Abstract: An integrated circuit includes an input circuit coupled to a first voltage supply, and configured to receive a first input signal, and to generate at least a second or a third input signal, and a level shifter circuit coupled to the input circuit and a second voltage supply, and configured to receive a first enable signal, the second or third input signal, and to generate a first signal responsive to the first enable signal, the second or third input signal. The input circuit includes a first set of transistors having a first threshold voltage. The first set of transistors includes a first set of active regions extending in a first direction. The level shifter circuit includes a second set of transistors having a second threshold voltage. The second set of transistors includes a second set of active regions extending in the first direction.

Abstract: A touch sensing method and a serial manipulator using the same are disclosed. A serial manipulator using the method may detect and localize external torques by obtaining a torque value of each joint of a serial manipulator through a torque sensor at the joint; obtaining a preset joint angle of each joint from the serial manipulator; calculating a Jacobian matrices of the serial manipulator based on the joint angle of the joints; estimating joint torques of the serial manipulator based on the torque value of each joint and the Jacobian matrices; calculating an error between the torque value of each joint and the estimated joint torque corresponding to the joint; and determining a link of the serial manipulator that is connected to the joint with the minimum calculated error as having been touched.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first dummy group having a first set of dummy transistors; a first delay cell having a first set of active transistors; a second delay cell having a second set of active transistors; a second dummy group having a second set of dummy transistors; and relative to a first direction the first and second dummy groups and the first and second delay cells being arranged in a first sequence arranged as the first dummy group, the first delay cell, the second delay cell, and the second dummy group; and the first and second delay cells being free from having another dummy group therebetween.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: first and second input circuits in a central region and correspondingly configured to operate in a first voltage domain; first and second single bit level shifters (SBLSs) correspondingly in first and second regions at first and second sides of the central region relative to a first direction and electrically coupled correspondingly to the first and second input circuits, and correspondingly configured to operate in a second voltage domain; and a control circuit configured to toggle each of the first and second SBLSs between a normal state and a standby state when a control signal is received from the control circuit.

Abstract: A circuit includes an input circuit, a level shifter circuit and an output circuit. The input circuit is coupled to a first voltage supply, and configured to receive a first input signal, and to generate at least a second or a third input signal. The level shifter circuit is coupled to the input circuit and a second voltage supply, and configured to receive a first enable signal, the second or third input signal, and to generate a first signal responsive to the first enable signal, the second input signal or the third input signal. The level shifter circuit includes a header circuit coupled to a first node, and is configured to enable or disable the level shifter circuit responsive to the first enable signal. The output circuit is coupled to at least the level shifter circuit and the second voltage supply, and is configured to generate an output signal.

Abstract: A Schmitt trigger circuit includes a first and second set of transistors, a first and second feedback transistor, and a first and second circuit. The first set of transistors is connected between a first voltage supply and an output node. The first voltage supply has a first voltage. The second set of transistors is connected between the output node and a second voltage supply. The second voltage supply has a second voltage. The first feedback transistor is connected to the output node, a first node and a second node. The second feedback transistor is connected to the output node, a third node and a fourth node. The first circuit is coupled to and configured to supply the second supply voltage to the second node. The second circuit is coupled to and configured to supply the first supply voltage to the fourth node.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method of generating a cell in a layout diagram includes: selecting a cell from a library of standard cells, components of the cell defining an active circuit; identifying a dummy device within the cell that is disconnected from the active circuit within the cell; and connecting the dummy device to a target node of the active circuit.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a cell region including active regions that extend in a first direction and have components of corresponding transistors formed therein; a first majority of the active regions being rectangular; a first one of the active regions having a T-shape including a stem that extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and, relative to the first direction, first and second arms that extend from a same end of the stem and away from each other; and, relative to the first direction, a second majority of the active regions having aligned first ends defining a first reference line proximate and parallel to a first boundary of the cell region, and a third majority of the active regions having aligned second ends defining a second reference line proximate and parallel to a second boundary of the cell region.

Abstract: A method includes: forming first, second, and third NWs; forming form first to fourth transistors in corresponding first to fourth groups of active regions, connecting selected transistors amongst the first and second transistors to form first and second input circuits respectively receiving a first input signal in a first domain and a second input signal in the first domain; connecting selected transistors amongst the first and third transistors and amongst the first and fourth transistors to respectively form a first single bit level shifter (SBLS) and a second SBLS; each SBLS operates in the second domain and receives correspondingly versions of the first and second input signals; and connecting selected transistors amongst the first and third transistors to form a control circuit for toggling the first and second SBLSs between a normal and a standby state, a portion of the control circuit and the first SBLS sharing the second NW.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first conductivity-type substrate, and a cell region including: a second conductivity type deep well; first and second non-deep wells having the second conductivity-type, the first and second non-deep wells being in corresponding first and second portions of the substrate, the first and second portions of the substrate being in the deep well; and first, second, third and fourth transistor-regions. The first and second transistor-regions are correspondingly in the first and second non-deep wells and include first conductivity-type first transistors. The third and fourth transistor-regions are in the third and fourth portions of the substrate which are in the deep well, and include second transistors having the second conductivity-type. The first transistor-region is configured for a first power domain. The second, third and fourth transistor-regions are configured for a second power domain that is different than the first power domain.

Abstract: A circuit includes an input circuit, a level shifter circuit and an output circuit. The input circuit is coupled to a first voltage supply, and configured to receive a first input signal, and to generate at least a second or a third input signal. The level shifter circuit is coupled to the input circuit and a second voltage supply, and configured to receive a first enable signal, the second or third input signal, and to generate a first signal responsive to the first enable signal, the second input signal or the third input signal. The level shifter circuit includes a header circuit coupled to a first node, and is configured to enable or disable the level shifter circuit responsive to the first enable signal. The output circuit is coupled to at least the level shifter circuit and the second voltage supply, and is configured to generate an output signal.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a control circuit and first to second voltage generation circuits. The control circuit is coupled between a first voltage terminal providing a first supply voltage and a first node coupled to a first capacitive unit. The first voltage generation circuit includes at least one first transistor that has a source terminal receiving a second supply voltage, a drain terminal coupled to a second node in contact with a second capacitive unit, and a gate terminal coupled to the first node. The second voltage generation circuit is coupled to the first voltage terminal and the first and second nodes. Firstly the control circuit turns on the at least one first transistor to adjust a voltage level of the second node to have the second supply voltage. The second voltage generation circuit adjusts a voltage level of the first node to have the first supply voltage.

Abstract: A current-distributing structure in an integrated circuit (IC) includes a substrate; and first and second active regions on the substrate. First and second sets of gate structures correspondingly overlap the first and second active regions. A first conductive structure in a first metallization layer overlaps the first active region and is electrically coupled to the first set of gate structures. A second conductive structure in the first metallization layer overlaps the second active region and is electrically coupled to the second set of gate structures. A third conductive structure in a second metallization layer is electrically coupled to the first and the second conductive structures.

Abstract: A Schmitt trigger circuit includes a first and second set of transistors, a first and second feedback transistor, and a first and second circuit. The first set of transistors is connected between a first voltage supply and an output node. The first voltage supply has a first voltage. The second set of transistors is connected between the output node and a second voltage supply. The second voltage supply has a second voltage. The first feedback transistor is connected to the output node, a first node and a second node. The second feedback transistor is connected to the output node, a third node and a fourth node. The first circuit is coupled to and configured to supply the second supply voltage to the second node. The second circuit is coupled to and configured to supply the first supply voltage to the fourth node.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a control circuit, a first voltage generation circuit, and a second voltage generation circuit. The control circuit is coupled between a first voltage terminal and a first node, and generates an initiation voltage at the first node. The first voltage generation circuit and the second voltage generation circuit are coupled to a first capacitive unit at the first node and coupled to a second capacitive unit at a second node. The first voltage generation circuit generates, in response to the initiation voltage at the first node, a first control signal based on a first supply voltage to the second voltage generation circuit. The second voltage generation circuit generates, in response to the first control signal received from the first voltage generation circuit, a second control signal to the first node, based on a second supply voltage.

Abstract: A Schmitt trigger circuit includes a first and second set of transistors, a first and second feedback transistor, and a first and second circuit. The first set of transistors is connected between a first voltage supply and an output node. The first voltage supply has a first voltage. The second set of transistors is connected between the output node and a second voltage supply. The second voltage supply has a second voltage. The first feedback transistor is connected to the output node, a first node and a second node. The second feedback transistor is connected to the output node, a third node and a fourth node. The first circuit is coupled to and configured to supply the second supply voltage to the second node. The second circuit is coupled to and configured to supply the first supply voltage to the fourth node.

Abstract: A method includes: forming first, second, and third NWs; forming form first to fourth transistors in corresponding first to fourth groups of active regions, connecting selected transistors amongst the first and second transistors to form first and second input circuits respectively receiving a first input signal in a first domain and a second input signal in the first domain; connecting selected transistors amongst the first and third transistors and amongst the first and fourth transistors to respectively form a first single bit level shifter (SBLS) and a second SBLS; each SBLS operates in the second domain and receives correspondingly versions of the first and second input signals; and connecting selected transistors amongst the first and third transistors to form a control circuit for toggling the first and second SBLSs between a normal and a standby state, a portion of the control circuit and the first SBLS sharing the second NW.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, an active region, an isolation structure, a first metal line, gate structure, source/drain region, a source/drain contact, and a second metal line. The active region protrudes from a top surface of the substrate. The isolation structure is over the substrate and laterally surrounds the active region. The first metal line is in the isolation structure. The gate structure is over the active region. The source/drain region is in the active region. The source/drain contact is over the active region and is electrically connected to the source/drain region. The second metal line is over the gate structure and the source/drain contact, in which the second metal line vertically overlaps the first metal line.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, an active region, an isolation structure, a first metal line, gate structure, source/drain region, a source/drain contact, and a second metal line. The active region protrudes from a top surface of the substrate. The isolation structure is over the substrate and laterally surrounds the active region. The first metal line is in the isolation structure. The gate structure is over the active region. The source/drain region is in the active region. The source/drain contact is over the active region and is electrically connected to the source/drain region. The second metal line is over the gate structure and the source/drain contact, in which the second metal line vertically overlaps the first metal line.

Abstract: A multi-bit level-shifter (MBLS) includes two or more input circuits correspondingly configured to operate in a first voltage domain. The MBLS also includes two or more single bit level shifters (SBLSs) electrically coupled correspondingly to the two or more input circuits, and correspondingly configured to operate in a second voltage domain. The MBLS also includes a control circuit configured to toggle each of the two or more SBLSs between a normal mode and a standby mode according to a toggle-control signal received from the control circuit.