A shared counter performs multiple counting functions in an electronic circuit, such as a memory integrated circuit. An input selection circuit selects one of M input data sets at a given time to be provided as counter initialization data. A counter circuit provides counter output data based on the counter initialization data. An output circuit provides the counter output data to K destination circuits in the electronic circuit. The output circuit provides only one of the K destination circuits with the counter output data at a given time.
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device which can perform an auto-refresh operation. The semiconductor memory device includes: a mode register set for programming the number of the refresh operations to be consecutively performed; a burst counter for counting the number of the refresh operations according to the output signal from the mode register set; a first timing signal generating unit for generating an internal refresh enable signal for the inside refresh operation according to the output signal from the command decoder; an internal refresh signal generating unit for outputting a previously-set number of internal refresh signals according to the output signal from the first timing signal generating unit; and a NOR gate for NORing the output signal from the command decoder and the output signal from the internal refresh signal generating unit, thereby reducing the number of commands according to a burst shape by using a burst refresh method, and decreasing power consumption during the refresh operation.
