Patent ID: 7986504

Claim:
A power supply cell for distributing power supplied from a first voltage supply to an integrated circuit, said power supply cell comprising: a layer comprising conductive material, said conductive material providing a conduction path for current flowing from said first voltage supply to a portion of said integrated circuit to be powered and further providing a protection path for surge current flowing between said first voltage supply and an electrostatic discharge protection device and between said electrostatic discharge protection device and a second voltage supply; said conductive material forming a first conduction path for providing a path for current flowing between said first voltage supply and said portion of said integrated circuit to be powered and for providing a portion of said protection path for surge current flowing between said first voltage supply and said electrostatic discharge protection device and a second conduction path for providing a further portion of said protection path for surge current flowing between said second voltage supply and said electrostatic discharge protection device; wherein said conductive material is arranged such that said first conduction path has a significantly lower resistance than said second conduction path.