Abstract: A method for making a IC is provided, including: identifying, in a schematic, first and second edge elements, which edge elements including devices whose layout patterns are configured to conform to a first layout grid; identifying all the elements between the first and second edge elements, at least one of the identified elements including a device whose layout pattern is configured to conform to a second layout grid that is finer than the first layout grid; and calculating a spatial quantity of a combined layout pattern of the identified elements between the first and second edge elements to determine whether the combined layout pattern conforms to the first layout grid.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes determining a first scaling factor for a first region of a first device layout, wherein the first region comprises a first plurality of conductive patterns. The method further includes determining a second scaling factor for a second region of the first device layout, wherein the second region comprises a second plurality of conductive patterns, and the first device layout comprises an interconnect pattern extending from the first region to the second region. The method further includes generating a second device layout. Generating the second device layout includes adjusting the interconnect pattern based on the first scaling factor and the second scaling factor.

Abstract: A method is disclosed herein. The method includes: adjusting first parameters associated with parameterized cells in a netlist of an integrated circuit (IC) to generate second parameters associated with the parameterized cells in the netlist of the IC; updating the netlist of the IC according to the second parameters; and performing a simulation according to the netlist.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes receiving a first layout of a device in a first technology node, wherein the first layout comprises a plurality of first conductive patterns spaced along a first direction and a plurality of first interconnect patterns connecting at least two of the plurality of first conductive patterns. The method includes identifying a plurality of second conductive patterns from the plurality of first conductive patterns according to a second technology node different from the first technology node. The method includes determining a scaling factor for the first layout in the first direction based on the plurality of first conductive patterns and the plurality of second conductive patterns. The method includes adjusting the plurality of first interconnect patterns along the first direction using the scaling factor to determine a plurality of second interconnect patterns connecting at least two of the plurality of second conductive patterns.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of performing electromigration sign-off. The method includes determining a change in temperature due to joule heating from an RMS current of a first interconnect. The change in temperature due to joule heating is added to a change in temperature due to device self-heating to determine a first change in real temperature. A first average current limit is determined for the first interconnect using the first change in real temperature. A first average current on the first interconnect is compared to the first average current limit to determine if a first electromigration violation is present on the first interconnect. A second average current is determined for a second interconnect using a second change in real temperature. The second average current is compared to a second average current limit to determine if a second electromigration violation is present on the second interconnect.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes determining a temperature profile for a first die of a three-dimensional integrated circuit (3DIC), wherein the first die comprises a plurality of sub-regions of the first die based on the determined temperature profile. The method further includes simulating operation of a circuit in a second die of the 3DIC based on the determined temperature profile and a corresponding sub-region of the plurality of sub-regions.

Abstract: A method includes assigning a default voltage value to a net in an integrated circuit (IC) schematic, generating a simulation voltage value of the net by performing a circuit simulation on the net using the assigned default voltage value, and modifying the IC schematic to include a voltage value associated with the net. The voltage value associated with the net and included in the modified IC schematic is based on a comparison between the assigned default voltage value and the simulation voltage value of the net.

Abstract: A structure and method for cooling a three-dimensional integrated circuit (3DIC) are provided. A cooling element is configured for thermal connection to the 3DIC. The cooling element includes a plurality of individually controllable cooling modules disposed at a first plurality of locations relative to the 3DIC. Each of the cooling modules includes a cold pole and a heat sink. The cold pole is configured to absorb heat from the 3DIC. The heat sink is configured to dissipate the heat absorbed by the cold pole and is coupled to the cold pole via an N-type semiconductor element and via a P-type semiconductor element. A temperature sensing element includes a plurality of thermal monitoring elements disposed at a second plurality of locations relative to the 3DIC for measuring temperatures at the second plurality of locations. The measured temperatures control the plurality of cooling modules.

Abstract: A method includes assigning a default voltage value of a voltage domain in an integrated circuit (IC) schematic to a net in the voltage domain, generating a simulation voltage value of the net by performing a circuit simulation on the net, and modifying the IC schematic to include a voltage value associated with the net, based on the simulation voltage value of the net.

Abstract: A structure and method for cooling a three-dimensional integrated circuit (3DIC) are provided. A cooling element is configured for thermal connection to the 3DIC. The cooling element includes a plurality of individually controllable cooling modules disposed at a first plurality of locations relative to the 3DIC. Each of the cooling modules includes a cold pole and a heat sink. The cold pole is configured to absorb heat from the 3DIC. The heat sink is configured to dissipate the heat absorbed by the cold pole and is coupled to the cold pole via an N-type semiconductor element and via a P-type semiconductor element. A temperature sensing element includes a plurality of thermal monitoring elements disposed at a second plurality of locations relative to the 3DIC for measuring temperatures at the second plurality of locations. The measured temperatures control the plurality of cooling modules.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of performing electromigration sign-off. The method includes determining a change in temperature due to joule heating from an RMS current of a first interconnect. The change in temperature due to joule heating is added to a change in temperature due to device self-heating to determine a first change in real temperature. A first average current limit is determined for the first interconnect using the first change in real temperature. A first average current on the first interconnect is compared to the first average current limit to determine if a first electromigration violation is present on the first interconnect. A second average current is determined for a second interconnect using a second change in real temperature. The second average current is compared to a second average current limit to determine if a second electromigration violation is present on the second interconnect.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes receiving a first layout of a device in a first technology node, wherein the first layout comprises a plurality of first conductive patterns spaced along a first direction and a plurality of first interconnect patterns connecting at least two of the plurality of first conductive patterns. The method includes identifying a plurality of second conductive patterns from the plurality of first conductive patterns according to a second technology node different from the first technology node. The method includes determining a scaling factor for the first layout in the first direction based on the plurality of first conductive patterns and the plurality of second conductive patterns. The method includes adjusting the plurality of first interconnect patterns along the first direction using the scaling factor to determine a plurality of second interconnect patterns connecting at least two of the plurality of second conductive patterns.

Abstract: A structure and method for cooling a three-dimensional integrated circuit (3DIC) are provided. A cooling element is configured for thermal connection to the 3DIC. The cooling element includes a plurality of individually controllable cooling modules disposed at a first plurality of locations relative to the 3DIC. Each of the cooling modules includes a cold pole and a heat sink. The cold pole is configured to absorb heat from the 3DIC. The heat sink is configured to dissipate the heat absorbed by the cold pole and is coupled to the cold pole via an N-type semiconductor element and via a P-type semiconductor element. A temperature sensing element includes a plurality of thermal monitoring elements disposed at a second plurality of locations relative to the 3DIC for measuring temperatures at the second plurality of locations. The measured temperatures control the plurality of cooling modules.

Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to an electromigration sign-off tool. The tool includes electronic memory configured to store an integrated chip design and an environmental temperature having a same value corresponding to a plurality of interconnect wires within the integrated chip design. An adder is configured to add the environmental temperature to a plurality of real temperatures to determine a plurality of actual temperatures having different values corresponding to different ones of the plurality of interconnect wires. The plurality of real temperatures account for Joule heating on the plurality of interconnect wires. An average current limit calculation element is configured to determine an average current limit at a first one of the plurality of actual temperatures. A comparator is configured to determine an electromigration violation on a first interconnect wire by comparing the average current limit to an average current of the first interconnect wire.

Abstract: A method of modifying an integrated circuit (IC) design layout is provided. The method includes receiving a first IC design layout having first gate layout patterns and first interconnect layout patterns. Second gate layout patterns for a second IC design layout are then obtained from the first gate layout patterns according to a set of design rules associated with a technology node different from that of the first IC design layout. After determining scaling factors for the first IC design layout based on the first gate layout patterns and the second gate layout patterns such that each scaling factor corresponds to one of at least one shrinkable region and at least one non-shrinkable region in the first IC design layout, the first interconnect layout patterns are adjusted using the scaling factors to determine second interconnect layout patterns for the second IC design layout.

Abstract: A method is disclosed herein. The method includes: adjusting first parameters associated with parameterized cells in a netlist of an integrated circuit (IC) to generate second parameters associated with the parameterized cells in the netlist of the IC; updating the netlist of the IC according to the second parameters; and performing a simulation according to the netlist.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes determining a temperature profile for a first die of a three-dimensional integrated circuit (3DIC), wherein the first die comprises a plurality of sub-regions of the first die based on the determined temperature profile. The method further includes simulating operation of a circuit in a second die of the 3DIC based on the determined temperature profile and a corresponding sub-region of the plurality of sub-regions.

Abstract: A device includes a comparator configured to compare a transmission phase of light in a photonic component with a reference phase. The device further includes a heater configured to control a temperature of the photonic component. The heater includes a plurality of heater segments, and a plurality of switches, wherein each switch of the plurality of switches is between a pair of heater segments of the plurality of heater segments. The device further includes a controller configured to control operation of each switch of the plurality of switches based on results from the comparator for selectively connecting heater segments of the plurality of heater segments in series.

Abstract: A method includes assigning a default voltage value of a voltage domain in an integrated circuit (IC) schematic to a net in the voltage domain, generating a simulation voltage value of the net by performing a circuit simulation on the net, and modifying the IC schematic to include a voltage value associated with the net, based on the simulation voltage value of the net.

Abstract: A method of modifying an integrated circuit (IC) design layout is provided. The method includes receiving a first IC design layout having first gate layout patterns and first interconnect layout patterns. Second gate layout patterns for a second IC design layout are then obtained from the first gate layout patterns according to a set of design rules associated with a technology node different from that of the first IC design layout. After determining scaling factors for the first IC design layout based on the first gate layout patterns and the second gate layout patterns such that each scaling factor corresponds to one of at least one shrinkable region and at least one non-shrinkable region in the first IC design layout, the first interconnect layout patterns are adjusted using the scaling factors to determine second interconnect layout patterns for the second IC design layout.