Abstract:
An output controller includes a test unit, which can test an appropriate delay amount according to an operating frequency under a real situation. The output controller includes: an output enable signal generator for generating corresponding ones among a plurality of output enable signals based on a preset column address strobe (CAS) latency, each of the output enable signals having information relating to a delay time from an activation timing of a CAS signal; and an output driving signal generator for receiving the plurality of output enable signals corresponding to the preset CAS latency and outputting rising and falling output driving signals for controlling an output timing of data.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device, and more particularly to an output controller for controlling a data output of a semiconductor memory device. 
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ARTS 
       [0002]    As semiconductor memory devices are highly integrated, many attempts have been made to increase their operating speed. To achieve this purpose, synchronous memory devices which operate in synchronization with an external clock have been introduced. 
         [0003]    A single data rate (SDR) synchronous memory device inputs and outputs one data bit via one data pin in synchronization with a rising edge of the external clock during one clock cycle. 
         [0004]    However, the SDR synchronous memory device is insufficient to satisfy the speed requirement of a high-speed system. Thus, a double data rate (DDR) synchronous memory device which processes two data bits during one clock cycle has been proposed. 
         [0005]    In the DDR synchronous memory device, two data bits are consecutively input and output through data input/output pins in synchronization with rising and falling edges of the external clock. The DDR synchronous memory device can implement at least two times the bandwidth of the SDR synchronous memory device without increasing the frequency of the clock, thus obtaining the high-speed operation. 
         [0006]    Because the DDR memory device has to receive or output two data bits during one clock cycle, a data access method employed in the conventional synchronous memory device can no longer be used. 
         [0007]    If the clock cycle is about 10 ns, two consecutive data bits must be substantially processed within about 6 nsec or less, except for the rising time and the falling time (about 0.5×4=2 ns) and time necessary for meeting other specifications. However, it is difficult to perform the process within the memory device. Therefore, the memory device operates in synchronization with the rising and falling edges of the clock only when inputting/outputting data from/to an external circuit. Substantially, the two data bits are processed in synchronization with one edge of the clock within the memory device. 
         [0008]    In order to transfer data from a memory device to an internal core region or to output the transferred data to an external circuit, a new data access method is required. 
         [0009]    The synchronous memory device uses several concepts different from those of the asynchronous memory device. One of them is a CAS latency (CL). The CAS latency is the number of clocks that are counted from an input of a read command to data output. If CL=3, it means that data are output to an external circuit after three clock cycles from an input of the read command. The CAS latency determines data output timing. In an initial operation of the semiconductor memory device, a detected set CL value is used to access and output data. 
         [0010]    Therefore, a data output enable signal is generated after an operating clock cycle is delayed as much as the set CAS latency. Also, when the data output enable signal is activated, the accessed data is output in response to the read command. 
         [0011]    The operating clock used is a delayed lock loop (DLL) clock obtained by delay locking an external clock by a predetermined time. This DLL clock is generated from a delay locked loop (DLL) circuit. In the synchronous semiconductor memory device, the data output has to be accurately synchronized with the rising and falling edges of the external clock. However, due to the delay time of the clock signal, which inevitably occurs during the internal processing, the data output cannot be accurately synchronized with the rising and falling edges of the external clock. 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a conventional data output unit for outputting data corresponding to a read command in a DDR synchronization memory device. 
         [0013]    The conventional data output unit includes an output enable signal generator  10  and an output driving signal generator  20 . The output enable signal generator  10  generates a plurality of output enable signals OE 00  to OE 30  having information relating to a delay time from an activation timing of a read column address strobe (CAS) signal CASP 6 _RD. The output driving signal generator  20  receives the plurality of output enable signals OE 00  to OE 30  and generates rising and falling output driving signals ROUTEN and FOUTEN in response to CAS latency information signals CL 1  to CL 5 . 
         [0014]    For reference, the read CAS signal CASP 6 _RD is produced by a read operation within the semiconductor memory device, and only the CAS latency information signals CL 1  to CL 5  corresponding to the CAS latency are activated. 
         [0015]    Although not shown in  FIG. 1 , the rising and falling output driving signals ROUTEN and FOUTEN control timing when data output from a memory core block in response to the read command is output through a data pad. In order that the data output through the data pad satisfies the CAS latency, the rising and falling output driving signals ROUTEN and FOUTEN should be generated in consideration of the CAS latency. Accordingly, when the rising and falling output driving signals ROUTEN and FOUTEN are generated, the plurality of output enable signals OE 00  to OE 30  are generated in order to provide information relating to the CAS latency. 
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the output enable signal generator  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0017]    The output enable signal generator  10  includes an inverter chain  11  and first to third shifter registers  12 ,  13  and  14 . The inverter chain  11  delays and transfers the read CAS signal CASP 6 _RD. The first shift register  12  receives an output of the inverter chain  11  to output a first output enable signal OE 00  in response to a rising DLL clock RCLKDLL and a second output enable signal OE 10  by delaying the output signal of the inverter chain  11  by one clock. The second shift register  13  is initiated in response to an initial signal OE_RSTB and outputs a third output enable signal OE 15  by delaying the second output enable signal OE 10  by half clock and a fourth output enable signal OE 20  by delaying the second output enable signal OE 10  by one clock. The third shift register  14  is initiated in response to the initial signal OE_RSTB and outputs a fifth output enable signal OE 25  by delaying the fourth output enable signal OE 20  by half clock and a sixth output enable signal OE 30  by delaying the fourth output enable signal OE 20  by one clock. 
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a waveform diagram illustrating an operation of the output enable signal generator  10  shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0019]    The read CAS signal CASP 6 _RD is activated after a read command RD 0  is applied. After the read CAS signal CASP 6 _RD is activated, the output enable signal generator  10  sequentially activates the first to sixth output enable signals OE 00  to OE 30  in units of half clock or one clock in response to the rising DLL clock RCLKDLL. 
         [0020]    Hereinafter, referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , an operation of the conventional data output unit in the semiconductor memory device will be described. 
         [0021]    First, if the read CAS signal CASP 6 _RD is activated after the read command RD 0  is applied, the output enable signal generator  10  sequentially activates the first to sixth output enable signals OE 00  to OE 30  in units of half clock or one clock in response to the rising DLL clock RCLKDLL. 
         [0022]    The output driving signal generator  20  outputs the rising and falling output driving signals ROUTEN and FOUTEN in response to activated ones among the CAS latency information signals CL 1  to CL 5 . 
         [0023]    As described above, when the rising and falling output driving signals ROUTEN and FOUTEN are generated, some of the output enable signals OE 00  to OE 30  may not be required. 
         [0024]    Table 1 shows a corresponding one of the output enable signals, which is required according to the predetermined CAS latency. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 CL(CAS Latency) 
                 0E 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 1 
                 0E00 
               
               
                   
                 2 
                 0E10 
               
               
                   
                 3 
                 0E20 
               
               
                   
                 4 
                 0E30 
               
               
                   
                 5 
                 0E40 
               
               
                   
                 6 
                 0E50 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0025]    When the CAS latency is set to 1, the first output enable signal OE 00  is only used. When the CAS latency is set to 2, the first and second output enable signals OE 00  and OE 10  are used. Likewise, when the CAS latency is set to 3, the first and third output enable signals OE 00  and OE 15  are required. 
         [0026]    As described above, when the rising and falling output driving signals ROUTEN and FOUTEN are generated the number of required output enable signals differs according to the predetermined CAS latency. 
         [0027]    However, the conventional data output unit always generates all of the output enable signals even if they are not all required. As a result, unnecessary current consumption is occurs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an output controller for reducing unnecessary current consumption. 
         [0029]    In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an output controller including: an output enable signal generator for generating corresponding ones among a plurality of output enable signals based on a preset column address strobe (CAS) latency, each of the output enable signals having information relating to a delay time from an activation timing of a CAS signal; and an output driving signal generator for receiving the plurality of output enable signals corresponding to the preset CAS latency and outputting rising and falling output driving signals for controlling an output timing of data. 
         [0030]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor device for controlling data output timing, including: an initial synchronizing unit for outputting a first output enable signal by synchronizing a read CAS signal with a rising DLL clock; first to fifth synchronizing units, connected in series, each for receiving an output signal of the respective previous stage and outputting a corresponding output enable signal when a corresponding control signal is activated, wherein the first synchronizing unit receives the first output enable signal; a control unit for receiving the rising DLL clock and generating a plurality of control signals corresponding to a preset CAS latency; and an output driving signal generator for receiving the output enable signals activated in response to the rising DLL clock and outputting a rising driving signal in response to a corresponding CAS latency. 
         [0031]    In accordance with further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an output controller, including: an interval signal generator for generating a plurality of interval signals activated at regular intervals from activating a flag signal, and a control signal generator for outputting a plurality of control signals based on the plurality of interval signals, wherein an interval signal corresponding to an activated selection signal among a plurality of selection signals is only activated. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0032]    The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0033]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a conventional data output unit for outputting data corresponding to a read command in a DDR SDRAM; 
           [0034]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an output enable signal generator shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 3  is a waveform diagram illustrating an operation of the output enable signal generator shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of an output controller in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 5  is a detailed circuit diagram of an output enable signal generator shown in  FIG. 4  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0038]      FIG. 6  is a detailed circuit diagram of an output enable signal generator shown in  FIG. 4  in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0039]      FIG. 7  is a circuit diagram of an output driving signal generator shown in  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0040]    An output controller in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0041]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of an output controller in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0042]    The output controller of the present invention includes an output enable signal generator  100  and an output driving signal generator  200 . The output enable signal generator  100  generates corresponding ones among a plurality of output enable signals OE 00  to OE 50  having information relating to a delay time from an activation timing of a read column address strobe (CAS) signal CASP 6 _RD based on CAS latency information signals CL 1  to CL 5 . The output driving signal generator  200  receives the plurality of output enable signals OE 00  to OE 50  and generates rising and falling output driving signals ROUTEN and FOUTEN in response to the CAS latency information signals CL 1  to CL 6 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 5  is a detailed circuit diagram of the output enable signal generator  100  shown in  FIG. 4  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. Particularly,  FIG. 5  shows the output enable signal generator  100  which is operated in synchronization with a rising delay locked loop (DLL) clock RCLKDLL. The output enable signal generator  100  operated in synchronization with a falling DLL clock FCLKDLL is the same circuit structure shown in  FIG. 5 , except that the output enable signals are activated half clock later. 
         [0044]    As shown, the output enable signal generator  100  includes an inverter chain  110 , an initial synchronizing unit  120 , a control unit  131  to  136 , and first to fifth synchronizing units  141  to  145 . 
         [0045]    The inverter chain  110  delays and transfers the read CAS signal CASP 6 _RD to the initial synchronizing unit  120 . The initial synchronizing unit  120  outputs a first output enable signal OE 00  by synchronizing an output signal of the inverter chain  110  with the rising DLL clock RCLKDLL. The control unit  131  to  136  receives the rising DLL clock RCLKDLL and the CAS latency information signals CL 1  to CL 5 , and generates first to fifth control signals. The first to fifth synchronizing units  141  to  145  connected in series receive output signals of the respective previous stages and output the output enable signals when a corresponding control signal output from the control unit  131  to  136  is activated. 
         [0046]    In detail, the initial synchronizing unit  120  includes a first transfer gate TG 1 , a first inverter I 1  and a first latch unit  122 . The first transfer gate TG 1  transfers an output of the inverter chain  110  in response to a logic level ‘LOW’ of the rising DLL clock RCLKDLL. The first inverter I 1  inverts an output of the first transfer gate TG 1 . The first latch unit  122  latches an output of the first inverter I 1  and outputs the latched signal as the first output enable signal OE 00 . 
         [0047]    The control unit  131  to  136  includes an information expanding unit  131  and first to fifth control signal generating units  132  to  136 . The information expanding unit  131  activates a first information expanding signal CL 12  when the first and second CAS latency information signals CL 1  and CL 2  are inactivated, and activates a second information expanding signal CL 34  when the third and fourth CAS latency information signals CL 3  and CL 4  are inactivated. The first control signal generating unit  132  outputs the rising DLL clock RCLKDLL as a first control signal when the first CAS latency information signal CL 1  is inactivated. The second control signal generating unit  133  inverts the rising DLL clock RCLKDLL to output the inverted signal as a second control signal when the first information expanding signal CL 12  is activated. The third control signal generating unit  134  inverts the rising DLL clock RCLKDLL to output the inverted signal as a third control signal when the first information expanding signal CL 12  is activated and the third CAS latency information signal CL 3  is inactivated. The fourth control signal generating unit  135  inverts the rising DLL clock RCLKDLL to output the inverted signal as a fourth control signal when the first and second information expanding signals CL 12  and CL 34  are activated. The fifth control signal generating unit  136  inverts the rising DLL clock RCLKDLL to output the inverted signal as a fifth control signal when the first and second information expanding signals CL 12  and CL 34  are activated and the fifth CAS latency information signal CL 5  is inactivated. 
         [0048]    In detail, the information expanding unit  131  includes a first NOR gate NR 1  and a second NOR gate NR 2 . The first NOR gate NR 1  receives the first and second CAS latency information signals CL 1  and CL 2  to output the first information expanding signal CL 12 . The second NOR gate NR 2  receives the third and fourth CAS latency information signals CL 3  and CL 4  to output the second information expanding signal CL 34 . 
         [0049]    The first control signal generating unit  132  includes a third NOR gate NR 3  which receives an inverted rising DLL clock RCLKDLLB and the first CAS latency information signal CL 1  to output the first control signal. 
         [0050]    The second control signal generating unit  133  includes a first NAND gate ND 1  which receives the rising DLL clock RCLKDLL and the first information expanding signal CL 12  to output the second control signal. 
         [0051]    The third control signal generating unit  134  includes a second inverter I 2  and a second NAND gate ND 2 . The second inverter I 2  inverts the third CAS latency information signal CL 3 . The second NAND gate ND 2  receives an output of the second inverter I 2 , the rising DLL clock RCLKDLL and the first information expanding signal CL 12  to output the third control signal. 
         [0052]    The fourth control signal generating unit  135  includes a third NAND gate ND 3  which receives the first and second information expanding signals CL 12  and CL 34  and the rising DLL clock RCLKDLL to output the fourth control signal. 
         [0053]    The fifth control signal generating unit  136  includes a third inverter I 3  and a fourth NAND gate ND 4 . The third inverter I 3  inverts the fifth CAS latency information signal CL 5 . The fourth NAND gate ND 4  receives an output of the third inverter I 3 , the rising DLL clock RCLKDLL and the first and second information expanding signals CL 12  and CL 34  to output the fifth control signal. 
         [0054]    The first synchronizing unit  141  includes a second transfer gate TG 2  and a fourth inverter I 4  and a second latch unit  141 A. The second transfer gate TG 2  transfers the first output enable signal OE 00  in response to a logic level ‘HIGH’ of the first control signal. The fourth inverter I 4  inverts an output of the second transfer gate TG 2 . The second latch unit  144 A latches an output of the fourth inverter I 4  to output a second output enable signal OE 10 . 
         [0055]    The second to fifth synchronizing units  142  to  145  have the same structures as that of the first synchronizing unit  141  except that they output third to sixth control signals in response to a logic level ‘LOW’ of each corresponding control signal. 
         [0056]    For reference, if the CAS latency is set to 1, the first CAS latency information signal CL 1  is activated with a logic level ‘HIGH’ and if the CAS latency is set to 2, the second CAS latency information signal CL 2  is activated with a logic level ‘HIGH’. Likewise, if the CAS latency is set to 3, the third CAS latency information signal CL 3  is activated with a logic level ‘HIGH’. 
         [0057]    The first control signal is activated with a logic level ‘HIGH’ and the second to fifth control signals are activated with a logic level ‘LOW’. In addition, the first and second information expanding signals CL 12  and CL 34  are activated with a logic level ‘HIGH’. 
         [0058]    Hereinafter, an operation of the output enable signal generator  100  will be described in detail. 
         [0059]    First, if the CAS latency is set to 1, the first CAS latency information signal CL 1  is activated with a logic level ‘HIGH’ and the second to fifth CAS latency information signals CL 2  to CL 5  are inactivated with a logic level ‘LOW’. 
         [0060]    The information expanding unit  131  inactivates the first information expanding signal CL 12  with a logic level ‘LOW’ and activates the second information expanding signal CL 34  with a logic level ‘HIGH’. 
         [0061]    The first control signal generating unit  132  outputs the first control signal with a logic level ‘LOW’ in response to the logic level ‘HIGH’ of the first CAS latency information signal CL 1 . Each of the second to fifth control signal generating units  133  to  136  outputs the second to fifth control signals with a logic level ‘HIGH’ in response to the logic level ‘LOW’ of the first information expanding signal CL 12 . 
         [0062]    If the read CAS signal CASP 6 _RD is activated after the read command is applied, the initial synchronizing unit  120  outputs the first output enable signal OE 00  in response to a logic level ‘LOW’ of the rising DLL clock RCLKDLL. The first to fifth synchronizing units  141  to  145  are turned-off in response to the first to fifth control signals. 
         [0063]    Accordingly, when the read CAS signal CASP 6 _RD is activated, the first output enable signal OE 00  is only activated in response to the rising DLL clock RCLKDLL. The second to sixth output enable signals OE 10  to OE 50  are not activated. 
         [0064]    Next, if the CAS latency is set to 3, the third CAS latency information signal. CL 3  is activated with a logic level ‘HIGH’ and the other CAS latency information signals CL 1 , CL 2 , CL 4  and CL 5  are inactivated with a logic level ‘LOW’. 
         [0065]    The information expanding unit  131  inactivates the first information expanding signal CL 12  with a logic level ‘HIGH’ and activates the second information expanding signal CL 34  with a logic level ‘LOW’. 
         [0066]    The first control signal generating unit  132  outputs the first control signal by inverting the inverted rising DLL clock RCLKDLLB in response to the logic level ‘LOW’ of the first CAS latency information signal CL 1 . The second control signal generating unit  133  outputs the second control signal by inverting the rising DLL clock RCLKDLL in response to the logic level ‘HIGH’ of the information expanding signal CL 12 . Each of the third to fifth control signal generating units  134  to  136  outputs the corresponding control signal with a logic level ‘HIGH’ in response to the logic level ‘HIGH’ of the third CAS latency information signal CL 3  and the logic level ‘LOW’ of the second information expanding signal CL 34 . 
         [0067]    If the read CAS signal CASP 6 _RD is activated after the read command is applied, the initial synchronizing unit  120  outputs the first output enable signal OE 00  in response to a logic level ‘LOW’ of the rising DLL clock RCLKDLL. The first and second synchronizing units  141  and  142  output the second and third output enable signals OE 10  and OE 20  in response to the first and second control signals. The third and fifth synchronizing units  143  and  146  are turned-off in response to the third and fifth control signals. 
         [0068]    Accordingly, after the read CAS signal CASP 6 _RD is activated, the first to third output enable signals OE 00  to OE 20  are sequentially activated in synchronization with the rising DLL clock RCLKDLL. 
         [0069]    As described above, the output enable signal generator  100  in accordance with the first embodiment of the claimed invention further includes the control unit  131  to  136  receiving the CAS latency information signals CL 1  to CL 5 . As a result, each transfer gate provided in the synchronizing units is turned off according to the control signals output from the control unit  131  to  136 . Accordingly, it is possible to reduce unnecessary current consumption by turning off the synchronizing units which generates unnecessary output enable signals. 
         [0070]      FIG. 6  is a circuit diagram of the output enable signal generator  100  shown in  FIG. 4  in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0071]    The output enable signal generator  100  in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention includes an inverter chain  150 , an initial synchronizing unit  155 , a control unit  171  to  175 , and first to fifth synchronizing units  161  to  165 . 
         [0072]    The inverter chain  150  delays and transfers the read CAS signal CASP 6 _RD to the initial synchronizing unit  155 . The initial synchronizing unit  155  outputs a first output enable signal OE 00  by synchronizing an output signal of the inverter chain  150  with the rising DLL clock RCLKDLL. The control unit  171  to  175  receives an inverted rising DLL clock RCLKDLLB and the CAS latency information signals CL 1  to CL 5 , and generates first to fifth control signals. The first to fifth synchronizing units  161  to  165  connected in series receive output signals of the respective previous stages and output the output enable signals OE 10  to OE 50  when a corresponding control signal output from the control unit  171  to  175  is activated. 
         [0073]    In detail, the control unit includes first to fifth control signal generating units  171  to  175 . Each of the first to fifth control signal generating units  171  to  175  outputs the rising DLL clock RCLKDLL as the first to fifth control signals when a corresponding one of the CAS latency information signals CL 1  to CL 5  is inactivated. 
         [0074]    The second to fifth control signal generating units  172  to  175  have the same structures as that of the first control signal generating unit  171  except for the CAS latency information signal. The first control signal generating unit  171  is described as an exemplary structure. 
         [0075]    The first control signal generating unit  171  includes a first NOR gate NR 4  which receives the inverted rising DLL clock RCLKDLLB and a first CAS latency information signal CL 1  to output the first control signal. 
         [0076]    If the CAS latency is set to 3, a third CAS latency information signal CL 3  is activated with a logic level ‘HIGH’ and the other CAS latency information signals CL 1 , CL 2 , CL 4  and CL 5  are inactivated with a logic level ‘LOW’. 
         [0077]    The third control signal generating unit  173  outputs the third control signal with a logic level ‘LOW’. Each of the other control signal generating units  171 ,  172 ,  174  and  175  outputs the corresponding control signal by inverting the inverted rising DLL clock RCLKDLLB. 
         [0078]    If the read CAS signal CASP 6 _RD is activated after the read command is applied, the initial synchronizing unit  155  outputs the first output enable signal OE 00  in response to a logic level ‘LOW’ of the rising DLL clock RCLKDLL. The first and second synchronizing units  161  and  162  sequentially output the second and third output enable signals OE 10  and OE 20  in units of one clock. At this time, the third synchronizing unit  163  is turned off in response to the third control signal. Accordingly, though the fourth and fifth synchronizing units  164  and  165  are turned on, they do not output and activate a corresponding control signal. 
         [0079]    As described above, the output enable signal generator  100  in accordance with the second embodiment of the claimed invention further includes the control unit  171  to  175  which receives the CAS latency information signals CL 1  to CL 5  and controls the synchronizing units  161  and  165  for generating the output enable signals by synchronizing the read CAS signal CASP 6 _RD with the rising DLL clock RCLKDLL. That is, after the required output enable signal is activated, the next synchronizing unit is only turned off in response to the preset CAS latency. As a result, the other synchronizing units which receive an output of the turned off synchronizing unit do not activate the output enable signals. For example, if the CAS latency is set 2, the second synchronizing unit  162  is turned off so that the required output enable signals, i.e., the first and second output enable signals OE 00  and OE 10 , are only activated. Likewise, if the CAS latency is set 4, the fourth synchronizing unit  164  is turned off so that the required output enable signals, i.e., the first to fourth output enable signals OE 00  to OE 30 , are only activated. 
         [0080]    The output enable signal generator  100  in accordance with the second embodiment of the claimed invention may consume unnecessary current greater than that of the first embodiment because the next synchronizing unit is only turned off after the required output enable signal is activated. 
         [0081]      FIG. 7  is a circuit diagram of the output driving signal generator  200  shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0082]    The output driving signal generator  200  includes a first output driving signal generator  220  and a second output driving signal generator  240 . The first output driving signal generator  220  receives corresponding output enable signals OE 00  to OE 50  to output the rising output driving signal ROUTEN in response to a corresponding signal among the first to sixth CAS latency information signals CL 1  to CL 6 . The second output driving signal generator  240  receives corresponding output enable signals OE 05  to OE 55  to output the falling output driving signal FOUTEN in response to a corresponding signal among the first to sixth CAS latency information signals CL 1  to CL 6 . 
         [0083]    The first and second output driving signal generators  220  and  240  include a plurality of transfer gates and a latch unit. Each of transfer gates receives the output enable signal and transfers the received signal in response to a corresponding. CAS latency information signal. The latch unit latches a signal at an output common node of the transfer gates to output the latched signal as the rising output driving signal ROUTEN or falling output driving signal FOUTEN. 
         [0084]    The output enable signals OE 00  to OE 50  input to the first output driving signal generator  220  are activated in response to the rising DLL clock RCLKDLL, and the output enable signals OE 05  to OE 55  input to the second output driving signal generator  240  are activated in response to the falling DLL clock FCLKDLL. 
         [0085]    Hereinafter, referring to  FIGS. 4 to 7 , the output controller of the present invention is described. 
         [0086]    The output enable signal generator  100  selectively activates the required output enable signal in response to the preset CAS latency. The output driving signal generator  200  receives the output enable signals and outputs the rising output driving signal ROUTEN and the falling output driving signal FOUTEN based on the CAS latency information signals. 
         [0087]    As described above, when the output enable signals are generated, the output controller of the claimed invention receives the CAS latency information signals so as to generate the required output enable signal corresponding to the CAS latency information signals. As a result, it is possible to reduce unnecessary current consumption by preventing unnecessary output enable signals from being generated when the output driving signals are generated by the preset CAS latency. 
         [0088]    While the present invention has been described with respect to the output controller for controlling a data output timing by the read command, it is possible to apply the present invention to a block which activates a plurality of signals at regular intervals based on a flag signal such as the read CAS signal and generates a control signal corresponding to a selection signal. That is, when the plurality of signals are generated at regular intervals from the flag signal, it is possible to reduce unnecessary current consumption by generating the control signal based on the selection signal. 
         [0089]    The present application contains a subject matter related to Korean patent application Nos. 2005-91570 &amp; 2005-130483, filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Sep. 29, 2005 &amp; Dec. 27, 2005, respectively, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0090]    While the present invention has been described with respect to certain preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.