Patent ID: 7659773
Filing Date: 2010-02-09
Classification: G06F,H03K

Abstract:
1. A semiconductor IC comprising: a logic block; and a voltage control circuit controlling an operating voltage supplied to the logic block, wherein the voltage control circuit controls the operating voltage to increase in a stepwise fashion during each transient mode from a sleep mode to an active mode of the logic block, wherein the voltage control circuit comprises: a power gating circuit controllably supplying the operating voltage to the logic block; and a control block configured to control the power gating circuit in response to the operating voltage and an externally input command, wherein the control block controls the power gating circuit to increase the operating voltage in the stepwise fashion, wherein the power gating circuit comprises: first and third transistors connected to an external power voltage and controlled by the control block; a second transistor connected between the first and third transistors and controlled by the control block; and a capacitor having one electrode connected to the second and third transistors and the other electrode connected to the ground, wherein a voltage of a node between the first and second transistors is supplied to the logic block as the operating voltage, wherein the control block comprises: a voltage detector detecting the operating voltage; and a controller controlling the power gating circuit in response to a detection result of the operating voltage and the command, wherein when the operating voltage reaches a reference voltage, the controller turns the first transistor on to directly supply the external power voltage to the logic block.