Abstract: A power gating circuit includes a logic circuit, a switching element and a retention flip-flop. The logic circuit is coupled between a first power rail and a virtual power rail. The switching element selectively couples the virtual power rail to a second power rail in response to a mode control signal indicating an active mode or a standby mode. The retention flip-flop selectively performs a flip-flop operation or a data retention operation in response to a voltage of the virtual power rail.

Abstract: In a method of estimating a leakage current in semiconductor device, a chip including a plurality of cells is divided into segments by a grid model. Spatial correlation is determined as spatial correlation between process parameters concerned with the leakage currents in each of the cells. A virtual cell leakage characteristic function of the cell is generated by arithmetically operating actual leakage characteristic functions. A segment leakage characteristic function is generated by arithmetically operating the virtual cell leakage characteristic functions of each cell in the segment. Then, a full chip leakage characteristic function is generated by statistically operating the segment leakage characteristic functions of each segment in the chip. Accordingly, the computational loads of Wilkinson's method for generating the full chip leakage characteristic function may be remarkably reduced.

Abstract: A body biasing control circuit capable of being shared by a plurality of macro blocks and can independently control body voltages of a plurality of macro blocks. The body biasing control circuit includes a lookup table for storing a plurality of indexes where each index is associated with a body voltage appropriate for an operating state of a corresponding macro block. A control unit receives a corresponding index from the lookup table and generates a plurality of body voltages appropriate for an operating state of a macro block corresponding to the index and supplies the body voltages to the macro block.

Abstract: A circuit having an active clock shielding structure includes a logic circuit that receives a clock signal and performs a logic operation based on the clock signal, a power gating circuit that switches a mode of the logic circuit between an active mode and an sleep mode based on a power gating signal, a clock signal transmission line that transmits the clock signal to the logic circuit, and at least one power gating signal transmission line that transmits the power gating signal to the power gating circuit and functions as a shielding line pair with the clock signal transmission line.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a semiconductor substrate; a dummy pattern extending in one direction on the semiconductor substrate; a junction region electrically connecting the dummy pattern to the semiconductor substrate; and a voltage applying unit that is configured to apply a bias voltage to the dummy pattern.

Abstract: A body biasing control circuit capable of being shared by a plurality of macro blocks and can independently control body voltages of a plurality of macro blocks. The body biasing control circuit includes a lookup table for storing a plurality of indexes where each index is associated with a body voltage appropriate for an operating state of a corresponding macro block. A control unit receives a corresponding index from the lookup table and generates a plurality of body voltages appropriate for an operating state of a macro block corresponding to the index and supplies the body voltages to the macro block.

Abstract: A power control process in which an inner region optimum power control (“OPC”) value of an inner region of an optical disc is measured at a base speed is selectively performed. A predicted outer region OPC value is calculated based upon the inner region OPC value, a reference laser power associated with the base speed and a desired maximum speed. The predicted outer region OPC value is compared with a laser power limit, and whether to measure an outer region OPC value on an outer region of the optical disc at a desired maximum speed is determined.