Semiconductor integrated circuits with power reduction mechanism

A semiconductor integrated circuit comprising:

• a plurality of word lines including a first group of word lines and a second group of word lines;
• a plurality of data lines crossing said plurality of word lines;
• a plurality of memory cells disposed at points of intersection of said plurality of word lines and said plurality of data lines;
• a first block including a first group of word drivers disposed at a first region in a direction extended from said data lines;
• and
• a second block including a second group of word drivers disposed at a second region in a direction extended from said data lines,
• wherein each of said first group of word lines connected with said first group of word drivers is disposed adjacently to each of said second group of word lines connected with said second group of word drivers;
• wherein said first region and said second region are disposed in a direction extended from said word lines and in a shifted position relative to each other,
• wherein said first block includes a first power supply line to supply an operating voltage to said first group of word drivers, said first power supply line being controlled by a first current limiting circuit,
• wherein said second block includes a second power supply line to supply an operating voltage to said second group of word drivers, said second power supply line being controlled by a second current limiting circuit,
• wherein a subthreshold current of an MOS transistor included in said first group of word drivers is limited by said first current limiting means as to said first block, and an operating voltage is supplied to said second power supply line included in said second block through said second current limiting circuit to place said second group of word drivers in an operable state.