AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT WITH INTERFACE CIRCUITRY, AND AN INTERFACE CELL FOR SUCH INTERFACE CICUITRY

摘要

An integrated circuit includes an interface circuit element used to provide an interface between a functional circuit of the integrated circuit and components outside the integrated circuit. The functional circuit is configured to be operated from a first power supply and includes a power supply distribution network which is related to the functional circuit and provides the first power supply to functional components of the functional circuit. The interface circuit element includes a plurality of interface cells including an interface component operated from a second power supply which is different from the first power supply. A power supply line structure is shared by the interface cells and is arranged to provide the second power supply to the interface component. Moreover, one or more sub sets of the interface cells include an additional interface component operated from the first power supply. Each of the interface cells is arranged to have an individual connection unit for the power supply distribution network to receive the first power supply. This avoids the necessity of integrating an arbitrarily line within the power supply line structure to provide the first power supply to the additional interface component.