Patent Publication Number: US-8996738-B2

Title: Data transfer operation completion detection circuit and semiconductor memory device provided therewith

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/800,136, filed Mar. 13, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/522,424, filed Sep. 18, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,713,247, issued Apr. 29, 2014, which claims priority to JP Patent Application No. 2005-272975, filed Sep. 20, 2005, the contents of which prior applications are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a data transfer operation completion detection circuit for detecting the completion of a read operation, write operation, or another data transfer operation, and specifically relates to a data transfer operation completion detection circuit suitable for use in a synchronous semiconductor memory device. In addition, the present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device comprising such a data transfer operation completion detection circuit. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Synchronous semiconductor memory devices such as synchronous DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) are widely employed in the main memory of personal computers and the like. Synchronous semiconductor memory devices are a type of memory wherein data is input and output synchronously with a clock signal that is provided from a controller. The clock frequency has increased with each successive year in order to meet demands over the past several years for higher speeds. 
     Meanwhile, a dramatic increase has occurred especially in the demand for lower power consumption in mobile device applications and the like. However, as the clock frequency increases, the power consumption also increases. Therefore, various designs have been presented in recent synchronous DRAMs to simultaneously achieve high speed and low power consumption. 
     One technique for achieving lower power consumption is an operation mode called “power-down mode.” Power-down mode is a technique wherein the input buffer is stopped to disable the command input from a controller, thereby reducing the power consumed during the period when the DRAM is not accessed. See Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. H9-69285. 
     Power-down mode is usually initiated by changing the clock enable signal CKE from a high level to a low level after a data transfer operation sequence is complete; e.g., after a read operation sequence is performed in response to a read command. However, a specification called “early power-down” has been proposed over the past several years, wherein the clock enable signal CKE is changed from a high level to a low level before the read operation, write operation, or other operation sequence is complete. A semiconductor memory device capable of receiving early power-down will automatically enter power-down mode after a read operation, write operation, or other operation sequence is completed once the clock enable signal CKE is changed to a low level while the read operation or write operation is executed by the DRAM core. 
     In a semiconductor memory device capable of receiving early power-down, accordingly, the clock enable signal CKE is changed to a low level while a read operation or write operation is being executed by the DRAM core. For this reason, a read enable signal or write enable signal must be generated within the DRAM, thereby allowing the read operation or write operation to continue so that the DRAM core operation does not stop midway through. When the read operation or write operation is completed, the read enable signal or write enable signal is deactivated, and, in response, entry into power-down mode will commence. 
     However, most synchronous DRAMs are capable of receiving a new read command or write command while a read operation or write operation is being performed. In such cases, the operation sequence corresponding to the first received read command or write command is completed, and the subsequently received operation corresponding to the read command or write command is then initiated. For this reason, a detection circuit for detecting whether all read operations or write operations have been completed at a given time is necessary in order to enable such synchronous DRAMs to receive early power-down. 
     This problem arises not only with synchronous DRAM, but also in CPUs with on-board cache memory and other devices wherein it is necessary to detect the completion of read operations, write operations, and other data transfer operations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention was devised to resolve such problems. Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a data transfer operation completion detection circuit that can be used in semiconductor devices that are capable of receiving read commands, write commands and other new data transfer commands while a data transfer operation is in progress, and that can detect the completion of a data transfer operation. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor device comprising such a data transfer operation completion detection circuit. 
     The above and other objects of the present invention can be accomplished by a data transfer operation completion detection circuit that is used in a semiconductor device that can transfer data in response to a data transfer command and can accept a new data transfer command while a data transfer operation sequence is in progress, comprising: a first means for maintaining a reception history of said data transfer commands; and a second means for generating a completion detection signal indicating a completion of the data transfer operation based on the reception history maintained by said first means. 
     According to the present invention, the completion of a read operation, write operation, or another data transfer operation is detected based on at least the data transfer command reception history. Therefore, even if a new read command or write command is issued while a read operation or write operation is being performed, it is possible to detect whether all read operations or write operations have been completed at a given time. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second means generates a completion detection signal when an indication is made that the first means has not received a data transfer command for a prescribed period of time. It is thus possible to detect whether all read operations or write operations have been completed merely by monitoring the data transfer command generation history. 
     In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first means includes at least one counter. The counter memorizes a history of generating a data transfer initiation signal that is generated based on said data transfer command and that shows the initiation of the data transfer operation sequence; and memorizes a history of generating a data transfer completion signal that shows a completion of a data transfer operation sequence. Therefore, even if the maximum clock number required by a data transfer operation sequence is high, it will be possible to minimize an increase in the scale of the circuit proportional thereto, and an operation margin can be ensured even if the clock frequency is high. 
     In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first means contains a first counter for performing a shifting operation in response to the generation of a data transfer initiation signal, and a second counter for performing a shifting operation in response to the generation of a data transfer completion signal. The second means generates a completion detection signal in response to the generation of a data transfer completion signal in a state where the count value of the first counter matches the count value of the second counter. According to this arrangement, a completion detection signal can be generated when a data transfer completion signal has been generated in a standby state with one remaining uncompleted data transfer operation. An operation margin can thus be ensured even when the clock frequency is higher. 
     The semiconductor memory device according to the present invention comprises: a first means for maintaining a reception history of said data transfer commands; a second means for generating a completion detection signal indicating a completion of the data transfer operation based on the reception history maintained by said first means; and a third means for accepting a power-down command, wherein said semiconductor memory device can entry a power-down mode in response to the completion detection signal in a case where the power-down command is issued after the data transfer command is issued and before the data transfer operation sequence is completed. 
     According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a semiconductor memory device capable of receiving early power-down. 
     Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to detect whether all read operations or write operations have been completed at a given time even when a new read command or write command is received while a read operation or write operation is being executed. Early power-down and other modes can thus be properly executed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, features and advantages of this invention will become more apparent by reference to the following detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a circuit diagram of a data transfer operation completion detection circuit according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a semiconductor device that employs the data transfer operation completion detection circuit shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  are timing diagrams showing the operation of the data transfer operation completion detection circuit shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a circuit diagram of a data transfer operation completion detection circuit according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a timing diagram showing the operation of the data transfer operation completion detection circuit shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a circuit diagram of a data transfer operation completion detection circuit according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a timing diagram showing the operation of the data transfer operation completion detection circuit shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be explained in detail with reference to the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a circuit diagram of a data transfer operation completion detection circuit  10  according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     The detection circuit  10  according to the present embodiment is a circuit for a synchronous DRAM, and is used to detect that all read operations are complete. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the detection circuit  10  according to the present embodiment comprises n cascaded latch circuits  11   1  through  11   n , a NOR circuit  12  for receiving the output from the n latch circuits  11   1  through  11   n , and an inverter  13  for receiving the output from the NOR circuit  12 . 
     The latch circuits  11   1  through  11   n  are each so-called D-type latch circuits comprising an input end D, an output end Q, and a clock end C. The signal supplied to the input end D is latched in response to the changing of the signal (internal clock CLK) provided to the clock end C from a low level to a high level, and then output by the output end Q. A read initiation signal RD generated within the synchronous DRAM based on a read command is supplied to the input end D of the first latch circuit  11   1 , and is successively shifted to the subsequent latch circuits  11   2  through  11   n . In the present embodiment, the read initiate signal RD is high active. 
     The number n of latch circuits  11   1  through  11   n  is set to be equal to the maximum number of clocks (maximum cycle) required by the read operation sequence. The maximum cycle is decided by the addition latency (AL), which is the delay from when a read command is received until the DRAM core initiates a read operation, the CAS latency (CL), which is the delay from the DRAM core initiating the read operation until the first data is output, and the burst length (BL), which is the amount of data continuously outputted in the read operation sequence. 
     Specifically, when using double data-rate (DDR) synchronous DRAM, which inputs and outputs data at both edges of the clock, the maximum cycle n is given by
 
 n =AL+CL+(BL/2)+1
 
For example, if AL is 10, CL is 11, and BL is 8, then n is 26. This indicates that twenty-six cycles of the clock (26 clocks) are necessary from the read command READ being issued until the final data component is finished being output, and the next operation can be performed.
 
     In the detection circuit  10  of the present embodiment, the number of latch circuits  11   1  through  11   n  is set to be equal to the maximum number of cycles n. Therefore, a read initiate signal RD must be present in any of the latch circuits  11   1  through  11   n  while the read operation sequence is in progress. For this reason, during the read operation sequence, any of the input from the NOR circuit  12  will be at a high level, and the read enable signal RE, which is the output of the inverter  13 , will thus sustain a high level. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the read enable signal RE generated by the detection circuit  10  is supplied to the power-down control circuit  18  employed in the synchronous DRAM. 
     The power-down control circuit  18  is a circuit for generating a power-down signal PD. The synchronous DRAM enters power-down mode when the power-down signal PD is generated. The power-down control circuit  18  does not immediately generate the power-down signal PD when the clock enable signal CKE is changed from a high level to a low level after a read command is received and before the read operation sequence is complete; i.e., the read enable signal RE is sustained at a high level, but pauses for the read enable signal RE to change to a low level and then generates the power-down signal PD. In other words, early power-down can be received by the function of the data transfer operation completion circuit  10  and the power-down control circuit  18 . 
     The read enable signal RE is also supplied to the DRAM core  19 . If the read enable signal RE is sustained at a high level, then even if the clock enable signal CKE changes from a high level to a low level, the operation of the DRAM core  19  will not stop, and the read operation will continue. 
       FIG. 3  is a timing diagram showing the operation of the detection circuit  10  according to the present embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , when a read command READ is issued synchronously with the predetermined active edge of an external clock CK, a read initiation signal RD is generated based n the read command READ. The read initiation signal RD is latched to the latch circuit  11   1 , thereby changing the read enable signal RE to a high level. As described above, the read initiation signal RD is successively shifted to the latch circuits  11   2  through  11   n  synchronized with the internal clock CLK. However, the output of these latch circuits  11   1  through  11   n  is all fed to the NOR circuit  12 , and the read enable signal RE is therefore sustained during this time. 
     Therefore, the read enable signal RE is sustained at a high level even if a power-down, wherein the clock enable signal CKE is changed from a high level to a low level, is received while a read operation sequence is in progress. The operation of the DRAM core thus does not stop, and the read operation continues as normal. 
     When a period of time equal to the sum of the AL and CL has passed since the read command READ was issued, the first data is output, and an amount of data equal to the BL is continuously output. With DDR-specification synchronous DRAM, data is output synchronously with both the rising edge and the falling edge of the clock, and the period during which data is actually being output is therefore BL/2, as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     When the final data is finished being output and one further clock has passed, the read initiation signal RD that was shifted through the latch circuits  11   1  through  11   n  disappears, and the read enable signal RE is therefore changed to a low level. The change of the read enable signal RE to a low level indicates the completion of the read operation, and, in response, the power-down control circuit  18  shown in  FIG. 2  generates a power-down signal PD. The synchronous DRAM thereby enters the power-down mode. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the change in the read enable signal RE is used as a completion detection signal. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , when a new read command READ is issued while a read operation sequence is in progress, the new read operation is initiated in parallel to the read operation that is currently in progress. In this case, the latch circuits  11   1  through  11   n  perform a shifting operation in the presence of both the prior read initiation signal RD and the new read initiation signal RD, and the read enable signal RE therefore continues to maintain a high level even after a maximum cycle n has passed since the first read-initiation signal RD was activated. 
     When the maximum cycle n has passed since the final read command READ was issued, the read enable signal RE changes to a low level, and entry into power-down mode commences in response thereto. 
     The data transfer operation completion detection circuit  10  according to the present embodiment maintains a read command READ reception history in this manner by cascading latch circuits  11   1  through  11   n  of the same number as the maximum cycle n. The read enable signal RE can be deactivated in response to the continuation of a state wherein a read command READ is not issued over a period of time that exceeds the maximum cycle n. The point at which all read operations are complete can thereby be accurately detected, even when a new read command READ is received while a read operation sequence is in progress. Therefore, early power-down can be accepted, provided such a detection circuit  10  is installed within the synchronous DRAM. 
     Latch circuits  11   1  through  11   n  of the same number as the maximum cycle n are required in the detection circuit  10  according to the above-described embodiment. Therefore, when the maximum cycle n increases, the scale of the circuit increases proportionally. In addition, a multi-input NOR circuit  12  is used; therefore, a risk is presented that the operation margin of the NOR circuit  12  will be insufficient if the clock frequency is extremely high. For these reasons, the detection circuit  10  according to the above-described embodiment is regarded to be a circuit suitable when the maximum cycle n is relatively small and the clock frequency is relatively low. In addition, the completion of all read operations can be detected merely by monitoring the read initiation signal RD generation history, and the detection circuit  10  is therefore suitably used when a burst completion signal or another signal cannot be employed or is difficult to employ. 
     An embodiment that is suitable when the maximum cycle n is large and the clock frequency is high shall next be described. 
       FIG. 5  is a circuit diagram of the data transfer operation completion detection circuit  20  according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     The data transfer operation completion detection circuit  20  according to the present embodiment is a suitable circuit for synchronous DRAM, wherein the maximum cycle n is large and the clock frequency is high, as described above. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the detection circuit  20  of the present embodiment includes a first counter  21  and a second counter  22 . The first counter  21  is constituted of eight circularly connected latch circuits  21   1  through  21   8 . The second counter  22  is also constituted of eight circularly connected latch circuits  22   1  through  22   8 . 
     The latch circuits  21   1  through  21   8  and latch circuits  22   1  through  22   8  are each so-called D-type latch circuits having an input end D, an output end Q, and a clock end C. The signal provided to the input end D is latched in response to the changing of the signal provided to the clock end C from a low level to a high level, and is then output by the output end Q. A read initiation signal RD generated based on a read command is provided in common to the clock ends C of the eight latch circuits  21   1  through  21   8  constituting the first counter  21 , and a burst completion signal BE generated when the read process sequence is complete is provided in common to the clock ends C of the eight latch circuits  22   1  through  22   8  constituting the second counter  22 . 
     In addition, the defection circuit  20  according to the present embodiment is provided with eight NAND circuits  23   1  through  23   8 . The outputs from the two corresponding latch circuits within the first and second counters  21 ,  22  are provided to these NAND circuits  23   1  through  23   8 . “Two corresponding latch circuits” as mentioned herein refers to the latch circuit  21   i  contained in the first counter  21  and the latch circuit  22   i  contained in the second counter  22  (i=1 through 8); e.g., a latch circuit  21   1  and latch circuit  22   1 . 
     Furthermore, an eight-input NAND circuit  24  for receiving the output of the abovementioned eight NAND circuits  23   1  through  23   8  is provided in the detection circuit  20  of the present embodiment, and the output of the NAND circuit  24  is provided to the reset end R of an SR latch circuit  25 . In the SR latch circuit  25 , when the signal supplied to the set end S is changed to a high level, the output Q is changed to a high level, and when the signal supplied to the reset end R changes to a high level, the output Q is changed to a low level. A read initiation signal RD is supplied to the set end S of the SR latch circuit  25 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     In the first counter  21 , a high level is latched in only one of the eight latch circuits  21   1  through  21   8 , and a low level is latched in the other seven latch circuits. Similarly, in the second counter  22  too, a high level is latched in only one of the eight latch circuits  22   1  through  22   8 , and a low level is latched in the other seven latch circuits. In an initial state, a high level is latched to the head latch circuits  21   1 ,  22   1  by the operation of an initial setting circuit  26 . 
     The operation of the detection circuit  20  according to the present embodiment shall next be described. 
       FIG. 6  is a timing diagram for describing the operation of the detection circuit  20  according to the present embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , when a read command READ is issued at time t 10 , a read initiation signal RD is generated based thereon. The SR latch circuit  25  contained in the detection circuit  20  is thereby set, the read enable signal RE changes to a high level, the first counter  21  is incremented, and the count value become “2.” The term “count value” as used herein refers to the suffix number of the latch circuit to which a high level is latched. Therefore, the initial value of the count value of both the first and second counters is “1.” In the above case, as a result of incrementation, the count value of the first counter  21  is “2,” and the count value of the second counter  22  is “1.” The outputs of the eight NAND circuits  23   1  through  23   8  are accordingly all high level, and a low level is therefore supplied to the reset end R of the SR latch circuit  25 . 
     Accordingly, when the read enable signal RE is high level, the operation of the DRAM core does not stop, and the read operation will continue as normal. This aspect is as described with reference to  FIG. 2 . When a new read command READ is then issued at time t 11  during the execution of a read operation sequence, a new read initiation signal RD is generated based thereon. The first counter  21  is thereby further incremented, and the count value becomes “3.” In this case as well, the outputs from the eight NAND circuits  23   1  through  23   8  are all high level, and the read enable signal RE is therefore sustained at a high level. 
     Once the read operation sequence corresponding to the first read command READ is complete, a burst completion signal BE is then activated at time t 12 . The second counter  22  is incremented in response, and the count value becomes “2.” However, the count value of the first counter  21  is already “3,” and the outputs of the eight NAND circuits  23   1  through  23   8  are all high level; therefore, the read enable signal RE is sustained at a high level. The read operation sequence corresponding to the second read command READ thus continues and is executed without entry into power-down mode commencing. 
     When an additional new read command READ is issued at time t 13  while the read operation corresponding to the second read command READ is in progress, a read initiation signal RD is again generated based thereon, and the first counter  21  is further incremented. The count value of the first counter  21  thereby becomes “4.” 
     When a burst completion signal BE is activated at time t 14  in response to the completion of the read operation corresponding to the second read command READ, the second counter  22  is incremented, and the count value becomes “3.” Furthermore, when a burst completion signal BE is activated at time t 15  in response to the completion of the read operation corresponding to the third read command READ, the second counter  22  is further incremented and the count value becomes “4.” 
     The output of the latch circuit  21   4  and the output of the latch circuit  22   4  are thereby at a high level; therefore, the output of the NAND circuit  23   4  is a low level, and a high level is supplied to the reset end R or the SR latch circuit  25 . As a result, the read enable signal RE changes to a low level, and, in response, entry into power-down mode commences. 
     In this way, the detection circuit  20  according to the present embodiment compares the read initiation signal RD generation history indicating the initiation of a read operation sequence and the burst completion signal BE generation history indicating the completion of a read operation sequence, and changes the read enable signal RE to a low level in response to a match between the number of read initiation signals RD generated and the number of burst completion signals BE generated. In other words, the first counter  21  and second counter  22  comprise up-down counters for maintaining a read initiation signal RD generation history and a burst completion signal BE history, and, when the remaining number of incomplete read operations reaches zero, can change the read enable signal RE to a low level. 
     Thus, in the same manner as in the detection circuit  10  of the first embodiment, the point at which all read operations are complete can be accurately detected even if a new read command READ is issued while a read operation sequence is in progress. Therefore, early power-down can be accepted, provided that such a detection circuit  20  is embedded within the synchronous DRAM. 
     The detection circuit  20  according to the present embodiment does not require the number of latch circuits to be equal to the maximum cycle n, and can therefore be smaller in scale. It is also possible to reduce the number of inputs to the NAND circuit  24 , which is a multi-input gate circuit, and thus the operation margin can be increased. Therefore, the data transfer operation completion detection circuit  20  according to the present embodiment can accurately detect the point at which the read operations are complete, even with a relatively large maximum cycle n and high clock frequency. 
     The number of latch circuits constituting each of the first and second counters  21 ,  22  (eight in the above embodiments) must be set to a number that exceeds the value obtained by dividing the number of clocks n (maximum cycle n) required in a read operation sequence by the number of clocks (BL/2 in the case of a DDR-specification) required for data output in a read operation sequence. The reason the number is set to such a level is that when the number of latch circuits is equal to or less than the abovementioned value, and read commands READ are continuously issued, the count value of the first counter  21  will make a full cycle, resulting in the read enable signal RE inevitably changing to a low level regardless of whether all read operations have concluded. 
       FIG. 7  is a circuit diagram of the data transfer operation completion detection circuit  30  according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     The data transfer operation completion detection circuit  30  according to the present embodiment differs from the detection circuit  20  of the embodiment described above in that an AND circuit  31  is inserted between the eight-input NAND circuit  24  and the SR latch circuit  25 , and in that the initial setting circuit  26  latches a high level to the latch circuits  21   1 ,  22   2  in an initial state. The detection circuit  30  according to the present embodiment is otherwise identical to the detection circuit  20  according to the above embodiment. Therefore, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components, and the description thereof shall not be repeated. 
     The AND circuit  31  is a two-input AND circuit. The output signal of the eight-input NAND circuit  24  is supplied to one input end of the AND circuit  31 , and the burst completion signal BE is supplied to the other input end. The output of the AND circuit  31  is supplied to the reset terminal end R of the SR latch circuit  25 . The detection circuit  30  of the present embodiment is thus different from the detection circuit  20  of the above embodiment, with the SR latch circuit  25  not being reset merely by the count values of the first and second counters  21 ,  22  matching, but being reset in response to the count values of the first and second counters  21 ,  22  matching and the burst completion signal BE being at a high level. 
     In the present embodiment, furthermore, the initial setting circuit  26  latches a high level to the latch circuits  21   1 ,  22   2  in an initial state; therefore, the initial value of the first counter is “1,” and the initial value of the second counter is “2.” The count value of the second counter is accordingly set to be one greater than that of the first counter in an initial state. Thus, in the detection circuit  30  according to the present embodiment, when the first read command READ is issued, and the first read initiation signal RD is generated based thereon, the output of the eight-input NAND circuit  24  immediately changes to a high level (i.e., a state wherein the agreement is detected). 
     The operation of the detection circuit  30  according to the present embodiment shall next be described. 
       FIG. 8  is a timing diagram for describing the operation of the data transfer operation completion detection circuit  30  according to the present embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , when a read command READ is issued at time t 20 , a read initiation signal RD is generated based thereon. The SR latch circuit  25  contained within the detection circuit  30  is thereby set, the read enable signal RE changes to a high level, the first counter  21  is incremented, and the count value becomes “2.” The output A of the eight-input NAND circuit  24  thereby changes to a high level, due to the fact that the count value of the first counter  21  matches the count value of the second counter  22  (i.e., both are “2”). 
     In the present embodiment, an AND circuit  31  is inserted between the eight-input NAND circuit  24  and the SR latch circuit  25 . A set state is therefore maintained without the SR latch circuit  25  being reset. In other words, a state in which the output A of the eight-input NAND circuit  24  is at a high level indicates that there is one read command whose operation is not yet complete, and becomes a standby state for resetting the SR latch circuit  25 . 
     When a new read command READ is issued at time t 21  while a series of read operations is in progress, a new read initiation signal RD based on this command is generated. The first counter  21  is thereby further incremented, and the count value becomes “3.” The count value of the first counter  21  will thus not match the count value of the second counter  22 , and, as a result, the output A of the eight-input NAND circuit  24  will change to a low level. In other words, the standby state for resetting the SR latch circuit  25  will be canceled. The canceling of the standby state indicates that two or more read operations that are not complete have accumulated. 
     Once the read operation sequence corresponding to the first read command READ is complete, a burst completion signal BE is then activated at time t 22 . In response thereto, the second counter  22  is incremented, and the count value becomes “3.” The state then returns to standby, wherein the output A of the eight-input NAND circuit  24  is at a high level. 
     When a further new read command READ is issued at time t 23 , during which the read operation corresponding to the second read command READ is in progress, a read initiation signal RD is thus generated based thereon, and the first counter  21  is further incremented. The count value of the first counter  21  thus becomes “4,” and the standby state is canceled. 
     When the burst completion signal BE is activated at time t 24  in response to the completion of the read operation corresponding to the second read command READ, the second counter  22  is incremented, the counter value becomes “4,” and the state once again returns to standby state. 
     When a burst completion signal BE is activated at time t 25  in response to the completion of the read operation corresponding to the third read command READ, the inputs to the AND circuit  31  change to a high level. A high level is therefore supplied to the reset end R of the SR latch circuit  25 . As a result, the read enable signal RE changes to a low level, and, in response thereto, the entry to power-down mode commences. In addition, the second counter  22  is further incremented, the count value becomes “5,” and, as with the initial state, a state is resumed wherein the count value of the second counter is one greater than that of the first counter. 
     In the detection circuit  30  of the present embodiment, the count value of the second counter  22  thus advances one further than the count value of the first counter  21 , and the output A of the eight-input NAND  24  is changed to high level during the standby state having a single accumulated read command. Therefore, when the burst completion signal BE is activated in the standby state, the SR latch circuit  25  can immediately be reset without any routing through the relatively large scale eight-input NAND  24 . The data transfer operation completion detection circuit  30  according to the present embodiment can thereby exhibit the same effect as the data detection circuit  20  of the above embodiment, and the operation margin of the eight-input NAND  24  can be adequately ensured; therefore, the point at which a read operation is completed can be accurately detected even if the clock frequency is high. 
     In the present embodiment, the number of latch circuits constituting each of the first and second counters  21 ,  22  (eight in the above embodiment) must be set to a number that exceeds the value of one added to the value obtained by dividing the number of clocks n (maximum cycle) required in a read operation sequence by the number of clocks (BL/2 in the case of a DDR-specification) required for data output in the read operation sequence. The reason the number is set to such a level is that when the number of latch circuits is equal to or less than the abovementioned value, and read commands READ are continuously received, the count value of the first counter  21  will make a full cycle, inevitably resulting in the state entering standby anode even if the state was not originally in standby mode. 
     The present invention is in no way limited to the aforementioned embodiments, but rather various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention as recited in the claims, and naturally these modifications are included within the scope of the invention. 
     For example, in the embodiments described above, an example was described of a circuit for performing an operation in response to a read command. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and can be used to detect the completion of a write operation in response to a write command. In other words, the present invention can be used to detect the completion of data transfer operations in response to a variety of data transfer commands. 
     In the embodiments described above, an example was also given of a data transfer operation completion detection circuit for use in synchronous DRAM. However, the scope of use of the present invention is not limited thereto, and the invention can be applied to data transfer operation completion detection circuits for cache memories on CPUs or other devices.