Patent attributes
An integrated circuit (100) has a circuit portion (102) that can be switched to a standby mode through an enable transistor (104), which is coupled between an internal power supply line (120) and an external power supply line (130). The enable transistor (104) is controlled by control circuitry via a control line (160). The control line (160) is coupled to the gates of a first transistor (152) and a further transistor (154) of a logic gate (150). The substrate of the further transistor (154) is coupled to a backbias generator (170). Consequently, when the enable transistor (104) is switched off, the further transistor (154) is enabled and applies a substantial backbias to the gate of the enable transistor (104), thus dramatically reducing the leakage current from the circuit portion (102) through the enable transistor (104).
