DIGITAL LINE SENSE CIRCUIT

PURPOSE:To reduce the chip area and the current consumption by performing the self-refresh operation by a sense amplifier for self-refresh. CONSTITUTION:The self-refresh operation is performed by a sense amplifier 36 for self-refresh. That is, the sense amplifier 36 for self-refresh is in the waiting state when a normal sense amplifier 37 performs the refresh operation based on the lower address, and the normal sense amplifier 37 is in the waiting state when the sense amplifier 36 for self-refresh performs the refresh operation. Consequently, the increase of the chip area is reduced as much as possible and the current consumption is reduced to a half only at the time of self-refresh because the number of operated blocks is apparently increased twice in the self-refresh mode. Thus, the chip area and the current consumption are reduced.