Patent ID: 8711640

Claim:
A semiconductor memory apparatus comprising: a data output signal transmitter configured to receive a data signal and a data mask signal and transmit a data output signal through a global data line, wherein the data output signal is transmitted if the data signal is not masked; and a write driver configured to receive the data output signal through the global data line and input the received data output signal to a local data line, wherein the data output signal transmitter comprises: a data input strobe signal generation unit configured to be enabled by a write enable signal and generate a data input strobe signal; a data buffer unit configured to receive the data signal and buffer the received data signal; a data mask buffer unit configured to receive the data mask signal and buffer the received data mask signal; and a data masking determination unit configured to receive the data input strobe signal, the data signal and the data mask signal, and determine whether the data signal is masked or not.