Patent ID: 8315118
Filing Date: 2012-11-20
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
1. A precharge method of a semiconductor memory device comprising n banks, n being a natural number equal to or greater than 2, the method comprising: latching an active order of the n banks in response to a bank address applied along with an active command when the active command is applied; determining whether or not a precharge command is given to precharge m banks, m being a natural number equal to or greater than 2 and equal to or less than n, when the precharge command is applied; setting the number of banks to be precharged simultaneously to i, i being a natural number equal to or greater than 1 and equal to or less than m, when the precharge command is given to precharge the m banks; determining a precharge order of the respective m banks based upon the latched active order and sequentially activating m final precharge signals in groups of i according to the determined precharge order; and starting precharging the m banks at different times in response to the sequentially activated m final precharge signals.