The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 31, 2009
Filed:
Sep. 26, 2006
Dipankar Bhattacharya, Macungie, PA (US);
Makeshwar Kothandaraman, Whitehall, PA (US);
John C. Kriz, Palmerton, PA (US);
Bernard L. Morris, Emmaus, PA (US);
Yehuda Smooha, Allentown, PA (US);
Dipankar Bhattacharya, Macungie, PA (US);
Makeshwar Kothandaraman, Whitehall, PA (US);
John C. Kriz, Palmerton, PA (US);
Bernard L. Morris, Emmaus, PA (US);
Yehuda Smooha, Allentown, PA (US);
Agere Systems Inc., Allentown, PA (US);
Abstract
An IC having improved reliability includes at least first and second circuit blocks and at least first and second power domains, the first circuit block being connected to the first power domain and the second circuit block being connected to the second power domain. The IC further includes at least one control circuit configured to generate at least first and second control signals. The first control signal is operative to selectively connect the first power domain to a first voltage supply, and the second control signal is operative to selectively connect the second power domain to a second voltage supply. The IC includes at least first and second clamp circuits, the first clamp circuit being connected to the first power domain, the second clamp circuit being connected to the second power domain. Each of the clamp circuits is operative to prevent a voltage on a corresponding power domain from rising above a prescribed voltage level for the corresponding power domain.