Patent ID: 7535785

Claim:
A semiconductor memory apparatus comprising: a plurality of cell mats each having a plurality of cells; a plurality of sense amplifier arrays, each having a plurality of sense amplifiers for sensing a plurality of data of the cells in response to a power terminal driving signal and a ground terminal driving signal; and a sense amplifier activation control unit that controls activating timings of the sense amplifier arrays so that each of the sense amplifier arrays is activated, in a refresh mode, wherein the sense amplifier activation control unit includes a plurality of refresh timing control units that adjust a timing, at which the power terminal driving signal and the ground terminal driving signal are input to the sense amplifier arrays, in the refresh mode, wherein each of the refresh timing control units includes: a first delay unit that delays the power terminal driving signal; a first switching unit that outputs the power terminal driving signal or the output signal of the first delay unit to the sense amplifier array in response to the refresh signal; a second delay unit that delays the ground terminal driving signal; and a second switching unit that outputs the ground terminal driving signal or the output signal of the second delay unit to the sense amplifier array in the refresh mode.