Patent ID: 7023754

Claim:
A semiconductor device having a standby mode and an active mode, comprising: a first internal power supply potential generation circuit having a first current driving force, and driven by an external power supply potential to generate an internal power supply potential not exceeding the external power supply potential; a second internal power supply potential generation circuit having a second current driving, force higher than the first current driving force, activated in a period when the external power supply potential is applied and in an active mode, driven by the external power supply potential, and generating the internal power supply potential; an internal circuit driven by the internal power supply potential; an internal potential generation circuit driven by the external power supply potential, and generating an internal potential; and an internal potential detection circuit setting a detection signal to an active level when the external power supply potential is applied, and setting the detection signal to an inactive level when the internal potential reaches a first potential, wherein, in the period, the detection signal is at the active level.