Patent ID: 7872932

Claim:
A semiconductor memory device including an open bit line structure, comprising: a plurality of local input/output lines configured to transmit data, the local input/output lines being coupled to bit lines of first to n-th memory cell array blocks, wherein the first to n-th memory cell array blocks include a first through (k−1)-th, a k-th, and a (k+1)-th through n-th blocks, and at least one block includes dummy bit lines; a precharge unit configured to output at least a first and second precharge signals; and a controller comprising first and second control units, the first control unit being configured to receive the first precharge signal, the second control unit being configured to receive the second precharge signal, each of the first and second control units configured to control precharging of the local input/output lines, in response to (a) block information of at least one of the memory cell array blocks and (b) at least one of the precharge signals, wherein, for each block of the first to (k−1)-th blocks, the block is coupled to at least one local input/output line coupled to the first control unit, but is not coupled to the second control unit, the at least one local input/output line being coupled to bit lines of the block, wherein, for each block of the (k+1)-th to n-th blocks, the block is coupled to at least one local input/output line coupled to the second control unit, but is not coupled to the first control unit, the at least one local input/output line being coupled to bit lines of the block, wherein the k-th memory cell array block includes first bit lines that are coupled to a first local input/output line coupled to the first control unit, and second bit lines that are coupled to a second local input/output line coupled to the second control unit, and wherein either the first local input/output line or the second local input/output line of the k-th memory cell array block is precharged when a memory cell array block including dummy bit lines is activated.