Abstract: A decoder circuit that selects a grayscale voltage responsive to digital input includes a first transistor circuit that selects grayscale voltages greater than a certain voltage and a second transistor circuit that selects grayscale voltages less than the certain voltage. The two transistor circuits are formed in separate substrates, one substrate being a well formed in the other substrate, or both substrates being wells formed in a third substrate. The substrate of the first transistor circuit is biased at a higher potential than the substrate of the second transistor circuit. This biasing scheme enables all selected grayscale voltages to propagate quickly through the decoder circuit.

Abstract: A decoder circuit that selects a grayscale voltage responsive to digital input includes a first transistor circuit that selects grayscale voltages greater than a certain voltage and a second transistor circuit that selects grayscale voltages less than the certain voltage. The two transistor circuits are formed in separate substrates, one substrate being a well formed in the other substrate, or both substrates being wells formed in a third substrate. The substrate of the first transistor circuit is biased at a higher potential than the substrate of the second transistor circuit. This biasing scheme enables all selected grayscale voltages to propagate quickly through the decoder circuit.

Abstract: A decoder circuit that selects a grayscale voltage responsive to digital input includes a first transistor circuit that selects grayscale voltages greater than a certain voltage and a second transistor circuit that selects grayscale voltages less than the certain voltage. The two transistor circuits are formed in separate substrates, one substrate being a well formed in the other substrate, or both substrates being wells formed in a third substrate. The substrate of the first transistor circuit is biased at a higher potential than the substrate of the second transistor circuit. This biasing scheme enables all selected grayscale voltages to propagate quickly through the decoder circuit.

Abstract: A decoder circuit that selects a grayscale voltage responsive to digital input includes a first transistor circuit that selects grayscale voltages greater than a certain voltage and a second transistor circuit that selects grayscale voltages less than the certain voltage. The two transistor circuits are formed in separate substrates, one substrate being a well formed in the other substrate, or both substrates being wells formed in a third substrate. The substrate of the first transistor circuit is biased at a higher potential than the substrate of the second transistor circuit. This biasing scheme enables all selected grayscale voltages to propagate quickly through the decoder circuit.

Abstract: A voltage regulator includes a constant current circuit which is connected between an input node with which a power supply voltage is supplied and an output node to which a load is connected and which supplies constant current to the output node. The voltage regulator also includes a first transistor which is provided in parallel to the constant current circuit and which flows insufficient current to the output node when current flowing through the load is larger than the constant current and a second transistor which is provided between the output node and a common potential node and which flows surplus current to the common potential node when current flowing through the load is less than the constant current. The voltage regulator also includes a control circuit which controls a conductive state of the first and the second transistors so that an output voltage of the output node is maintained at constant voltage.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a regulator circuit includes a transistor having a source and a drain connected to a power supply and an output terminal; first and second voltage divider resistance elements connected in series between ground and the transistor output terminal; a differential operational amplifier that differentially amplifies a reference voltage and a voltage divided by the voltage divider resistance elements, and that supplies the amplified voltages to a gate of the transistor, to control an output voltage of the transistor; and a phase compensation capacitor including an interlayer film between electrode layers and overlaid two-dimensionally on the voltage divider resistance elements. The electrode layer close to the semiconductor substrate is connected to the output terminal of the transistor, and a parasitic capacitance between the output terminal of the transistor and the voltage divider resistance elements compensates a phase lag of a transistor output signal.

Abstract: A voltage regulator includes a constant current circuit which is connected between an input node with which a power supply voltage is supplied and an output node to which a load is connected and which supplies constant current to the output node. The voltage regulator also includes a first transistor which is provided in parallel to the constant current circuit and which flows insufficient current to the output node when current flowing through the load is larger than the constant current and a second transistor which is provided between the output node and a common potential node and which flows surplus current to the common potential node when current flowing through the load is less than the constant current. The voltage regulator also includes a control circuit which controls a conductive state of the first and the second transistors so that an output voltage of the output node is maintained at constant voltage.

Abstract: A semiconductor IC (Integrated Circuit) has blocks implemented as a standard cell each. Wirings are arranged in a wiring region for wiring the connections of circuit devices of a standard cell, which constitute utility circuit. A first and a second electrode each are formed in a particular polycrystalline silicon layer in the wiring region different from a layer assigned to the wirings. Either of the two electrodes is connected to a power supply while the other is connected to ground, forming a capacitance between the overlapping portions thereof.

Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor device provided with a regulator circuit capable of reducing a layout area thereof and improving a phase margin.

Abstract: A voltage regulator includes a constant current circuit which is connected between an input node with which a power supply voltage is supplied and an output node to which a load is connected and which supplies constant current to the output node. The voltage regulator also includes a first transistor which is provided in parallel to the constant current circuit and which flows insufficient current to the output node when current flowing through the load is larger than the constant current and a second transistor which is provided between the output node and a common potential node and which flows surplus current to the common potential node when current flowing through the load is less than the constant current. The voltage regulator also includes a control circuit which controls a conductive state of the first and the second transistors so that an output voltage of the output node is maintained at constant voltage.

Abstract: A semiconductor IC (Integrated Circuit) has blocks implemented as a standard cell each. Wirings are arranged in a wiring region for wiring the connections of circuit devices of a standard cell, which constitute utility circuit. A first and a second electrode each are formed in a particular polycrystalline silicon layer in the wiring region different from a layer assigned to the wirings. Either of the two electrodes is connected to a power supply while the other is connected to ground, forming a capacitance between the overlapping portions thereof.

Abstract: A supply voltage is divided to provide a divided supply voltage. The divided supply voltage is compared with the reference voltage. The supply voltage is controlled based on the result of comparison so that the supply voltage does not exceed a predetermined breakdown voltage.

Abstract: An integrated circuit card includes terminals for receiving data, a first control signal and a power supply by mechanical contact to the terminals and a coil for receiving data, a second control signal and a power supply by electromagnetic induction. The integrated circuit card also includes a mode designating circuit for designating a contact mode prior to the second control signal during the first control signal is received therein and for designating a contact-free mode during the second control signal is received therein. The integrated circuit card also includes a processing circuit for operating in the contact mode based on the contact mode designated by the mode designating circuit and for operating in the contact-free mode based on the contact-free mode designated by the mode designating circuit.

Abstract: A voltage regulator includes a constant current circuit which is connected between an input node with which a power supply voltage is supplied and an output node to which a load is connected and which supplies constant current to the output node. The voltage regulator also includes a first transistor which is provided in parallel to the constant current circuit and which flows insufficient current to the output node when current flowing through the load is larger than the constant current and a second transistor which is provided between the output node and a common potential node and which flows surplus current to the common potential node when current flowing through the load is less than the constant current. The voltage regulator also includes a control circuit which controls a conductive state of the first and the second transistors so that an output voltage of the output node is maintained at constant voltage.

Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes a functional block that performs necessary functions for the proper operation; a functional signal line that is connected to the functional block to transmit a functional signal; and an enable signal line to supply an enable signal to the functional block. The enable signal line includes a part that is formed on an upper layer of the functional signal line.

Abstract: An integrated circuit card includes terminals for receiving data, a first control signal and a power supply by mechanical contact to the terminals and a coil for receiving data, a second control signal and a power supply by electromagnetic induction. The integrated circuit card also includes a mode designating circuit for designating a contact mode prior to the second control signal during the first control signal is received therein and for designating a contact-free mode during the second control signal is received therein. The integrated circuit card also includes a processing circuit for operating in the contact mode based on the contact mode designated by the mode designating circuit and for operating in the contact-free mode based on the contact-free mode designated by the mode designating circuit.

Abstract: A data sampling circuit samples radio signal data made up of plural successive sets of data, each set of data having a given number of data bits. A first shift register holds and shifts the data bits of the radio signal data to successively obtain sampled radio signal data for each set of data of the radio signal data. A data holding section successively receives and holds each set of the sampled radio signal data held by the first shift register. Also, a processor successively receives, bit by bit, each set of sampled radio signal data held by the data holding section, and processes each set of sampled radio signal data in accordance with a given processing procedure. The data holding section completes reception of each set of sampled radio signal data from the first shift register before the first shift register holds a first data bit of each next set of data of the radio signal data.