Three-terminal cascade switch for controlling static power consumption in integrated circuits

Abstract

A switching circuit configured for controlling static power consumption in integrated circuits includes a plurality of three-terminal, phase change material (PCM) switching devices connected between a voltage supply terminal and a corresponding sub-block of integrated circuit logic. Each of the PCM switching devices further includes a PCM disposed in contact between a first terminal and a second terminal, a heating device disposed in contact between the second terminal and a third terminal, the heating device positioned proximate the PCM, and configured to switch the conductivity of a transformable portion of the PCM between a lower resistance crystalline state and a higher resistance amorphous state; and an insulating layer configured to electrically isolate the heater from said PCM material, and the heater from the first terminal. The third terminal of a first of the PCM switching devices is coupled to a set/reset switch, and the third terminal of the remaining PCM switching devices is coupled to the second terminal of an adjacent PCM switching device in a cascade configuration.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.