IP Library Granted Patent US 7,312,640
Granted Patent B2
US 7,312,640 · App. 11/131,181 · Granted Dec 25, 2007

Semiconductor integrated circuit device having power reduction mechanism

Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,312,640
App. No.
11/131,181
Granted
Dec 25, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor integrated circuit device is composed of logic gates each provided with at least two MOS transistors. The logic gates are connected to a first potential point and a second potential point. The semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a current control device connected between the logic gate and the first potential point and/or between the logic gate and the second potential point for controlling a value of a current flowing in the logic gate depending on an operating state of the logic gate. The circuit can be used in devices that cycle in operation between high and low power consumption modes, such as microprocessors that have both an operation mode and a low power back-up or sleep mode used for power reduction.

Claims (16)

1. A semiconductor integrated circuit comprising:

a logic gate which comprises a plurality of MOS transistors and whose current flows from a first node to a second node; and

a second MOS transistor whose source/drain path is connected between the second node and a third node,

wherein a higher voltage than a voltage of the first node is impressed to the gate of the second MOS transistor in a high power consumption mode.

2. The semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 1 ,

wherein a lower voltage than a voltage of the third node is impressed to the gate of the second MOS transistor in a low power consumption mode.

3. The semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 1 ,

wherein the voltage impressed to the gate of the second MOS transistor is supplied from the outside of the semiconductor integrated circuit.

4. A semiconductor integrated circuit comprising:

a logic gate which comprises a plurality of MOS transistors and whose current flows from a second node to third node; and

a second MOS transistor whose source/drain path is connected between a first node and the second node,

wherein a lower voltage than a voltage of the third node is impressed to the gate of the second MOS transistor in a high power consumption mode.

5. The semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 4 ,

wherein the higher voltage than a voltage of the first node is impressed to the gate of the second MOS transistor in a low power consumption mode.

6. The semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 4 ,

wherein the voltage impressed to the gate of the second MOS transistor is supplied from the outside of the semiconductor integrated circuit 1 .

Assignments (1)
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 29, 2010
From: RENESAS TECHNOLOGY CORP.
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 024755/0338 →
Priority Claims (4)
JP 4-94070 · Apr 14, 1992 · national
JP 4-94077 · Apr 14, 1992 · national
JP 4-345901 · Dec 25, 1992 · national
JP 5-22392 · Feb 10, 1993 · national
Continuity (10)
Continuation 1070484900 · Nov 12, 2003
Continuation 1028328000 · Oct 30, 2002
Continuation 1005101300 · Jan 22, 2002
Continuation 0976697900 · Jan 23, 2001
Continuation 0929197700 · Apr 15, 1999
Continuation 0912348000 · Jul 28, 1998
Continuation 0865324800 · May 24, 1996
Continuation 0819376500 · Feb 8, 1994
Continuation In Part 0804579200 · Apr 14, 1993
Related Publication 20050213414A1 · Sep 29, 2005