Abstract: Digital delay lock circuits and methods for operating digital delay lock circuits are provided. A phase detector is configured to receive first and second clock signals and generate a digital signal indicating a relationship between a phase of the first clock signal and a phase of the second clock signal. A phase accumulator circuit is configured to receive the digital signal and generate a phase signal based on values of the digital signal over multiple clock cycles. A decoder is configured to receive the phase signal and generate a digital control word based on the phase signal. A delay element is configured to receive the digital control word. The delay element is further configured to change the relationship between the phase of the first clock signal and the phase of the second clock signal by modifying the phase of the second clock signal according to the digital control word.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure including first finfet cells and second finfet cells. Each of the first finfet cells has an analog fin boundary according to analog circuit design rules, and each of the second finfet cells has a digital fin boundary according to digital circuit design rules. The semiconductor structure further includes first circuits formed with the first finfet cells, second circuits formed with the second finfet cells, and third circuits formed with one or more of the first finfet cells and one or more of the second finfet cells.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) including a plurality of finfet cells designed with digital circuit design rules to provide smaller finfet cells with decreased cell heights, and analog circuit cell structures including first finfet cells of the plurality of finfet cells and including at least one cut metal layer. The smaller finfet cells with decreased cell heights provide a first shorter metal track in one direction and the at least one cut metal layer provides a second shorter metal track in another direction to increase maximum electromigration currents in the integrated circuit.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are described herein for aligning a phase of a ring oscillator and removing jitter. An oscillator includes a resistor bank array, an operational amplifier, a first and second transistor, and a realignment circuit. The resistor bank array has a plurality of resistors configured to generate a first signal. The operational amplifier is coupled to a PLL circuit and is configured to compare a voltage of the PLL circuit with a voltage of the resistor bank array. The first transistor is coupled between the operational amplifier and a ring oscillator. The first transistor is configured to generate a second signal to control a frequency of the ring oscillator during a realignment state. The realignment circuit is coupled to the first transistor and the ring oscillator. The realignment circuit is configured to generate a realignment signal to align the ring oscillator with a first clock signal.

Abstract: Circuits and methods for performing a clock and data recovery are disclosed. In one example, a circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes an FSM. The FSM includes: a first accumulator, a second accumulator, and a third accumulator. The first accumulator is configured to receive an input phase code representing a phase timing difference between a data signal and a clock signal at each FSM cycle, to accumulate input phase codes for different FSM cycles, and to generate a first order phase code at each FSM cycle. The second accumulator is coupled to the first accumulator and configured to accumulate the input phase codes and first order phase codes for different FSM cycles, and to generate a second order phase code at each FSM cycle. The third accumulator is coupled to the second accumulator and configured to accumulate the input phase codes and second order phase codes for different FSM cycles, and to generate a third order phase code at each FSM cycle.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a phase locked loop. A phase/frequency detector is configured to receive a reference signal and a feedback signal. A charge pump is configured to receive outputs from the phase/frequency detector and to generate pulses. An oscillator is configured to generate an output waveform based on the charge pump pulses. A realignment path is configured to generate a clock realignment signal that is provided to the oscillator based on the outputs from the phase/frequency detector.

Abstract: A multi-tap Differential Feedforward Equalizer (DFFE) configuration with both precursor and postcursor taps is provided. The DFFE has reduced noise and/or crosstalk characteristics when compared to a Feedforward Equalizer (FFE) since DFFE uses decision outputs of slicers as inputs to a finite impulse response (FIR) unlike FFE which uses actual analog signal inputs. The digital outputs of the tentative decision slicers are multiplied with tap coefficients to reduce noise. Further, since digital outputs are used as the multiplier inputs, the multipliers effectively work as adders which are less complex to implement. The decisions at the outputs of the tentative decision slicers are tentative and are used in a FIR filter to equalize the signal; the equalized signal may be provided as input to the next stage slicers. The bit-error-rate (BER) of the final stage decisions are lower or better than the BER of the previous stage tentative decisions.

Abstract: Digital delay lock circuits and methods for operating digital delay lock circuits are provided. A phase detector is configured to receive first and second clock signals and generate a digital signal indicating a relationship between a phase of the first clock signal and a phase of the second clock signal. A phase accumulator circuit is configured to receive the digital signal and generate a phase signal based on values of the digital signal over multiple clock cycles. A decoder is configured to receive the phase signal and generate a digital control word based on the phase signal. A delay element is configured to receive the digital control word. The delay element is further configured to change the relationship between the phase of the first clock signal and the phase of the second clock signal by modifying the phase of the second clock signal according to the digital control word.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a circuit layer and a nanopore layer. The nanopore layer is formed on the circuit layer and is formed with a pore therethrough. The circuit layer includes a circuit unit configured to drive a biomolecule through the pore and to detect a current associated with a resistance of the nanopore layer, whereby a characteristic of the biomolecule can be determined using the currents detected by the circuit unit.

Abstract: Circuits and methods for performing a clock and data recovery are disclosed. In one example, a circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes an FSM. The FSM includes: a first accumulator, a second accumulator, and a third accumulator. The first accumulator is configured to receive an input phase code representing a phase timing difference between a data signal and a clock signal at each FSM cycle, to accumulate input phase codes for different FSM cycles, and to generate a first order phase code at each FSM cycle. The second accumulator is coupled to the first accumulator and configured to accumulate the input phase codes and first order phase codes for different FSM cycles, and to generate a second order phase code at each FSM cycle. The third accumulator is coupled to the second accumulator and configured to accumulate the input phase codes and second order phase codes for different FSM cycles, and to generate a third order phase code at each FSM cycle.

Abstract: An optimized pulse shaping clock data recovery system is provided that includes a slicer configured to receive a signal and provide an initial set of tentative decisions to a decision feedforward equalizer, where the decision feedforward equalizer provides a fully equalized output signal. The slicer may be incorporated as part of decision feedback equalizer to provide better quality tentative decisions. The clock data recovery system also receives the first output signal that is partially equalized in such a way as to optimally shape it for a clock to sample it at an ideal location by providing an adjustment signal to the analog to digital controller.

Abstract: A controlling circuit for ring oscillator is provided. A first transistor and a second transistor of a first conductive type are coupled in series and between a node and a first power source. A third transistor and a fourth transistor of a second conductive type are coupled in parallel and between the node and a second power source. The node is coupled to an input of a delay chain of the ring oscillator. The second and third transistors are coupled in series. Gates of the second and third transistors are configured to receive an output signal of the delay chain. When the first transistor is turned off and the fourth transistor is turned on, the node is pulled to a first logic level from a second logic level in order to align a phase of a waveform of the ring oscillator.

Abstract: An optimized pulse shaping clock data recovery system is provided that includes a slicer configured to receive a signal and provide an initial set of tentative decisions to a decision feedforward equalizer, where the decision feedforward equalizer provides a fully equalized output signal. The slicer may be incorporated as part of decision feedback equalizer to provide better quality tentative decisions. The clock data recovery system also receives the first output signal that is partially equalized in such a way as to optimally shape it for a clock to sample it at an ideal location by providing an adjustment signal to the analog to digital controller.

Abstract: A controlling circuit for ring oscillator is provided. First and second transistors of a first conductive type are coupled in series and between a node and a first power source. Third and fourth transistors of a second conductive type are coupled in parallel and between the node and a second power source. The node is coupled to an input of a delay chain of the ring oscillator. The second and third transistors are coupled in series and gates of the second and third transistors are configured to receive an output signal of the delay chain. When the first transistor is turned off and the fourth transistor is turned on, the node is pulled to a first logic level from a second logic level in order to align a phase of a waveform of the ring oscillator.

Abstract: Oscillators and methods for realignment of an oscillator are provided. An oscillator includes an inductor having first and second terminals and a capacitor electrically coupled in parallel to the inductor at the first and second terminals. A first transistor of a first conductivity type is electrically coupled to the first terminal and a voltage source. The first transistor includes a gate configured to receive a first realignment signal. When the first realignment signal is in a realignment state, the first transistor is turned on and a voltage of the first terminal is increased from a low level to a high level in order to align a phase of a waveform of the oscillator.

Abstract: Digital delay lock circuits and methods for operating digital delay lock circuits are provided. A phase detector is configured to receive first and second clock signals and generate a digital signal indicating a relationship between a phase of the first clock signal and a phase of the second clock signal. A phase accumulator circuit is configured to receive the digital signal and generate a phase signal based on values of the digital signal over multiple clock cycles. A decoder is configured to receive the phase signal and generate a digital control word based on the phase signal. A delay element is configured to receive the digital control word. The delay element is further configured to change the relationship between the phase of the first clock signal and the phase of the second clock signal by modifying the phase of the second clock signal according to the digital control word.

Abstract: Phase-locked loops (PLLs) are provided. A PLL includes a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), a frequency divider and a track-and-hold charge pump. The VCO is configured to provide an output clock corresponding to a pumping current. The frequency divider is configured to provide a feedback signal according to the output clock. The track-and-hold charge pump is configured to provide the pumping current according to a reference clock and the feedback signal. The track-and-hold charge pump includes a track-and-hold circuit, a pumping switch and a pulse width modulator (PWM). The track-and-hold circuit is coupled to the frequency divider and configured to sample the feedback signal according to the reference clock. The PWM is configured to provide a PWM signal to control the pumping switch according to the reference clock, so as to provide the pumping current corresponding to the sampled feedback signal.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) device includes a substrate having opposite first and second sides, an active region over the first side of the substrate, a first conductive pattern over the active region, and a second conductive pattern under the second side of the substrate. The active region includes a first portion and a second portion. The first conductive pattern is electrically coupled to the first portion and the second portion of the active region. The second conductive pattern is electrically coupled to the first portion and the second portion of the active region.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device based on a dual-architecture-compatible design includes: forming transistor components of in a transistor (TR) layer; and performing one of fabricating additional components according to (A) a buried power rail (BPR) type of architecture or (B) a non-buried power rail (non-BPR) type of architecture. The step (A) includes, in corresponding sub-TR layers, forming various non-dummy sub-TR structures, and, in corresponding supra-TR layers, forming various dummy supra-TR structures which are corresponding first artifacts. The step (B) includes, in corresponding supra-TR layers, forming various non-dummy supra-TR structures and forming various dummy supra-TR structures which are corresponding second artifacts, the first and second artifacts resulting from the dual-architecture-compatible design being suitable to adaptation into the BPR type of architecture.

Abstract: Biosensor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. A cavity is formed in a substrate and is configured to receive one or more charged molecules. A transistor is formed in the substrate and includes a source region, a drain region, and a channel region that are spatially separated from the cavity in a lateral direction. A gate of the transistor is disposed below the cavity and extends between the cavity and the source, drain, and channel regions. A voltage potential of the gate is based on a number of the charged molecules in the cavity.