Low-leakage integrated circuits and dynamic logic circuits
First Claim
1. An integrated circuit, comprising:
- one or more blocks of switching logic connected between a power supply and a common node, said switching logic block(s) being comprised of a plurality of transistors having one or more threshold voltage level(s);
a first control transistor and a second control transistor connected in series between said common node and ground, wherein said first and second control transistors have threshold voltage levels that are greater than said threshold voltages of said switching logic block transistors; and
a bias generator configured to provide a positive bias to the bodies of each of said first and second control transistors when said control transistors are “
on.”
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Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated circuit is disclosed that includes one or more blocks of switching logic (comprised of transistors) connected between a power supply and a common node. A control transistor connects the common node to ground. The control transistor has a higher threshold voltage level than the voltage threshold level(s) of the transistors that comprise the switching logic blocks. A bias generator provides a positive bias to the body of the control transistor when the control transistor is “on.”
Further disclosed is an integrated circuit comprising a first plurality of serially connected transistors establishing a first current path from a voltage source to ground and a second plurality of serially connected transistors establishing a second current path from the voltage source to ground. The first and second plurality of transistors each includes at least one high-threshold transistor. The integrated circuit further includes a means for decreasing a resistance level of the high threshold transistors when the high threshold transistors are on.
86 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An integrated circuit, comprising:
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one or more blocks of switching logic connected between a power supply and a common node, said switching logic block(s) being comprised of a plurality of transistors having one or more threshold voltage level(s);
a first control transistor and a second control transistor connected in series between said common node and ground, wherein said first and second control transistors have threshold voltage levels that are greater than said threshold voltages of said switching logic block transistors; and
a bias generator configured to provide a positive bias to the bodies of each of said first and second control transistors when said control transistors are “
on.” - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of operating an integrated circuit, comprising:
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providing one or more blocks of switching logic, said switching logic block(s) comprising a plurality of transistors having one or more threshold voltage levels;
connecting said switching logic blocks to ground through at least two control transistors connected in series, said control transistors having threshold voltage levels that are greater than said threshold voltage level(s) of said switching logic block transistors; and
providing a positive body bias to said control transistors when said control transistors are “
on.” - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. An integrated circuit, comprising:
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a first circuit portion having a plurality of low threshold transistors and a high threshold transistor all serially connected between a supply voltage and ground, said first circuit portion generating a first signal;
a second circuit portion having a low threshold transistor and a high threshold transistor serially connected between a supply voltage and ground, said second circuit generating an output signal in response to said first signal; and
a bias generator connected to the body of at least one of said high threshold transistors, said bias generator configured to provide a positive bias to said at least one high threshold transistor when said at least one high threshold transistor is on. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of operating an integrated circuit, comprising:
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serially connecting a first plurality of transistors so as to establish a first current path between a supply voltage and ground, wherein at least one of said transistors is a high threshold transistor;
applying a positive bias to a body of said high threshold transistor when said transistor is on;
removing said positive bias when said high threshold transistor is off;
serially connecting a second plurality of transistors so as to establish a second current path between said supply voltage and ground;
providing a signal from said first plurality of transistors to said second plurality of transistors over a common node, said signal being used to drive gates of said second plurality of transistors; and
selectively modifying said signal provided from said first plurality of transistors independently of values of input signals to the circuit.
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24. An integrated circuit, comprising:
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a first plurality of serially connected transistors establishing a first current path from a supply voltage to ground;
a second plurality of serially connected transistors establishing a second current path from said supply voltage to ground;
wherein said first and second plurality of transistors each includes at least one high-threshold transistor; and
a means for decreasing a resistance level of said high threshold transistors when said high threshold transistors are on. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification