Multi-mode standard cell logic and self-startup for battery-indifferent or pure energy harvesting systems

Abstract

A cell logic structure for a battery-indifferent or pure energy harvesting multi-mode system, a battery-indifferent or pure energy harvesting multi-mode system, a method of operating a cell logic structure for a battery-indifferent or pure energy harvesting multi-mode system, and a method of operating battery-indifferent or pure energy harvesting multi-mode system. The cell gate structure comprises a CMOS gate circuit; a header circuit coupled to the CMOS gate circuit and comprising first and second header transistors for coupling in parallel between a supply voltage and the CMOS gate circuit; and a footer circuit coupled to the CMOS gate circuit and comprising first and second footer transistors for coupling in parallel between the CMOS gate circuit and a ground voltage; wherein the header and footer circuits are configured for switching between different operation modes of the multi-mode system, the different operation modes chosen from a range from a normal mode in which feedback paths from an output of the CMOS gate circuit to the gate of the second header transistor and to the gate of the second footer transistor are substantially or fully disabled for full swing in the output voltage of the CMOS gate circuit, and a leakage suppression mode in which the feedback paths are substantially or fully enabled.