METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR READING A FULL-SWING MEMORY ARRAY

Techniques for reducing power when reading a full-swing memory array are disclosed. The full-swing memory array includes a plurality of local bit lin es and a global bit line. In order to reduce power consumption, a method of driving the global bit line includes the step of coupling the plurality of local bit lines to the global bit line through a plurality of tri-state devices. The method further includes the steps of generating a global select signal to enable one of the plurality of tri-state devices and selecting a corresponding local bit line to drive the output of the enabled tri-state device. In this way, the global bit line is statically driven so that consecutive reads of bits having the same value read over the global bit lin e do not result in transitioning the state of the global bit line.