Patent ID: 6684378
Filing Date: 2004-01-27
Classification: G06F,H01L,H02M,Y02B

Abstract:
A method for designing a semiconductor chip, comprising the steps of:determining positions on a semiconductor chip where a plurality of I/O cells are to be arranged, the plurality of I/O cells including at least one first type I/O cell having a power supply voltage conversion function for converting a first power supply voltage into a second power supply voltage and at least one second type I/O cell having a different function from that of the at least one first type I/O cell; and arranging the plurality of I/O cells based on the determined positions on the semiconductor chip, wherein the at least one first type I/O cell is arranged in the vicinity of at least one external input/output terminal of the semiconductor chip, and the first type I/O cell provides a converted DC voltage to an internal circuit of the semiconductor chip.