초록 ▼

An integrated circuit (100) has a circuit portion (102) that can be switched to a standby mode through an enable transistor (104), which is coupled between an internal power supply line (120) and an external power supply line (130). The enable transistor (104) is controlled by control circuitry via

An integrated circuit (100) has a circuit portion (102) that can be switched to a standby mode through an enable transistor (104), which is coupled between an internal power supply line (120) and an external power supply line (130). The enable transistor (104) is controlled by control circuitry via a control line (160). The control line (160) is coupled to the gates of a first transistor (152) and a further transistor ( 154) of a logic gate (150). The substrate of the further transistor (154) is coupled to a backbias generator (170). Consequently, when the enable transistor (104) is switched off, the further transistor (154) is enabled and applies a substantial backbias to the gate of the enable transistor (104), thus dramatically reducing the leakage current from the circuit portion ( 102) through the enable transistor (104).

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. An integrated circuit (100), comprising: an external power supply line (130); an internal power supply line (120); a circuit portion (102) coupled to the internal power supply line (120); an enable transistor (104) for coupling the internal power supply line (120) to th

The invention claimed is: 1. An integrated circuit (100), comprising: an external power supply line (130); an internal power supply line (120); a circuit portion (102) coupled to the internal power supply line (120); an enable transistor (104) for coupling the internal power supply line (120) to the external power supply line ( 130); and control means (150, 160) coupled to a gate of the enable transistor (104) for switching the enable transistor (104) to a conductive state with a first gate voltage, and to a non-conductive state with a second gate voltage, characterized in that the control means (150, 160) are arranged to reduce a leakage current through the enable transistor (104) in the non-conductive state by biasing the gate with the second gate voltage, which is obtained from a back bias power supply line (140) which is separate from said external power supply line (130). 2. An integrated circuit (100) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the control means (150) comprise a further transistor (154) having a substrate that is conductively insulated from a bulk substrate of the integrated circuit, the substrate being coupled to a bias voltage source (170), and the further transistor (154) being responsive to a control signal for switching the enable transistor (104) to a non-conductive state. 3. An integrated circuit (100) as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the bias voltage source (170) comprises a backbias generator being responsive to the control signal. 4. A battery-powered electronic device (200), comprising a power supply line (230) coupled to a contact ( 222) of a battery container (220), characterized in that the power supply line (230) is coupled to an external power supply line (130) of an integrated circuit (100) according to claim 1.