Patent ID: 7639556

Claim:
A bit line sense amplifier of a semiconductor memory device with an open bit line structure, the bit line sense amplifier comprising: a plurality of sense amplifier blocks, each of the plurality of sense amplifying blocks including a first sense amplifying part and a second sense amplifying part, each configured to sense and to amplify a signal difference between a bit line and a complementary bit line; first voltage drivers to apply a power source voltage to the first sense amplifying part; and a second voltage driver to apply a ground voltage to the second sense amplifying part of the plurality of sense amplifier blocks, wherein only one of the first voltage drivers is disposed for every two or more sense amplifier blocks in a bit line sense amplifier region in which the sense amplifier blocks are arranged, and the second voltage driver is disposed in a conjunction region in which a control circuit is located to control the sense amplifier blocks, wherein each of the sense amplifier blocks further comprises: a first column selection unit to either connect the bit line to a local input/output line that is connected to a data input/output pin or disconnect them from each other, in response to a signal transmitted via a first column selection line; an equalization unit to equalize a voltage of the bit line with a voltage of the complementary bit line, in response to a signal transmitted via a precharge/equalization signal line; a precharge unit to precharge the voltage of the bit line and the voltage of the complementary bit line, in response to the signal transmitted via the precharge/equalization signal line; and a second column selection unit to either connect the complementary bit line to a complementary local input/output line that is connected to the data input/output pin or disconnect them from each other, in response to a signal transmitted via a second column selection line.