Abstract: An integrated circuit including a first cell and a second cell. The first cell includes a first plurality of active areas that extend in a first direction and a first plurality of gates that extend in a second direction that crosses the first direction, the first cell having first cell edges defined by breaks in the first plurality of gates. The second cell includes a second plurality of active areas that extend in the first direction and a second plurality of gates that extend in the second direction, the second cell having second cell edges defined by breaks in the second plurality of gates. Each of the second plurality of active areas is larger than each of the first plurality of active areas and the first cell is adjacent the second cell such that the first cell edges align with the second cell edges.

Abstract: A method includes laying out a standard cell region, with a rectangular space being within the standard cell region. The standard cell region includes a first row of standard cells having a first bottom boundary facing the rectangular space, and a plurality of standard cells having side boundaries facing the rectangular space. The plurality of standard cells include a bottom row of standard cells. A memory array is laid out in the rectangular space, and a second bottom boundary of the bottom row and a third bottom boundary of the memory array are aligned to a same straight line. A filler cell region is laid out in the rectangular space. The filler cell region includes a first top boundary contacting the first bottom boundary of the first row of standard cells, and a fourth bottom boundary contacting a second top boundary of the memory array.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for optimizing metal cuts in standard cells. The method includes placing a standard cell in a layout area and inserting a metal cut along a metal interconnect of the standard cell at a location away from a boundary of the standard cell. The method further includes disconnecting, at the location, a metal portion of the metal interconnect from a remaining portion of the metal interconnect based on the metal cut.

Abstract: A method includes forming a conductive member over a first conductive line; forming a second conductive line over the conductive member; and removing a portion of the conductive member exposed by the second conductive line to form a conductive via. The formation of the second conductive line is implemented prior to the formation of the conductive via. A semiconductor structure includes a first conductive line having a first surface; a second conductive line disposed above the first conductive line and having a second surface overlapping the first surface; and a conductive via electrically connected to the first surface and the second surface. The conductive via includes a first end disposed within the first surface, a second end disposed within the second surface, and a cross-section between the first end and the second end, wherein at least two of interior angles of the cross-section are substantially unequal to 90°.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices are provided. A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a power switch, a first power mesh and a second power mesh. The power switch is formed over the front surface of the semiconductor substrate. The first power mesh is formed over the power switch and is directly connected to the first terminal of the power switch. The second power mesh is formed over the back surface of the semiconductor substrate and is directly connected to the second terminal of the power switch.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device, includes forming an active region; forming first, second and third metal-to-drain/source (MD) contact structures which extend in a first direction, and correspondingly overlap and electrically couple to the active region; forming a via-to-via (V2V) rail which extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, overlaps at least the first MD contact structure and the third MD contact structures; forming a first via-to-MD (VD) structure over, and electrically coupled to, the first MD contact structure and the V2V rail; and forming a first conductive segment which overlaps the V2V rail, is in a first metallization layer, and is electrically coupled to the first VD structure.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is disclosure. The integrated circuit includes a first pair of power rails, a set of conductive lines arranged in the first layer parallel to the first pair of power rails, a first set of active areas. The integrated circuit further includes a first gate arranged along the second direction, between the first pair of power rails, and crossing the first set of active areas in a layout view, wherein the first gate is configured to be shared by a first transistor of a first type and a second transistor of a second type; and a second gate and a third gate, in which the second gate is configured to be a control terminal of a third transistor, and the third gate is configured to be a control terminal of a fourth transistor which is coupled to the control terminal of the third transistor.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods for forming a semiconductor structure are provided. The method includes forming a first active semiconductor region disposed in a first vertical level of the semiconductor structure, forming a second active semiconductor region disposed in the first vertical level, where the second active semiconductor region is separated from the first active semiconductor region by a distance in a first direction, forming a first conductive structure disposed in a second vertical level that is adjacent to the first vertical level. The first conductive structure extends along the first direction and electrically couples the first active semiconductor region to the second active semiconductor region.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a first and second power rail extending in a first direction and being located at a first level, a first and second set of conductive structures located at a second level and extending in a second direction, a first and second set of vias, and a first and second conductive structure located at a third level and extending in the second direction. The first set of vias coupling the first power rail to the first set of conductive structures. The second set of vias coupling the second power rail to the second set of conductive structures. The first conductive structure overlaps a first conductive structure of the first set of conductive structures and the second set of conductive structures. The second conductive structure overlaps a second conductive structure of the first set of conductive structures and the second set of conductive structures.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: M*1st conductors in a first layer of metallization (M*1st layer) and being aligned correspondingly along different corresponding ones of alpha tracks and representing corresponding inputs of a cell region in the semiconductor device; and M*2nd conductors in a second layer of metallization (M*2nd layer) aligned correspondingly along beta tracks, and the M*2nd conductors including at least one power grid (PG) segment and one or more of an output pin or a routing segment; and each of first and second ones of the input pins having a length sufficient to accommodate at most two access points; each of the access points of the first and second input pins being aligned to a corresponding different one of first to fourth beta tracks; and the PG segment being aligned with one of the first to fourth beta tracks.

Abstract: A method includes laying out a standard cell region, with a rectangular space being within the standard cell region. The standard cell region includes a first row of standard cells having a first bottom boundary facing the rectangular space, and a plurality of standard cells having side boundaries facing the rectangular space. The plurality of standard cells include a bottom row of standard cells. A memory array is laid out in the rectangular space, and a second bottom boundary of the bottom row and a third bottom boundary of the memory array are aligned to a same straight line. A filler cell region is laid out in the rectangular space. The filler cell region includes a first top boundary contacting the first bottom boundary of the first row of standard cells, and a fourth bottom boundary contacting a second top boundary of the memory array.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first conductor segment intersecting a first active-region structure at a source/drain region and a second conductor segment intersecting a second active-region structure at a source/drain region. The first conductor segment and the second conductor segment are separated at proximal edges by a separation distance. The first conductor has a distal edge separated from a first power rail, and the second conductor segment is connected to a second power rail through a via-connector. A distance from the first power rail to a proximal edge of the first conductor segment is larger than a distance from the second power rail to a proximal edge of the second conductor segment by a predetermined distance that is a fraction of the separation distance.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including: an active region; first, second and third metal-to-drain/source (MD) contact structures which extend in a first direction and correspondingly overlap the active region; a via-to-via (V2V) rail which extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and overlaps the first, second and third MD contact structures; a first conductive segment which overlaps the V2V rail, is in a first metallization layer, and, relative to the second direction, overlaps each of the first, second and third MD contact structures; and a first via-to-MD (VD) structure between the first MD contact structure and the first conductive segment, the first VD structure electrically coupling the first conductive segment, the V2V rail and the first MD contact structure; wherein at least one of the second or third MD contact structures is electrically decoupled from the V2V rail.

Abstract: A circuit includes a first transistor, a second type-one transistor, a first type-two transistor, a third type-one transistor, a fourth type-one transistor, and a fifth type-one transistor. The first type-one transistor has a gate configured to have a first supply voltage of a first power supply. The first type-two transistor has a gate configured to have a second supply voltage of the first power supply. The third type-one transistor has a first active-region conductively connected with an active-region of the first type-one transistor. Third type-one transistor has a second active-region and a gate conductively connected to each other. The fifth type-one transistor has a first active-region conductively connected with the gate of the third type-one transistor and has a second active-region configured to have a first supply voltage of a second power supply. The fifth type-one transistor is configured to be at a conducting state.

Abstract: Systems, methods and devices are provided, which can include an engineering change order (ECO) base. A base layout cell includes metal layer regions, conductive gate patterns arranged above metal layer regions; oxide definition (OD) patterns, metal-zero layer over oxide-definition (metal-zero) patterns, at least one cut metal layer (CMD) pattern; and at least one via region. The base layout cell can be implemented in at least two non-identical functional cells. A first functional cell of the at least two non-identical functional cells includes first interconnection conductive patterns arranged connecting metal-zero structures corresponding to at least two metal-zero patterns in a first layout, and a second functional cell of the at least two non-identical functional cells includes second interconnection conductive patterns arranged connecting metal-zero structures corresponding to at least two metal-zero patterns in a second layout.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a transistor layer with an M*1st layer that overlays the transistor layer with one or more first conductors that extend in a first direction. Forming an M*2nd layer that overlays the M*1st layer with one or more second conductors which extend in a second direction. Forming a first pin in the M*2nd layer representing an output pin of a cell region. Forming a long axis of the first pin substantially along a selected one of the one or more second conductors. Forming a majority of the total number of pins in the M*1st layer, the forming including: forming second, third, fourth and fifth pins in the M*1st layer representing corresponding input pins of the circuit; and forming long axes of the second to fifth pins substantially along corresponding ones of the one or more first conductors.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrated circuit structure includes placing a first set of conductive structure layout patterns on a first layout level, placing a second set of conductive structure layout patterns on a second layout level, placing a first set of via layout patterns between the second set of conductive structure layout patterns and the first set of conductive structure layout patterns, and manufacturing the integrated circuit structure based on at least one of the layout patterns of the integrated circuit. At least one of the layout patterns is stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, and at least one of the placing operations is performed by a hardware processor. The first set of conductive structure layout patterns extends in a first direction. The second set of conductive structure layout patterns extends in the second direction, and overlap the first set of conductive structure layout patterns.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrated circuit. The method includes generating two first-type active zones and two second-type active zones, and generating a gate-strip intersecting the two first-type active zones and the two second-type active zones. The method further includes patterning one or more poly cuts intersecting the gate-strip based on a determination of a difference between the poly extension effect of a p-type transistor and the poly extension effect of an n-type transistor.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first cell having a first functionality, and a second cell having a second functionality. The first cell includes a first portion on a first side of the substrate, wherein the first portion includes a first conductive element; a second portion on a second side of the substrate, wherein the second portion includes a second conductive element; and a first conductive via extending through the substrate and electrically connecting the first conductive element to the second conductive element. The second cell includes a third portion on the first side of the substrate, wherein the third portion includes a third conductive element; a fourth portion on the second side of the substrate, wherein the fourth portion includes a fourth conductive element; and a second conductive via extending through the substrate and electrically connecting the third conductive element to the fourth conductive element.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first type-one transistor, a second type-one transistor, a first type-two transistor, a second type-two transistor, a third type-one transistor, a fourth type-one transistor, and a fifth type-one transistor. The first type-one transistor has a gate configured to have a first supply voltage of a first power supply. The first type-two transistor has a gate configured to have a second supply voltage of the first power supply. The first active-region of the third type-one transistor is connected with an active-region of the first type-one transistor. The second active-region and the gate of the third type-one transistor are connected together. The first active-region of the fifth type-one transistor is connected with the gate of the third type-one transistor. The second active-region of the fifth type-one transistor is configured to have a first supply voltage of a second power supply.