Patent ID: 7254072
Filing Date: 2007-08-07
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
1. A semiconductor memory device having hierarchically structured data lines, comprising: a plurality of memory cells disposed in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to each other; a plurality of word lines disposed in the first direction and used for selecting the memory cells disposed in the second direction simultaneously; a plurality of bit line pairs disposed in the second direction, and connected to and shared by the memory cells disposed in the first direction; a plurality of sense amplifiers for amplifying signals on the bit line pairs; a write circuit for writing externally input data into the memory cell; a read circuit for outputting data read from the memory cell to an outside; a plurality of global data line pairs each provided corresponding to one or more of the bit line pairs; a local data line pair provided corresponding to two or more of the global data line pairs and connected to the write circuit and the read circuit; a plurality of data line selection switches provided corresponding to the global data line pairs and used for switching states of connection between the global data line pairs and the local data line pair; and a plurality of precharge circuits provided corresponding to the global data line pairs and operated in accordance with a received control signal, wherein, in a command waiting state, all of the data line selection switches are in a connected state and all of the precharge circuits are operated, and wherein, if a command state is transitioned from the command waiting state, in which precharge processing is performed, to a command executing state, in which write processing or read processing is performed, one of the plurality of data line selection switches, which is required for command execution, is held in the connected state while the remainder of the plurality of data line selection switches are transitioned from being in the connected state to being in an open state, and operations of all of the precharge circuits are stopped.