Semiconductor integrated circuit with leakage current suppressed
AssigneeNEC Electronics Corporation
InventorKenichi Yoda
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a semiconductor integrated circuit, a cell arrangement area is provided on a semiconductor substrate to allow a plurality of basis cells to be arranged. A basic power supply line is provided in an upper layer than the cell arrangement area to supply a power. A switch cell is configured to control the power supply from the basic power supply line to an inside of the cell arrangement area. An always operating cell is arranged in the cell arrangement area adjacently to the switch cell, and is configured to receive the power from the switch cell even when the switch cell stops the power supply to the cell arrangement area.
Claims20
A semiconductor integrated circuit comprising:
- a cell arrangement area provided on a semiconductor substrate to allow a plurality of basis cells to be arranged;
- a basic power supply line provided in an upper layer relative to said cell arrangement area to supply a power;
- a switch cell configured to control the power supply from said basic power supply line to an inside of said cell arrangement area;
- and
- an always operating cell arranged in said cell arrangement area adjacently to said switch cell, and configured to receive the power from said switch cell even when said switch cell stops the power supply to said cell arrangement area.
A semiconductor integrated circuit comprising:
- a semiconductor substrate;
- a cell arrangement area provided on said semiconductor substrate to allow a plurality of basis cells to be arranged;
- a basic power supply line provided in an upper layer than from said cell arrangement area;
- a switch cell configured to connect said basis power supply line and power supply line end portions of a plurality of basis cells arranged in said cell arrangement area;
- and
- an always operating cell arranged in said cell arrangement area adjacently to said switch cell,
- wherein said switch cell blocks the power supply from said basis power supply line to said cell arrangement area in response to a control signal, and
- wherein said always operating cell is configured to receive the power from said switch cell without dependence on an operation of said switch cell.
An always operating cell provided in a semiconductor integrated circuit, said always operating cell comprising:
- a terminal to receive power from a switch cell even when said switch cell stops a power supply to a cell arrangement area,
- wherein:
- said always operating cell is arranged in a said cell arrangement area adjacently to switch cell,
- said cell arrangement area is provided on a semiconductor substrate to allow a plurality of basis cells to be arranged,
- a basic power supply line is provided in an upper layer in relation to said cell arrangement area to supply the power and
- said switch cell is configured to control the power supply from a basic power supply line to an inside of said cell arrangement area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.