Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a memory device. The memory device includes an active current path including a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ); and a reference current path including a reference resistance element. The reference resistance element has a resistance that differs from a resistance of the MTJ. An asynchronous, delay-sensing element has a first input coupled to the active current path and a second input coupled to the reference current path. The asynchronous, delay-sensing element is configured to sense a timing delay between a first rising or falling edge voltage on the active current path and a second rising or falling edge voltage on the reference current path. The asynchronous, delay-sensing element is further configured to determine a data state stored in the MTJ based on the timing delay.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes: a first plurality of cell rows extending in a first direction, each of which has a first row height and comprises a plurality of first cells disposed therein; and a second plurality of cell rows extending in the first direction, each of which has a second row height different from the first row height and comprises a plurality of second cells disposed therein. The plurality of first cells comprises a first plurality of active regions each of which continuously extends across the plurality of first cells in the first direction, and wherein the plurality of second cells comprises a second plurality of active regions each of which continuously extends across the plurality of second cells in the first direction.

Abstract: A semiconductor device or structure includes a first pattern metal layer disposed between a first supply metal tract and a second supply metal tract, the first pattern metal layer comprising an internal route and a power route. A follow pin couples the first supply metal to the power route. The first supply metal tract comprises a first metal and a follow pin comprises a second metal.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a wafer having a first surface, wherein the wafer includes a gate electrode having a top surface, and the top surface is leveled with the first surface; and forming an alignment structure on the top surface. The method further includes forming a photoresist on the alignment layer to cover a portion of the top surface; and removing portions of the alignment layer uncovered by the photoresist to form an alignment structure on the top surface. The method further includes forming a dielectric surrounding the alignment structure on the first surface and over the alignment structure, removing a portion of the dielectric to expose the alignment structure by CMP; removing the alignment structure to expose at least a portion of the top surface of the gate electrode, and forming a gate conductor over and in contact with the gate electrode.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an apparatus with a local interconnect structure. The apparatus can include a first transistor, a second transistor, a first interconnect structure, a second interconnect structure, and a third interconnect structure. The local interconnect structure can be coupled to gate terminals of the first and second transistors and routed at a same interconnect level as reference metal lines coupled to ground and a power supply voltage. The first interconnect structure can be coupled to a source/drain terminal of the first transistor and routed above the local interconnect structure. The second interconnect structure can be coupled to a source/drain terminal of the second transistor and routed above the local interconnect structure. The third interconnect structure can be routed above the local interconnect structure and at a same interconnect level as the first and second interconnect structures.

Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit includes generating, by a processor, a layout design of the integrated circuit based on a set of design rules and manufacturing the integrated circuit based on the layout design. The generating of the layout design includes generating a set of active region layout patterns extending in a first direction, generating a set of gate layout patterns extending in a second direction, and generating a cut feature layout pattern extending in the first direction, overlapping at least a first gate layout pattern of the set of gate layout patterns, being separated from the set of active region layout patterns in the second direction by at least a first distance. The first distance satisfying a first design rule of the set of design rules.

Abstract: An IC structure includes a first plurality of metal segments extending in a first metal layer in a first direction and having a first pitch in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a second plurality of metal segments extending in a second metal layer in the second direction and having a second pitch in the first direction, and a third plurality of metal segments extending in a third metal layer in the first direction and having a third pitch in the second direction. The second metal layer is a next consecutive layer overlying the first metal layer, the third metal layer is a next consecutive layer overlying the second metal layer, and a ratio of the second pitch to the third pitch is greater than one.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of forming an integrated chip. The method may be performed by forming first and second source regions within a substrate. The first and second source regions are separated by a drain region along a first direction. First and second middle-end-of-the-line (MEOL) structures are formed over the substrate. The first and second MEOL structures have bottom surfaces that continually extend past edges of the first and second source regions, respectively, along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A power rail is formed that is electrically coupled to the first and second MEOL structures. The power rail has a first interconnect wire, a via rail on and in contact with the first interconnect wire, and a second interconnect wire on and in contact with the via rail. The via rail continuously extends along the first direction past the first and second MEOL structures.

Abstract: A system that generates a layout diagram has a processor that implements a method, the method including: generating first and second conductor shapes; generating first, second and third cap shapes correspondingly over the first and second conductor shapes; arranging a corresponding one of the second conductor shapes to be interspersed between each pair of neighboring ones of the first conductor shapes; generating first cut patterns over selected portions of corresponding ones of the first cap shapes; and generating second cut patterns over selected portions of corresponding ones of the second cap shapes. In some circumstances, the first cut patterns are designated as selective for a first etch sensitivity corresponding to the first cap shapes; and the second cut patterns are designated as selective for a second etch sensitivity corresponding to the second cap shapes.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a sense amplifier. The sense amplifier includes a fully-depleted silicon on insulator (FDSOI) substrate, including a handle substrate region, an insulator layer over the handle substrate region, and a device region over the insulator layer. An n-well region is disposed in the handle substrate region, and an n-well contact region extends from the n-well region through the insulator layer to an upper surface of the device region. A pair of pull-down transistors are disposed in the device region and over the n-well. The pair of pull-down transistors have their respective gates coupled to a pair of complementary bitlines, respectively, and coupled to the n-well through the n-well contact region.

Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a first conductive interconnect wire extending in a first direction over a substrate. A second conductive interconnect wire is arranged over the first conductive interconnect wire. A via rail is configured to electrically couple the first conductive interconnect wire and the second conductive interconnect wire. The first conductive interconnect wire and the second conductive interconnect wire extend as continuous structures past one or more sides of the via rail.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a buried metal line disposed in a semiconductor substrate, a first dielectric material on a first sidewall of the buried metal line and a second dielectric material on a second sidewall of the buried metal line, a first multiple fins disposed proximate the first sidewall of the buried metal line, a second multiple fins disposed proximate the second sidewall of the buried metal line, a first metal gate structure over the first multiple fins and over the buried metal line, wherein the first metal gate structure extends through the first dielectric material to contact the buried metal line, and a second metal gate structure over the second multiple fins and over the buried metal line.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first semiconductor material layer separated from a second semiconductor material layer by an insulating layer. A source region and a drain region are disposed in the first semiconductor material layer and spaced apart. A gate electrode is disposed over the first semiconductor material layer between the source region and the drain region. A first doped region having a first doping type is disposed in the second semiconductor material layer, where the gate electrode directly overlies the first doped region. A second doped region having a second doping type different than the first doping type is disposed in the second semiconductor material layer, where the second doped region extends beneath the first doped region and contacts opposing sides of the first doped region.

Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to a method of forming an integrated chip. The method may be performed by forming a plurality of gate structures over a substrate, and forming a plurality of source and drain regions along opposing sides of the plurality of gate structures. A plurality of middle-of-the-line (MOL) structures are formed at locations laterally interleaved between the plurality of gate structures. The plurality of MOL structures are redefined by getting rid of a part but not all of one or more of the plurality of MOL structures. Redefining the plurality of MOL structures results in a plurality of MOL active structures arranged over the plurality of source and drain regions at an irregular pitch.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method, and more particularly to forming via rail and deep via structures to reduce parasitic capacitances in standard cell structures. Via rail structures are formed in a level different from the conductive lines. The via rail structure can reduce the number of conductive lines and provide larger separations between conductive lines that are on the same interconnect level and thus reduce parasitic capacitance between conductive lines.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes depositing a first material on a substrate, depositing on the substrate a second material that has an etch selectivity different from an etch selectively of the first material, depositing a spacer material on the first and second material, and etching the substrate using the spacer material as an etch mask to form a fin under the first material and a fin under the second material.

Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to a method of forming an integrated chip. The method includes forming a plurality of gate structures extending in a first direction over a substrate between a plurality of source/drain regions. A lower power rail is formed extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A first connection pin is formed to be electrically coupled to one of the plurality of source/drain regions and to the lower power rail. The first connection pin is formed according to a cut mask having cut regions that define opposing ends of the first connection pin. An upper power rail is formed directly over the lower power rail and extending in the second direction. The upper power rail is electrically coupled to the first connection pin.

Abstract: An embodiment of a semiconductor switch structure includes source contacts, drain contacts, gates and fins. The contacts and gates are elongated in a first direction and are spaced apart from each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The gates are interspersed between the contacts. The fins underlie both the contacts and the gates. The fins are elongated in the second direction and are spaced apart from each other in the first direction. A contact via extends through one of the contacts without contacting a gate or a fin. A gate via extends through one of the gates without contacting a contact or a fin. A contact-gate via is in contact with both a contact and a gate but not a fin.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an apparatus with a local interconnect structure. The apparatus can include a first transistor, a second transistor, a first interconnect structure, a second interconnect structure, and a third interconnect structure. The local interconnect structure can be coupled to gate terminals of the first and second transistors and routed at a same interconnect level as reference metal lines coupled to ground and a power supply voltage. The first interconnect structure can be coupled to a source/drain terminal of the first transistor and routed above the local interconnect structure. The second interconnect structure can be coupled to a source/drain terminal of the second transistor and routed above the local interconnect structure. The third interconnect structure can be routed above the local interconnect structure and at a same interconnect level as the first and second interconnect structures.

Abstract: An IC layout diagram generation system includes a processor and a storage medium including computer program code configured to place a cell in an IC layout diagram, route a second metal segment to the cell by positioning the second metal segment along a first plurality of tracks having a first pitch in a first direction, route a third metal segment to the second metal segment by positioning the third metal segment along a second plurality of tracks having a second pitch in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and route a fourth metal segment to the third metal segment by positioning the fourth metal segment along a third plurality of tracks having a third pitch in the first direction, the third pitch being smaller than the second pitch. An IC layout file is generated based on the cell and the second, third, and fourth metal segments.