control terminal. The sensing control circuit is coupled to the first bit line and the second bit line, and outputs a random bit data according to currents generated through the first transistor and the second transistor during an enroll operation of the bit data cell.

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to devices and methods for performing MAC operations using a memory array as a compute-in-memory (CIM) device that can enable higher computational throughput, higher performance and lower energy consumption compared to computation using a processor outside of a memory array. In some embodiments, an activation architecture is provided using a bit cell array arranged in rows and columns to store charges that represent a weight value in a weight matrix. A read word line (RWL) may be repurposed to provide the input activation value to bit cells within a row of bit cells, while a read-bit line (RBL) is configured to receive multiplication products from bit cells arranged in a column. Some embodiments provide multiple sub-arrays or tiles of bit cell arrays.

First and second sensing circuits are coupled to first and second data lines, respectively, and sense levels of current leakage or a memory cell state on the first and second data lines. First and second keeper circuits are coupled to the first and second data lines, respectively, and drive the first and second data lines by a voltage supply through biased transistors. First and second leakage latches are coupled to receive and latch state of signals output from the first and second sensing circuits, respectively. A control circuit is coupled to the first leakage latch, second leakage latch, and outputs of the first and second sensing circuits. The control circuit is configured to select either the signal output from the first sensing circuit or the signal output from the second sensing circuit in response to states of the first and second leakage latches.

First and second sensing circuits are coupled to first and second data lines, respectively, and sense levels of current leakage or a memory cell state on the first and second data lines. First and second keeper circuits are coupled to the first and second data lines, respectively, and drive the first and second data lines by a voltage supply through biased transistors. First and second leakage latches are coupled to receive and latch state of signals output from the first and second sensing circuits, respectively. A control circuit is coupled to the first leakage latch, second leakage latch, and outputs of the first and second sensing circuits. The control circuit is configured to select either the signal output from the first sensing circuit or the signal output from the second sensing circuit in response to states of the first and second leakage latches.

Methods for reading a memory are provided. In response to a first address signal, a first signal is obtained according to first data of the memory and a second signal is obtained according to second data of the memory by a decoding circuit. Binary representation of the first signal is complementary to that of the second signal. A first sensing signal is provided according to a reference signal and the first signal and a second sensing signal is provided according to the reference signal and the second signal by a sensing circuit. An output corresponding to the first sensing signal or the second sensing signal is output in response to a control signal, by an output buffer.

Methods for reading a memory are provided. In response to a first address signal, a first signal is obtained according to first data of the memory and a second signal is obtained according to second data of the memory by a decoding circuit. Binary representation of the first signal is complementary to that of the second signal. A first sensing signal is provided according to a reference signal and the first signal and a second sensing signal is provided according to the reference signal and the second signal by a sensing circuit. An output corresponding to the first sensing signal or the second sensing signal is output in response to a control signal, by an output buffer.

A memory circuit includes a reference node configured to carry a reference voltage having a reference voltage level, a power supply node configured to carry a power supply voltage having a power supply voltage level, a bit line coupled with a plurality of memory cells, a write circuit configured to charge the bit line by driving a voltage level on the bit line toward the power supply voltage level with a first current, and a switching circuit coupled between the power supply node and the bit line. The switching circuit is configured to receive the voltage level on the bit line, and responsive to a difference between the voltage level received on the bit line and the power supply voltage level being less than or equal to a threshold value, drive the voltage level on the bit line toward the power supply voltage level with a second current.