Patent ID: 8519775

Claim:
A voltage regulator for regulating a voltage level of a virtual power rail supplying power to logic circuitry in a low power data retention mode, said voltage regulator comprising: switching circuitry comprising at least one semiconductor device formed within a doped well for coupling said virtual power rail to a power supply having a supply voltage level; control circuitry responsive to a signal indicating said logic circuitry is to enter said low data power retention mode to control said switching circuitry to switch to a conductive state in which said switching circuitry is operating outside of a linear region of operation and supplying a current from said power supply via said virtual power rail to said logic circuitry; and a leakage power controller for adjusting a voltage level of said virtual power rail to control leakage power, said leakage power controller being configured to supply a bias voltage to said well in which said switching circuitry is formed, said current of said switching circuitry being dependent on a value of said well bias voltage, said leakage power controller being configured to adjust said well bias voltage of said switching circuitry thereby varying said current and said voltage level of said virtual power rail.