Patent ID: 8274269

Claim:
A switching circuit comprising: a normal mode operation unit that includes: first and second dynamic threshold-complementary metal oxide semiconductor (DT-CMOS) transistors each having a gate connected with a body thereof and having a threshold voltage that is reduced in a normal mode and restored in a standby mode, the first DT-CMOS transistor being of a first-type MOS transistor and the second DT-CMOS transistor being of a second-type MOS transistor; and diode-connected first and second MOS transistors configured to further reduce the threshold voltage of the first and second DT-CMOS transistors in the normal mode, the diode-connected first MOS transistor being of the first-type MOS transistor and connected between the gate and the body of the first DT-CMOS transistor, the diode-connected second MOS transistor being of the second-type MOS transistor and connected between the gate and the body of the second DT-CMOS transistor; and a standby mode operation unit that reduces power consumption in the standby mode and that includes: third and fourth MOS transistors, the third MOS transistor connecting the body of the first DT-CMOS transistor with a power supply terminal, the fourth MOS transistor connecting the body of the second DT-CMOS transistor with a ground terminal; and first and second inverters, the first inverter coupled between the gate of the first DT-CMOS transistor and a gate of the third MOS transistor, the second inverter coupled between the gate of the second DT-CMOS transistor and a gate of the fourth MOS transistor.