Author: claimsbot

1. The lovastatin esterase enzyme immobilized on a solid support insoluble in water, characterized in that the enzyme is covalently bound to a solid support activated with an at least difunctional coupling reagent, the combination of solid support and at least difunctional coupling agent being such, that the immobilized lovastatin esterase exhibiting at least 5 times higher the hydrolytic activity towards lovastatin and salts thereof, in the presence of simvastatin andor salts thereof, than towards simvastatin and salts thereof.
2. (canceled)
3. (canceled)
4. The lovastatin esterase enzyme according to claim 1, characterized in that the solid support is a modified polysaccharide comprising di-(C1-6alkyl)amino-C1-6alkylcellulose, especially diethylaminoethylcellulose, and the at least difunctional reagent activating the solid support is cyanuric acid O-sulphonate or cyanuric halide, especially cyanuric chloride.
5. (canceled)
6. The lovastatin esterase enzyme according to claim 1, characterized in that the solid support is a modified silica gel, especially modified with amino-C1-6 alkyl-tri(C1-6 alkoxy)silane, especially an aminopropylsilanized silica gel, and the at least difunctional reagent activating the solid support is cyanuric acid O-sulphonate or cyanuric halide, especially cyanuric chloride.
7. The lovastatin esterase enzyme according to claim 1, characterized in that the solid support is a polygalactoside and the at least difunctional reagent activating the solid support is a compound of the formula
wherein Y represents \u2014SO2\u2014 or \u2014SO2\u2014(CHR)n\u2014SO2\u2014, where n represents an integer of from 1 to 18, and R represents a hydrogen atom or C1-6 alkyl, or Y represents \u2014SO2\u2014Ar\u2014SO2\u2014, where Ar represents a divalent aryl radical formed by displacing two hydrogen atoms directly bound to the aromatic ring carbon atoms, the divalent aryl radical optionally bearing C1-6 alkyl substituents.
8-10. (canceled)
11. The lovastatin esterase enzyme according to claim 1, characterized in that the solid support is a polygalactoside, and the at least difunctional reagent activating the solid support is the compound of the formula
wherein Y represents \u2014SO2\u2014.
12. The lovastatin esterase enzyme according to claim 1, characterized in that the solid support is diethylaminoethylcellulose, and the at least difunctional reagent activating the solid support is cyanuric chloride.
13. The lovastatin esterase enzyme according to claim 1, characterized in that the solid support is an aminopropylsilanized silica gel, and the at least difunctional reagent activating the solid support is cyanuric chloride.
14. The lovastatin esterase enzyme according to claim 1, characterized in that the enzyme is an enzyme produced by Clonostachys compactiuscula ATTC 38009, ATCC 74178.
15. A process for immobilization of the lovastatin esterase enzyme on a solid support insoluble in water, characterized in that using mechanical agitation, a cyanuric halide is contacted with a solid support comprising modified polysaccharide or modified silica gel in a solvent, the activated solid support is separated by filtration, the activated solid support is dried and suspended in an aqueous mixture containing the lovastatin esterase enzyme, until immobilization of the enzyme, the suspended material is separated by filtration, washed with a buffer and dried.
16. (canceled)
17. A process according to claim 15, characterized in that, the modified polysaccharide is a di-(C1-6alkyl)amino-C1-6alkylcellulose, especially diethylaminoethylcellulose.
18. (canceled)
19. A process according to claim 18, characterized in that a modified silica gel is silica gel modified with amino-C1-6alkyl-tri(C1-6alkoxy)silane, especially an aminopropylsilanized silica gel.
20. A process according to claim 15, characterized in that the cyanuric halide used is cyanuric chloride.
21. A process according to claim 15, characterized in that an autoclaved solid support is used.
22-24. (canceled)
25. A process according to claim 15, characterized in that the enzyme-containing aqueous solution used is a protein fraction of the material extracted from Clonostachys compactiuscula ATTC 38009, ATCC 74178.
26. A process for immobilization of the lovastatin esterase enzyme on a solid support insoluble in water, characterized in that the compound of the formula
wherein Y represents \u2014SO2\u2014 or \u2014SO2\u2014(CHR)n\u2014SO2\u2014, where n represents an integer of from 1 to 18, and R represents a hydrogen atom or C1-6 alkyl, or Y represents \u2014SO2\u2014Ar\u2014SO2\u2014, where Ar represents a divalent aryl radical formed by displacing two hydrogen atoms directly bound to the aromatic ring carbon atoms, the divalent aryl radical optionally bearing C1-6 alkyl substituents, is contacted with the solid polygalactose support in a solvent using mechanical agitation, the activated solid support is separated by filtration, the activated solid support is dried and suspended in an aqueous mixture containing the lovastatin esterase enzyme, the suspended material is separated by filtration, washed with a buffer and dried.
27. A process according to claim 26, characterized in that the compound of the formula
is a compound wherein Y represents \u2014SO2\u2014.
28. (canceled)
29. (canceled)
30. A process according to claim 26, characterized in that the enzyme-containing aqueous solution used is a protein fraction of the material extracted from Clonostachys compactiuscula ATTC 38009, ATCC 74178.
31-36. (canceled)
37. A biocatalytic flow reactor with a bed comprising a body of the reactor with an inner space connected to the fluid inlet and connected to the fluid outlet, in which inner space there is a bed containing the lovastatin esterase enzyme immobilized on a solid support insoluble in water, characterized in that the enzyme is covalently bound to the solid support activated with an at least difunctional coupling reagent, the combination of solid support and at least difunctional coupling agent being such, that the immobilized lovastatin esterase exhibits at least 5 times higher the hydrolytic activity towards lovastatin and salts thereof in the presence of simvastatin andor salts thereof, than towards simvastatin and salts thereof.
38-44. (canceled)
45. A biocatalytic flow reactor according to claim 37, characterized in that the solid support is a polygalactoside, and the at least difunctional reagent activating the solid support is a compound of the formula
wherein Y represents \u2014SO2\u2014.
46. A biocatalytic flow reactor according to claim 37, characterized in that the solid support is diethylaminoethylcellulose, and the at least difunctional reagent activating the solid support is cyanuric chloride.
47. A biocatalytic flow reactor according to claim 37, characterized in that the enzyme is an enzyme produced by Clonostachys compactiuscula ATTC 38009, ATCC 74178.
48. A process for preparation andor purification of simvastatin comprising treating the solution of the simvastatin salt containing residual content of the lovastatin salt with the lovastatin esterase enzyme until hydrolysing lovastatin to form the triol, separating the triol, and isolating simvastatin substantially free from lovastatin, where the solution of the simvastatin salt containing residual content of the lovastatin salt is brought into a contact with the lovastatin esterase enzyme immobilized on a solid support insoluble in water, characterized in that the enzyme is covalently bound to the solid support activated with an at least difunctional coupling reagent, the combination of solid support and at least difunctional coupling agent being such, that the immobilized lovastatin esterase exhibits at least 5 times higher the hydrolytic activity towards lovastatin and salts thereof in the presence of simvastatin andor salts thereof, than towards simvastin and salts thereof.
49-58. (canceled)
59. A process for preparation andor purification of simvastatin according to claim 48, characterized in that the solid support is a polygalactoside, and the at least difunctional reagent activating the solid support is the compound of the formula
wherein Y represents \u2014SO2\u2014.
60. A process for preparation andor purification of simvastatin according to claim 48, characterized in that the solid support is diethylaminoethylcellulose, and the at least difunctional reagent activating the solid support is cyanuric chloride.
61. A process for preparation andor purification of simvastatin according to claim 48, characterized in that the solid support is an aminopropylsilanized silica gel, and the at least difunctional reagent activating the solid support is cyanuric chloride.
62. (canceled)
63. (canceled)
64. A process for preparation andor purification of simvastatin according to claim 48, characterized in that the enzyme is an enzyme produced by Clonostachys compactiuscula ATTC 38009, ATCC 74178.
65. The lovastatin esterase enzyme according to claim 11, characterized in that the enzyme is an enzyme produced by Clonostachys compactiuscula ATTC 38009, ATCC 74178.
66. The lovastatin esterase enzyme according to claim 12, characterized in that the enzyme is an enzyme produced by Clonostachys compactiuscula ATTC 38009, ATCC 74178.
67. The lovastatin esterase enzyme according to claim 13, characterized in that the enzyme is an enzyme produced by Clonostachys compactiuscula ATTC 38009, ATCC 74178.
68. A process according to claim 17, characterized in that an autoclaved solid support is used.
69. A process according to claim 19, characterized in that an autoclaved solid support is used.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A pallet pulling device for moving a pallet to position for engagement by the tines of a forklift truck, the pallet having normally horizontal planks and a stringer secured to and extending vertically about the planks, the pallet pulling device comprising:
a. a puller bar having an upper face, a lower face, and side edge surfaces, and,
b. a crossbar secured transversely to the puller bar to define a generally T-shaped pulling device, the crossbar having an upper face, a lower face and opposite side edge surfaces, the upper face of the crossbar being in facial engagement with the lower face of the puller bar,
c. the pulling device being positively engageable with a pallet with the lower face of the puller bar engaging one of said planks, the crossbar extending under a lower edge of a finger, a side edge of the puller bar engaging a side face of the stringer, and a side edge of the crossbar engaging a side edge of a plank.
2. A pallet pulling device according to claim 1, wherein said crossbar is attached to the puller bar at such a position that the crossbar has a first relatively short bar portion extending in one direction from the puller bar and a second relatively long bar portion extending oppositely from the puller bar.
3. A pallet pulling device according to claim 2, wherein said second relatively long crossbar portion is about twice the length of the first relatively short bar.
4. A pallet pulling device according to claim 1, wherein the puller bar and the crossbar are of generally rectangular cross-section, and the crossbar and puller bar are oriented generally horizontally when the pulling device engages the pallet.
5. A method of pulling a pallet comprising the steps of:
a. fashioning a flat puller bar;
b. welding a crossbar to a bottom tip of the flat puller bar, wherein the crossbar is welded at an inside weld, an outside weld, and a top weld, whereby a pallet pulling device is formed;
c. placing the pallet pulling device so that the crossbar fits under a pallet stringer of the pallet, wherein the flat puller bar is parallel to the pallet stringer, wherein the crossbar pulls against the rear edge of a plank of the pallet
d. applying pulling force to the flat puller bar to pull the pallet.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the crossbar comprises a short bar portion and a long bar portion, wherein the long bar portion is approximately twice the length of the short bar portion.
7. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of forming a hole on the flat puller bar opposite the top weld.
8. The method of claim 5 wherein the flat puller bar is perpendicular to the crossbar.
9. The method of claim 5 wherein the flat puller bar has a rectangular cross-section.
10. The method of claim 5 wherein the crossbar has a rectangular cross-section.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the flat puller bar has a rectangular cross-section.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein the crossbar extends under the edge of a stringer of the pallet to prevent disengagement of the pulling device from the pallet when pulling force is applied, wherein a hole is located on the flat puller bar; an outside weld opposes an inside weld, wherein both welds are adjacent to a top weld that is in opposition to the location of the hole.

Patent claims:

1. A soluble fusion protein composed of human proteins not belonging to the immunoglobulin family, or of parts thereof, and of various portions of immunoglobulin molecules of all subclasses.
2. A fusion protein as claimed in claim 1, wherein the immunoglobulin portion is the constant part of the heavy chain of human IgG.
3. A fusion protein as claimed in claim 2, wherein the immunoglobulin portion is the constant part of the heavy chain of human IgG1 or a protein A-binding fragment thereof.
4. A fusion protein as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the fusion takes place at the hinge region.
5. A fusion protein as claimed in claims 1-4, wherein the protein fused to immunoglobulin is the extra-cellular portion of a membrane protein or parts thereof.
6. A fusion protein as claimed in claims 1-4, wherein the protein fused to immunoglobulin is the extracellular portion of thromboplastin or parts thereof.
7. A fusion protein as claimed in claims 1-4, wherein the protein fused to immunoglobulin is the extracellular portion of CD28 or parts thereof.
8. A fusion protein as claimed in claims 1-4, wherein the protein fused to immunoglobulin is the extracellular portion of a cytokine receptor or growth factor receptor or parts thereof.
9. A fusion protein as claimed in claim 8, wherein the protein fused to immunoglobulin is the extracellular portion of IL-4 receptor or parts thereof.
10. A fusion protein as claimed in claim 8, wherein the protein fused to immunoglobulin is the extracellular portion of IL-7 receptor or parts thereof.
11. A fusion protein as claimed in claim 8, wherein the protein fused to immunoglobulin is the extracellular portion of tumor necrosis factor receptor or parts thereof.
12. A fusion protein as claimed in claim 8, wherein the protein fused to immunoglobulin is the extracellular portion of G-CSF receptor or parts thereof.
13. A fusion protein as claimed in claim 8, wherein the protein fused to immunoglobulin is the extracellular portion of GM-CSF receptor or parts thereof.
14. A fusion protein as claimed in claim 8, wherein the protein fused to immunoglobulin is the extracellular portion of erythropoietin receptor or parts thereof.
15. A fusion protein as claimed in claims 1-4, wherein the protein fused to immunoglobulin is a non-membrane-bound soluble protein or parts thereof.
16. A fusion protein as claimed in claim 15, wherein the protein fused to immunoglobulin is a cytokine- or growth factor or parts thereof.
17. A fusion protein as claimed in claim 16, wherein the protein fused to immunoglobulin is erythropoietin or parts thereof.
18. A fusion protein as claimed in claim 16, wherein the protein fused to immunoglobulin is GM-CSF or G-CSF or parts thereof.
19. A fusion protein as claimed in claim 16, wherein the protein fused to immunoglobulin is interleukins IL-1 to IL-8 or parts thereof.
20. A process for preparing fusion proteins as claimed in any of claims 1-19, which comprises introducing the DNA coding for these constructs into a mammalian cell expression system and, after expression, purifying the produced fusion protein by affinity chromatography via the immunoglobulin portion.
21. The use of the fusion proteins as claimed in any of claims 1-19 for diagnosis.
22. The use of the fusion proteins as claimed in any of claims 1-19 for therapy.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A current sense amplifier, comprising:
a voltage comparator having a first input, a second input and an output;
a first clamping device coupled between the first input of the voltage comparator and a first input signal, the first clamping device being coupled to a reference voltage;
a second clamping device coupled between the second input of the voltage comparator and a second input signal, the second clamping device being coupled to the reference voltage; and
a configurable load device coupled between the first and second input of the voltage comparator, wherein the configurable load device comprises a configurable current mirror, which comprises:
a first transistor coupled between a voltage source and the first clamping device;
a second transistor coupled between the voltage source and the second clamping device, the first and second transistor gates being coupled together;
a first switching transistor coupled between the first transistor gate and drain; and
a second switching transistor coupled between the second transistor gate and drain, wherein either the first transistor or second transistor may be used as a transistor diode or a current source.
2. The current sense amplifier according to claim 1, wherein a first select signal is coupled to the first switching transistor gate, and the inverse of the first select signal is coupled to the second switching transistor gate, wherein the first select signal is adapted to activate either the first switching transistor or the second switching transistor, activating either the first transistor as a transistor diode and the second transistor as a current source, or vice versa, thus amplifying the voltage difference at the first and second input of the voltage comparator.
3. The current sense amplifier according to claim 2, further comprising a configurable dummy load circuit coupled to the configurable current mirror.
4. The current sense amplifier according to claim 3, wherein the configurable dummy load circuit comprises:
a first dummy transistor coupled between the voltage source and the first transistor of the current mirror;
a second dummy transistor coupled between the voltage source and the second transistor of the current mirror, wherein the gate of the second dummy transistor is coupled to the gate of the first dummy transistor;
a first dummy select transistor coupled between the first transistor of the current mirror and the gate of the first dummy transistor, the gate of the first dummy select transistor being coupled to the inverse of the first select signal; and
a second dummy select transistor coupled between the second transistor of the current mirror and the gate of the second dummy transistor, the gate of the second dummy select transistor being coupled to the first select signal.
5. The current sense amplifier according to claim 1, wherein the first clamping device comprises a third transistor having gate, source and a drain; wherein the gate of the third transistor is coupled to the reference voltage; wherein the source of the third transistor is coupled to the first input signal; wherein the drain of the third transistor is coupled to the first input of the voltage comparator; wherein the second clamping device comprises a fourth transistor having gate, source and a drain; wherein the gate of the fourth transistor is coupled to the reference voltage; wherein the source of the fourth transistor is coupled to the second input signal; and wherein the drain of the fourth transistor is coupled to the second input of the voltage comparator.
6. The current sense amplifier according to claim 1, further comprising a first equalizing transistor coupled between the inputs of the voltage comparator, and a second equalizing transistor coupled between the first input signal and the second input signal.
7. The current sense amplifier according to claim 1, further comprising:
a first cascode device coupled between the configurable load device and the first clamping device; and
a second cascode device coupled between the configurable load device and the second clamping device.
8. The current sense amplifier according to claim 1, wherein the first input signal comprises a current from a selected memory cell being read, wherein the second input signal comprises a reference current of at least one reference cell, and wherein the voltage comparator outputs a logic state of the selected memory cell.
9. The current sense amplifier according to claim 8, wherein the reference current comprises the averaged current from at least two reference cells.
10. A current sensing circuit, comprising:
a) a first current sense amplifier comprising:
1) a voltage comparator having a first input, a second input and an output;
2) a first clamping device coupled between the first input of the voltage comparator and a first input signal, the first clamping device being coupled to a reference voltage;
3) a second clamping device coupled between the second input of the voltage comparator and a second input signal, the second clamping device being coupled to the reference voltage; and
4) a configurable current mirror coupled between the first and second input of the voltage comparator, wherein the configurable current mirror comprises:
i) a first transistor coupled between a voltage source and the first clamping device;
ii) a second transistor coupled between the voltage source and the second clamping device, the first and second transistor gates being coupled together;
iii) a first switching transistor coupled between the first transistor gate and drain; and
iv) a second switching transistor coupled between the second transistor gate and drain, wherein either the first transistor or second transistor may be used as a transistor diode or a current source;
b) a second current sense amplifier comprising:
1) a voltage comparator having a first input, a second input and an output;
2) a first clamping device coupled between the first input of the voltage comparator and a first input signal, the first clamping device being coupled to a reference voltage;
3) a second clamping device coupled between the second input of the voltage comparator and a second input signal, the second clamping device being coupled to the reference voltage; and
4) a configurable current mirror coupled between the first and second input of the voltage comparator, wherein the configurable current mirror comprises:
i) a first transistor coupled between a voltage source and the first clamping device;
ii) a second transistor coupled between the voltage source and the second clamping device, the first and second transistor gates being coupled together;
iii) a first switching transistor coupled between the first transistor gate and drain; and
iv) a second switching transistor coupled between the second transistor gate and drain, wherein either the first transistor or second transistor may be used as a transistor diode or a current source;
c) a first connection transistor coupled between the first transistor of the first current sense amplifier and the first transistor of the second current sense amplifier; and
d) a second connection transistor coupled between the second transistor of the first current sense amplifier and the second transistor of the second current sense amplifier.
11. The current sensing circuit according to claim 10, wherein the circuit comprises a symmetric sensing scheme.
12. A current sense amplifier, comprising:
a voltage comparator having a first input, a second input and an output
a first clamping device coupled between the first input of the voltage comparator and a first input signal, the first clamping device being coupled to a reference voltage;
a second clamping device coupled between the second input of the voltage comparator and a second input signal, the second clamping device being coupled to the reference voltage;
a load device having a first side and a second side, wherein the load device comprises a current mirror, and
a multiplexer, wherein the multiplexer is adapted to select whether the first input signal or second input signal is coupled to the first or second side of the load device.
13. The current sense amplifier according to claim 12, wherein the current mirror first side includes a first transistor coupled between a voltage source and the first clamping device and the current mirror second side includes a second transistor coupled between the voltage source and the second clamping device, the first and second transistor gates being coupled together, the gate and drain of the second transistor being coupled together.
14. The current sense amplifier according to claim 13, further comprising at least one capacitive device coupled across the drain and source of the first transistor of the current mirror, wherein the at least one capacitor is adapted to balance capacitive loads of the current mirror.
15. The current sense amplifier according to claim 12, wherein the multiplexer is coupled between the first input signal and the first clamping device, and between the second input signal and the second clamping device.
16. The current sense amplifier according to claim 12, wherein the multiplexer is coupled between the first clamping device, the first input of the voltage comparator and the load device, and between the second clamping device, the second input of the voltage comparator and the load device.
17. The current sense amplifier according to claim 12, wherein the multiplexer comprises the first clamping device and the second clamping device.
18. The current sense amplifier according to claim 17, wherein the first clamping device comprises a third transistor and a fourth transistor, wherein a first analog signal is coupled to the gate of the third transistor and a second analog signal is coupled to the gate of the fourth transistor, wherein the second clamping device comprises a fifth transistor and a sixth transistor, wherein the first analog signal is coupled to the gate of the fifth transistor and the second analog signal is coupled to the gate of the sixth transistor, wherein the first and second analog signals select whether the first input signal or second input signal is coupled to the first or second side of the load device.
19. The current sense amplifier according to claim 12, further comprising a first equalizing transistor coupled between the inputs of the voltage comparator, and a second equalizing transistor coupled between the first input signal and the second input signal.
20. The current sense amplifier according to claim 12, wherein the first input signal comprises a current from a selected memory cell being read, wherein the second input signal comprises a current from at least one reference cell, and wherein the voltage comparator outputs a logic state of the selected memory cell.
21. The current sense amplifier according to claim 20, wherein the reference current comprises the averaged current from at least two reference cells.
22. A current sensing circuit, comprising:
a first current sense amplifier comprising:
a voltage comparator having a first input, a second input and an output;
a first clamping device coupled between the first input of the voltage comparator and a first input signal, the first clamping device being coupled to a reference voltage;
a second clamping device coupled between the second input of the voltage comparator and a second input signal, the second clamping device being coupled to the reference voltage;
a current mirror having a first side and a second side; and
a multiplexer, wherein the multiplexer is adapted to select whether the first input signal or second input signal is coupled to the first or second side of the current mirror; and

a second current sense amplifier comprising:
a voltage comparator having a first input, a second input and an output;
a first clamping device coupled between the first input of the voltage comparator and a first input signal, the first clamping device being coupled to a reference voltage;
a second clamping device coupled between the second input of the voltage comparator and a second input signal, the second clamping device being coupled to the reference voltage;
a current mirror having a first side and a second side; and
a multiplexer, wherein the multiplexer is adapted to select whether the first input signal or second input signal is coupled to the first or second side of the current mirror;
wherein the first and second current sense amplifiers are coupled at second transistors of the current mirrors of the first and second current sense amplifiers.
23. The current sensing circuit according to claim 22, wherein the first and second current sense amplifiers are coupled at the second clamping devices of the first and second current sense amplifiers.
24. The current sensing circuit according to claim 22, wherein the circuit comprises a symmetric sensing scheme.
25. The current sensing circuit according to claim 22, wherein the first and second current sense amplifiers are coupled at the drains of the second transistors of the current mirrors of the first and second current sense amplifiers.
26. The current sensing circuit according to claim 22, wherein the first and second current sense amplifiers are coupled at the sources of the second clamping devices of the first and second current sense amplifiers.
27. A method of sensing current, comprising:
providing a first transistor and a second transistor;
providing a first input signal having a first voltage and a first current;
clamping the first voltage and passing the first current to the first transistor;
providing a second input signal having a second voltage and a second current;
clamping the second voltage and passing the second current to the second transistor, wherein the first input signal and second input signal comprise either current from a selected memory cell or current from at least one reference cell;
selectively mirroring the first or second current from the first or second transistor to the second or first transistor; and
comparing the voltage across the first or second transistor to the voltage across the second or first transistor, wherein selectively mirroring the current amplifies the voltage difference between the voltage across the first transistor and the voltage across the second transistor, wherein the selective mirroring is by multiplexing devices.
28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the first transistor and second transistor voltage difference indicates a resistive state of the selected memory cell.
29. The method according to claim 27, wherein the memory device comprises a symmetric sensing architecture, wherein the sensing current method is symmetric.
30. A current sense amplifier, comprising:
a voltage comparator having a first input, a second input and an output;
a first clamping device coupled between the first input of the voltage comparator and a first input signal, the first clamping device being coupled to a reference voltage;
a second clamping device coupled between the second input of the voltage comparator and a second input signal, the second clamping device being coupled to the reference voltage;
a configurable load device coupled between the first and second input of the voltage comparator;
a first equalizing transistor coupled between the inputs of the voltage comparator; and
a second equalizing transistor coupled between the first input signal and the second input signal.
31. The current sense amplifier according to claim 30, further comprising:
a first cascode device coupled between the configurable load device and the first clamping device; and
a second cascode device coupled between the configurable load device and the second clamping device.
32. The current sense amplifier according to claim 30, wherein the first input signal comprises a current from a selected memory cell being read, wherein the second input signal comprises a reference current of at least one reference cell, and wherein the voltage comparator outputs a logic state of the selected memory cell.
33. The current sense amplifier according to claim 32, wherein the reference current comprises the averaged current from at least two reference cells.
34. A current sense amplifier, comprising:
a voltage comparator having a first input, a second input and an output;
a first clamping device coupled between the first input of the voltage comparator and a first input signal, the first clamping device being coupled to a reference voltage;
a second clamping device coupled between the second input of the voltage comparator and a second input signal, the second clamping device being coupled to the reference voltage;
a load device having a first side and a second side; and
a multiplexer coupled between the first clamping device, the first input of the voltage comparator and the load device, and between the second clamping device, the second input of the voltage comparator and the load device, wherein the multiplexer is adapted to select whether the first input signal or second input signal is coupled to the first or second side of the load device.
35. A current sense amplifier, comprising:
a voltage comparator having a first input, a second input and an output;
a first clamping device coupled between the first input of the voltage comparator and a first input signal, the first clamping device being coupled to a reference voltage;
a second clamping device coupled between the second input of the voltage comparator and a second input signal, the second clamping device being coupled to the reference voltage;
a load device having a first side and a second side;
a multiplexer comprising the first clamping device and the second clamping device, wherein the first clamping device comprises a third transistor and a fourth transistor, wherein a first analog signal is coupled to the gate of the third transistor and a second analog signal is coupled to the gate of the fourth transistor, wherein the second clamping device comprises a fifth transistor and a sixth transistor, wherein the first analog signal is coupled to the gate of the fifth transistor and the second analog signal is coupled to the gate of the sixth transistor, wherein the first and second analog signals select whether the first input signal or second input signal is coupled to the first or second side of the load device, and wherein the multiplexer is adapted to select whether the first input signal or second input signal is coupled to the first or second side of the load device.
36. A current sense amplifier, comprising:
a voltage comparator having a first input, a second input and an output;
a first clamping device coupled between the first input of the voltage comparator and a first input signal, the first clamping device being coupled to a reference voltage;
a second clamping device coupled between the second input of the voltage comparator and a second input signal, the second clamping device being coupled to the reference voltage;
a first equalizing transistor coupled between the inputs of the voltage comparator;
a second equalizing transistor coupled between the first input signal and the second input signal;
a load device having a first side and a second side; and
a multiplexer, wherein the multiplexer is adapted to select whether the first input signal or second input signal is coupled to the first or second side of the load device.