Semiconductor controller device having a controlled output driver characteristic

A semiconductor controller device to control the operation of a semiconductor memory device, wherein the controller device comprises:

• a first output driver circuit to produce an amount of voltage swing on a first external signal line via a first terminal;
• a voltage divider circuit coupled to the first terminal, to generate a control voltage based on the amount of voltage swing produced by the first output driver;
• and
• a comparator circuit coupled to the voltage divider circuit, to compare the control voltage with a reference voltage, wherein, the amount of voltage swing of the first output driver is adjusted in response to the comparison between the control voltage and the reference voltage.

A method of operation in a semiconductor memory controller device wherein the controller device includes a voltage divider coupled to a first output driver, the method comprises:

• driving, from an output terminal coupled to the first output driver, a first voltage level onto an external signal line to produce an amount of voltage swing on the external signal line;
• generating a control voltage using the voltage divider, wherein the control voltage is based on the amount of voltage swing;
• comparing the control voltage with a reference voltage;
• and
• adjusting the amount of voltage swing of the first output driver based on the comparison between the control voltage and the reference voltage.