Apparatus and methods for controlling the sensing of bit lines which
facilitates the distribution of bit line charging current to be
distributed any time, and facilitates the fast raising of the sense modes
to full logic levels. An embodiment is comprised of a plurality of bit
storage capacitors, a folded bit line for receiving charge stored on one
of the capacitors, having bit line capacitance, a sense amplifier having
a pair of sense nodes for sensing a voltage differential across the sense
nodes, apparatus connected to the bit line and the sense nodes for
imperfectly isolating the sense nodes from the bit line whereby current
can leak therethrough, apparatus for enabling the sense amplifier and for
disabling the isolating apparatus and thereby removing the isolation
between the sense amplifier and the bit line, whereby current passing
through the sense amplifier to the sense nodes is enabled to charge the
bit line capacitance through the isolating apparatus to predetermined
logic voltage level.