Patent ID: 8067963

Claim:
A sense amplifier control circuit comprising: an initial-voltage setting circuit configured to set a control signal to an initial voltage, the control signal controlling a sensing operation of a sense amplifier; and a control-signal-level adjusting circuit configured to first change a voltage level of the control signal from the initial voltage to a voltage level at which the sense amplifier can execute a current sensing, and is configured, after a predetermined time elapses from the first change, to second change the voltage level at which the sense amplifier can execute the current sensing to a voltage level at which the sense amplifier can execute a voltage sensing, wherein the control-signal-level adjusting circuit comprises: a first path configured to change a voltage level of the control signal from the initial voltage to a first voltage level at which the sense amplifier can execute the current sensing; a second path configured to change the voltage level of the control signal from the first voltage level to a second voltage level, during which change the current sensing is executed for a predetermined time; and a third path configured to change the voltage level of the control signal from the second voltage level to a third voltage level at which the sense amplifier can execute the voltage sensing; and wherein: the first path is configured to change the voltage level of the control signal more rapidly than in the second path, the second path is configured to change the voltage level of the control signal more gradually than in the first path, and the third path is configured to change the voltage level of the control signal more rapidly than in the second path.