Patent ID: 7376035

Claim:
A semiconductor memory device for performing a refresh operation, comprising: a memory cell array comprising a plurality of cells for storing data; a driving control unit for receiving a row address and a plurality of command signals to output a work line control signal and a sense amplifier control signal, and for setting a longer sensing time enable period of the sense amplifier control signal at a refresh mode than at a normal mode in response to a refresh signal so as to secure a sufficient delta voltage by increasing sensing time only at a refresh mode; a word line driving unit for receiving the word line control signal to drive a word line; a sense amplifier driving unit for receiving the sense amplifier control signal to drive a sense amplifier; and a sense amplifier for sensing and amplifying date of the bit line in response to an output signal from the sense amplifier driving unit, wherein the driving control unit comprises: a row active control unit for receiving a row active command signal of the plurality of command signals to output a row active control signal; a row precharge control unit for receiving a row precharge command signal of the plurality of command signals to output a row precharge control signal; a bit line separating control signal output unit for receiving the row active control signal and the row precharge control signal to output a bit line separating control signal for controlling when a bit line separating signal is enabled; a word line control signal output unit for receiving the row active control signal and the row precharge control signal to output a word line control signal for controlling when a word line is enabled; and a sense amplifier control signal output unit for receiving the row active contra signal, the row precharge control signal and the refresh signal to output the sense amplifier control signal for controlling when a sense amplifier is enabled, wherein the sense amplifier control signal output unit comprises: a sense amplifier enable timing control unit for receiving the row active control signal to control when the sense amplifier is enabled; a sense amplifier enable unit for outputting a sense amplifier enable control signal it response to an output signal from the sense amplifier enable timing control unit; a sensing time control unit for delaying the sense amplifier enable control signal at refresh mode; a sense amplifier disable timing control unit for receiving the row precharge signal to control when a sense amplifier is disabled; a sense amplifier disable unit for outputting a sense amplifier disable control signal it response to an output signal from the sense amplifier disable timing control unit; and a sense amplifier operation control unit for receiving the sense amplifier enable control signal and the sense amplifier disable control signal to output the sense amplifier control signal.