Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of address pads, a plurality of data pads, a mode entry controlling unit configured to control the entry to a data masking mode in response to a write command signal and signals inputted through predetermined pads among the plurality of address pads, a signal classifying unit configured to classify signals inputted sequentially and in parallel through the plurality of address pads into column address signals and data masking signals in response to an output signal of the mode entry controlling unit and a write latency signal, and a pad masking signal generating unit configured to generate pad masking signals to control the masking of data inputted through the plurality of data pads, where the pad masking signals are generated by converting the data masking signals in response to the output signal of the mode entry controlling unit.

Abstract: A data output circuit of a semiconductor memory device includes at least two data output pads disposed adjacent to each other, a driver unit configured to output a first data by driving a first pad among the data output pads, and a control unit configured to determine whether a phase of the first data is equal to a phase of adjacent data outputted through second pad adjacent to the first pad, and control a slew rate of the driver unit according to the determination result.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device including a first latch that latches a Mode Register Set (MRS) code consisting of multiple bits in response to an MRS command pulse, a code controller that generates a control signal in response to a code value of preset bits out of an output signal from the first latch, a second latch that selectively latches the output signal from the first latch in response to the control signal and a mode decoder that decodes an output signal from the second latch to output an operation mode.

Abstract: A dynamic random access memory includes: an address latch configured to latch a row address in response to a row address strobe (RAS) signal and latch a column address in response to a column address strobe (CAS) signal; a row decoder configured to decode the row address; an enabler configured to decode a part of most significant bits (MSB) of the column address to locally enable a part of one page area corresponding to the row address; and a column decoder configured to decode the column address.

Abstract: Core voltage generator including a comparison unit configured to compare a reference voltage with a feedback core voltage to output a difference between the reference voltage and the feedback core voltage, an amplification unit configured to output a core voltage by amplifying an external power supply voltage according to an output signal of the comparison unit and a mute unit configured to maintain a voltage level of an output terminal of the amplification unit at a ground voltage level when the output of the core voltage is interrupted.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device for measuring a data access time by controlling data output operation, including: a pipe latch control unit for generating an input control signal based on a test mode signal; a pipe latch unit for receiving data and controlling the data according to a CAS latency in synchronization with a clock signal at a normal mode or passing the data without synchronization with the clock signal at a test mode based on the input control signal; an output control unit for generating an output node control signal based on the test mode signal; and an output unit for controlling an output data outputted from the pipe latch means according to the CAS latency in synchronization with the clock signal at the normal mode or passing the output data without synchronization with the clock signal at the test mode based on the output node control signal.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes cylinder type bottom electrodes connected to a contact plug formed over a semiconductor substrate, and a supporting pattern formed between the cylinder type bottom electrodes, wherein a portion of sidewalls of the bottom electrodes is higher than the supporting pattern and the other portion of the sidewalls of the bottom electrode is lower than the supporting pattern.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of banks a plurality of banks stacked in a column direction, a global data line corresponding to the plurality of banks and a common global data line driving unit for multiplexing data on a plurality of local data lines corresponding to each of the banks to transmit the multiplexed result to the global data line.

Abstract: A write circuit of a semiconductor memory device includes a global data input/output (I/O) line; an amplifying block for receiving and amplifying write data and transmitting the amplified write data as global data onto the global data I/O line; and a control block for comparing the write data with the global data to thereby disable the amplifying block when the write data and the global data have substantially the same data value.

Abstract: A clock generation circuit, which includes a reference clock delay circuit including a number M of delay units connected in series, and configured to delay a reference clock by L cycles; and an oscillation circuit including a number N of delay units connected in series, and configured to generate an oscillation clock according to the following Equation, tOS = 2 ? ? N × DD = 2 ? ? N × L × tCLK M where each delay unit is configured to delay an input signal by a reference delay amount DD, tOS is a period of the oscillation clock, and tCLK is the reference clock.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device having read and write operations includes a discrimination signal generating unit for generating a discrimination signal during the write operation; and a selective delay unit for receiving and selectively delaying a command-group signal in response to the discrimination signal.

Abstract: A method for forming a dual damascene pattern includes preparing a multi-functional hard mask composition including a silicon resin as a base resin; forming a deposition structure including a self-arrangement contact insulation film, a first dielectric film, an etching barrier film, and a second dielectric film over a hardwiring layer; etching the deposition structure to expose the hardwiring layer, thereby forming a via hole; forming the multi-functional hard mask composition on the second dielectric film and in the via hole to form a multi-functional hard mask film; and etching the resulting structure to expose a part of the first dielectric film, thereby forming a trench having a width wider than that of the via hole; and removing the multi-functional hard mask film.

Abstract: A signal aligning circuit includes a plurality of pads receiving input signals in parallel 1 bit by 1 bit; a first transferring unit for transferring the input signals as first signals in synchronization with a first clock signal of an internal clock, and transferring the input signals as second signals in synchronization with a second clock signal of the internal clock; a second transferring unit for transferring the first signals in synchronization with the second clock signal of the internal clock; and an aligning unit for aligning the first and second signals transferred from the first and second transferring units and outputting the aligned signal as output signals.

Abstract: An impedance matching circuit performs a ZQ calibration for a test on a wafer process of a semiconductor memory device. The impedance matching circuit of the semiconductor memory device includes a first pull-down resistance unit, a first pull-up resistance unit, a second pull-up resistance unit and a second pull-down resistance unit. The first pull-down resistance unit supplies a ground voltage to a first node in response to a calibration test signal. The first pull-up resistance unit calibrates its resistance to that of the first pull-down resistance unit to thereby generate a pull-up calibration code. The second pull-up resistance unit supplies a supply voltage to a second node in response to the pull-up calibration code. The second pull-down resistance unit calibrates its resistance to that of the second pull-up resistance unit to thereby generate a pull-down calibration code.

Abstract: Semiconductor device having multiple I/O modes. The device includes a data buffer configured to receive data; a strobe input buffer configured to receive a data strobe signal, a phase controller configured to shift a phase of the data strobe signal by different numbers of degrees, including 0 degrees, according to input modes and a data detector configured to detect the data in response to the data strobe signal output from the phase controller.

Abstract: A duty correction circuit includes a duty ratio sensor for controlling a duty ratio sensing speed by a sensing speed control signal and outputting a correction signal by sensing a duty ratio of a clock, and a duty ratio corrector for controlling the duty ratio of the clock in response to the correction signal.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a bit line sense amplifier for sensing and amplifying data applied on a bit line; a first driver for driving a pull-up voltage line of the bit line sense amplifier to a voltage applied on a normal driving voltage terminal; an overdriving signal generator for generating an overdriving signal defining an overdriving period in response to an active command; an overdriving control signal generator for receiving the overdriving signal to generate an overdriving control signal for selectively performing an overdriving operation according to a voltage level of an overdriving voltage; and a second driver for driving the normal driving voltage terminal to the overdriving voltage in response to the overdriving control signal.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device can stabilize a voltage level of a normal driving voltage terminal in a normal driving operation, which is performed after an overdriving operation, even when an overdriving voltage is unstable due to environmental factors of the semiconductor memory device in the overdriving operation. The semiconductor memory device includes a bit line sense amplifier for performing an amplification operation using a normal driving voltage or an overdriving voltage to sense and amplify data applied to bit lines, a normal driving voltage compensator configured to drive a normal driving voltage terminal according to a voltage level of the normal driving voltage terminal and target normal driving voltage levels, and a discharge enable signal generator configured to generate a discharge enable signal by adjusting an activation period of the discharge enable signal according to the overdriving voltage.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device adjusts an activation timing and pulse width of a pin strobe signal according to a power supply voltage variation, and thereby loads data on a pipelatch properly and prevents an activation period of a pin strobe signal from falling out of a period for valid data. The semiconductor memory device includes a voltage detector configured to detect a level of a power supply voltage to output a detection signal, a pin strobe signal transfer path configured to transfer a pin strobe signal determining an input timing of data to a pipelatch, a delay controller configured to control a delay value of the pin strobe signal transfer path in response to the detection signal, and a pulse width modulator configured to modulate a pulse width of the pin strobe signal in response to the detection signal.

Abstract: A voltage generating unit of a semiconductor memory device makes it possible to reduce a peak current value when generating a high voltage. The voltage generating unit of the semiconductor memory device includes a detecting unit configured to detect a voltage level of a high voltage by comparing a reference voltage with a fed-back high voltage, an oscillating unit configured to generate a plurality of clock signals with different operation time points on the basis of an output signal of the detecting unit, and a plurality of pumping units configured to generate the high voltage according to pumping control signals based on the clock signals.