Patent ID: 7057944

Claim:
A semiconductor readout circuit that reads out a potential of each of a plurality of data lines by comparing the potential with a potential of a common reference data line, using a sense amplifier provided for each of the data lines, the semiconductor readout circuit comprising: a control circuit that detects a potential difference between the potential of the corresponding one of the data lines and the potential of the reference data line, and controls the potential of the corresponding data line so as to reduce the potential difference prior to a readout operation using the sense amplifier, the control circuit being provided for each of the data lines, wherein the control circuit includes: a potential difference detecting circuit that detects the potential difference between the potential of the corresponding data line and the potential of the reference data line; and a current control circuit that controls an amount of current flowing between the corresponding data line and a fixed potential line for supplying a predetermined fixed potential, based on an output voltage at the corresponding potential difference detecting circuit, the fixed potential line not being the reference data line.