Patent ID: 7652279

Claim:
A switching circuit configured for controlling static power consumption in integrated circuits, comprising: a plurality of three-terminal, phase change material (PCM) switching devices connected between a voltage supply terminal and a corresponding sub-block of integrated circuit logic; each of said PCM switching devices further comprising a phase change material (PCM) disposed in contact between a first terminal and a second terminal; a heating device disposed in contact between said second terminal and a third terminal, said heating device positioned proximate said PCM, and configured to switch the conductivity of a transformable portion of said PCM between a lower resistance crystalline state and a higher resistance amorphous state; and an insulating layer configured to electrically isolate said heater from said PCM material, and said heater from said first terminal; wherein the third terminal of a first of the PCM switching devices is coupled to a set/reset switch, and wherein the third terminal of the remaining PCM switching devices is coupled to the second terminal of an adjacent PCM switching device in a cascade configuration.