Patent ID: 8648654
Filing Date: 2014-02-11
Classification: H03K

Abstract:
1. An integrated circuit comprising: a first voltage supply rail configured to provide a first voltage level; a second voltage supply rail configured to provide a second voltage level; a gated voltage supply rail configured during at least one mode of operation of the integrated circuit to be connected to said first voltage supply rail, and configured during a power gated mode of operation of the integrated circuit to be disconnected from said first voltage supply rail; a plurality of circuit elements, at least one of the circuit elements being connected to said first voltage supply rail and said second voltage supply rail such that said at least one of the circuit elements remains powered during said power gated mode of operation, and at least one other of the circuit elements being connected to said gated voltage supply rail and said second voltage supply rail such that said at least one other of the circuit elements is powered off during said power gated mode of operation; a source circuit structure configured to provide an input signal and to maintain said input signal at a static value during said power gated mode of operation; at least one recipient circuit structure that requires receipt of said input signal at said static value during said power gated mode of operation; and a distribution network of circuit elements configured to route said input signal from said source circuit structure to said at least one recipient circuit structure, said distribution network comprising a first subset of circuit elements and a second subset of circuit elements, when the input signal has said static value, each circuit element in said first subset being configured to pull its output to the first voltage level, and each circuit element in the second subset being configured to pull its output to the second voltage level, each circuit element in said first subset being connected to said first voltage supply rail and said second voltage supply rail, but at least one of the circuit elements in said second subset being connected to said gated voltage supply rail and said second voltage supply rail; whereby the distribution network provides the static value to said at least one recipient circuit structure during said power gated mode of operation even though said at least one of the circuit elements in said second subset is powered off during said power gated mode of operation.