Patent ID: 8174282

Claim:
A leak current detection circuit comprising: at least one P-channel MOS transistor which is coupled to a high potential power supply and which is constantly inactivated during a test operation and generates a first leak current, wherein the at least one P-channel MOS transistor includes a first backgate controlled by a first control signal; at least one N-channel MOS transistor which is coupled between a low potential power supply and the at least one P-channel MOS transistor and which is constantly inactivated during the test operation and generates a second leak current, wherein the at least one N-channel MOS transistor includes a second backgate controlled by a second control signal; and a detector which detects a potential generated at a node between the at least one P-channel MOS transistor and the at least one N-channel MOS transistor and indicating a difference between the first and second leak currents, wherein the first control signal and the second control signal are generated based on the potential indicating the difference.