Patent ID: 7126868

Claim:
A semiconductor device comprising: a first memory array including a first bit line, a first word line across the first bit line, and a plurality of first memory cells coupled to the first bit line; a second memory array including a second bit line, a third bit line, a second word line across the second and third bit lines, a plurality of second memory cells coupled to the second bit line, and a plurality of third memory cells coupled to the second bit line; a first pre-amplifier coupled to the first bit line; a second pre-amplifier coupled to the second bit line; a third pre-amplifier coupled to the third bit line; a first local bit line coupled between the first and second pre-amplifiers; a second local bit line coupled to the third pre-amplifier; a first sense amplifier coupled to the first local bit line and amplifying a signal, which is outputted from the first or second pre-amplifier, to a first potential or a second potential; a second sense amplifier coupled to the second local bit line and amplifying a signal, which is outputted from the third pre-amplifier, to the first potential or the second potential; a first precharge circuit coupled to the first bit line and supplying a first precharge potential between the first and second potential to the first bit line; a second precharge circuit coupled to the second bit line and supplying the first precharge potential to the second bit line; a third precharge circuit coupled to the third bit line and supplying the first precharge potential to the third bit line; a fourth precharge circuit coupled to the first local bit line and supplying a second precharge potential higher than the first precharge potential to the first local bit line; and a fifth precharge circuit coupled to the second local bit line and supplying the second precharge potential to the second local bit line, wherein the first sense amplifier is arranged between the first memory array and the second memory array, and wherein the second memory array is arranged between the first sense amplifier and the second sense amplifier.