Disclosed herein is a current sense amplifier (ISA) circuit with increased
speed, less insensitivities to process variation, better stability and
improved output signal swing. According to one embodiment, the ISA
circuit described herein may include a pair of output nodes and a first
pair of load transistors, each coupled between a different one of the
output nodes and ground for pulling the output nodes down to a first
voltage value at the beginning of a sense cycle. In addition, a pulse
generation circuit is included for activating the first pair of load
transistors at the beginning of the sense cycle and deactivating the
first pair of load transistors once the first voltage is reached. When
activated, the first pair of load transistors provide a relatively low
resistance current path between the output nodes and ground. This
decreases the output node discharge time and increases the overall speed
of the sense amp without compromising circuit stability and output swing.