Systems and methods for integrated circuits comprising multiple body bias domains
AssigneeTransmeta Corporation
InventorsKleanthes G. Koniaris, James B. Burr
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Abstract
Systems and methods for integrated circuits comprising multiple body bias domains. In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, an integrated circuit is constructed comprising active semiconductor devices in first and second body bias domains. A first body biasing voltage is coupled to the first body bias domain, and a second body biasing voltage is coupled to the second body bias domain. The first and the second body biasing voltages are adjusted to achieve a desirable relative performance between the active semiconductor devices in the first and the second body bias domains.
Claims23
A method of operating an integrated circuit comprising:
- applying a body biasing voltage to an output cell of said integrated circuit;
- accessing at said output cell a first signal to be output from said integrated circuit;
- wherein said first signal is generated from circuitry of said integrated circuit that is separate from said body biasing voltage;
- and
- outputting a second signal from said output cell corresponding to said first signal.
An integrated circuit comprising an output cell disposed for receiving a body biasing voltage, wherein said body biasing voltage is operable to modify a slew rate of a signal output from said output cell.
A method of operating an integrated circuit comprising:
- applying a first body biasing voltage to first circuitry of a first body bias domain;
- applying a second body biasing voltage to second circuitry of a second body bias domain, wherein said first and said second body bias domains are electrically independent of one another;
- and
- accessing a signal between said first and said second circuitry.
An integrated circuit comprising:
- a first body bias domain comprising first circuitry;
- a second body bias domain comprising second circuitry;
- wherein said first and said second body bias domains are electrically independent of one another;
- wherein said first and second body circuitries are disposed to receive first and second body biasing voltages;
- a signal coupling between said first and second circuitry;
- and
- wherein said first and second body biasing voltages are operable to modify operational characteristics of said first and second circuitry.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.