A semiconductor memory device receives an external control signal repeatedly generated independently of an access to the memory device. The memory device includes an internal voltage generator for generating a desired internal voltage in response to the control signal. The internal voltage generator includes a charge pump circuit responsive to the control signal. The internal voltage may provide a negative voltage such as a substrate bias voltage, or may be a positive voltage boosted over an operating power supply voltage and used as a boosted word line drive signal. This scheme eliminates an oscillator for generating a repeated clock signal to the charge pump circuit, leading to reduced current consumption and reduced chip area for the semiconductor memory device.