Abstract: A layout method includes disposing a first conductive path and a second conductive path across a boundary between a first layout device and a second layout device abutting the first layout device. The layout method also includes disposing a first cut layer on the first conductive path nearby the boundary, and disposing a second cut layer on the second conductive path nearby the boundary. The layout method also includes moving the first cut layer to align with the second cut layer.

Abstract: A circuit includes a multi-bit flip flop, an integrated clock gating circuit connected to the multi-bit flip flop, and a control circuit connected to the integrated clock gating circuit and the multi-bit flip flop. The control circuit compares output data of the multi-bit flip flop corresponding to input data with the input data. The control circuit generates an enable signal based on comparing the output data of the multi-bit flip flop corresponding to the input data with the input data of the multi-bit flip flop. The control circuit provides the enable signal to the integrated clock gating circuit, wherein the integrated clock gating circuit provides, based on the enable signal, a clock signal to the multi-bit flip flop causing the multi-bit flip flop to toggle.

Abstract: A multiplexer circuit includes first and second fins each extending in an X-axis direction. First, second, third and fourth gates extend in a Y-axis direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction and contact the first and second fins. The first, second, third and fourth gates are configured to receive first, second, third and fourth data signals, respectively. Fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth gates extend in the Y-axis direction and contact the first and second fins, the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth gates, and are configured to receive the first, second, third and fourth select signals, respectively. An input logic circuit is configured to provide an output at an intermediate node. A ninth gate extends in the Y-axis direction and contacts the first and second fins. An output logic circuit is configured to provide a selected one of the first, second, third and fourth data signals at an output terminal.

Abstract: A clock gating circuit includes a NOR logic gate, a transmission gate, a cross-coupled pair of transistors, and a first transistor. The NOR logic gate is coupled to a first node, and receives a first and a second enable signal, and outputs a first control signal. The transmission gate is coupled between the first and a second node, and receives the first control signal, an inverted clock input signal and a clock output signal. The cross-coupled pair of transistors is coupled between the second node and an output node, and receives at least a second control signal. The first transistor includes a first gate terminal configured to receive the inverted clock input signal, a first drain terminal coupled to the output node, and a first source terminal coupled to a reference voltage supply. The first transistor adjusts the clock output signal responsive to the inverted clock input signal.

Abstract: A clock gating circuit includes an input circuit, a cross-coupled pair of transistors, a first transistor of a first type and a first pull-up transistor of the first type. The input circuit is configured to set a first control signal of a first node in response to a first or second enable signal. The cross-coupled pair of transistors is coupled between the first node and an output node. The first transistor is coupled between the first and a second node. The first pull-up transistor includes a first gate terminal, a first drain terminal and a first source terminal. The first gate terminal is configured to receive an inverted clock input signal. The first drain terminal is coupled to the second node and the first transistor. The first pull-up transistor is configured to adjust a clock output signal responsive to the inverted clock input signal.

Abstract: A circuit includes a first power node having a first voltage level, a second power node having a second voltage level different from the first voltage level, a reference node having a reference voltage level, a master latch that outputs a first bit based on a received bit, a slave latch that outputs a second bit based on the first bit and an output bit based on a selected one of the first bit or a third bit, a first level shifter that outputs the third bit based on a complementary bit pair, and a retention latch including a second level shifter and a pair of inverters that outputs the complementary bit pair based on the second bit. The slave latch and the first level shifter are coupled between the first power and reference nodes, and the retention latch is coupled between the second power and reference nodes.

Abstract: A logic circuit (for providing a multibit flip-flop (MBFF) function) includes: a first inverter to receive a clock signal and generate a corresponding clock_bar signal; a second inverter to receive the clock_bar signal and generate a corresponding clock_bar_bar signal; a third inverter to receive a control signal and generate a corresponding control_bar signal; and a series-chain of 1-bit transfer flip-flop (TXFF) circuits, each including: a NAND circuit to receive data signals; and a 1-bit transmit gate flip-flop (TGFF) circuit to output signals Q and q, and receive an output of the NAND circuit, the signal q from the TGFF circuit of a preceding TXFF circuit in the series-chain, the clock_bar and clock_bar_bar signals, and the control and control_bar signals; and the first transfer TXFF circuit in the series-chain being configured to receive a start signal in place of the signal q from an otherwise preceding TGFF circuit.

Abstract: A circuit includes a multi-bit flip flop, an integrated clock gating circuit connected to the multi-bit flip flop, and a control circuit connected to the integrated clock gating circuit and the multi-bit flip flop. The control circuit compares output data of the multi-bit flip flop corresponding to input data with the input data. The control circuit generates an enable signal based on comparing the output data of the multi-bit flip flop corresponding to the input data with the input data of the multi-bit flip flop. The control circuit provides the enable signal to the integrated clock gating circuit, wherein the integrated clock gating circuit provides, based on the enable signal, a clock signal to the multi-bit flip flop causing the multi-bit flip flop to toggle.

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 circuit includes first and second power nodes having differing first and second voltage levels, and a reference node having a reference voltage level. A master latch outputs a first data bit based on a received data bit; a slave latch includes a first inverter that outputs a second data bit based on the first data bit and a second inverter that outputs an output data bit based on a selected one of the first data bit or a third data bit; a level shifter outputs the third data bit based on a fourth data bit; and a retention latch outputs the fourth data bit based on the second data bit. The first and second inverters and the level shifter are coupled between the first power node and the reference node, and the retention latch includes a plurality of transistors coupled between the second power node and the reference node.

Abstract: A logic circuit including first and second inverters, first and second NAND circuits, a transmission gate, and a transmission-gate-substitute (TGS) circuit, and wherein: for each of the first and second NAND circuits, a first input is configured to receive corresponding first and second data signals, and a second input is configured to receive an enable signal; the first inverter is configured to receive an output of the first NAND circuit; the transmission gate and the TGS circuit are arranged as a combination circuit which is configured to receive an output of the second NAND circuit as a data input, and outputs of the first inverter and the second NAND circuit as control inputs; the second inverter is configured to receive an output of the combination circuit; and an output of the second inverter represents one of an enable XOR (EXOR) function or an enable XNR (EXNR) function.

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 multiplexer circuit includes first and second fins each extending in an X-axis direction. First, second, third and fourth gates extend in a Y-axis direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction and contact the first and second fins. The first, second, third and fourth gates are configured to receive first, second, third and fourth data signals, respectively. Fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth gates extend in the Y-axis direction and contact the first and second fins, the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth gates, and are configured to receive the first, second, third and fourth select signals, respectively. An input logic circuit is configured to provide an output at an intermediate node. A ninth gate extends in the Y-axis direction and contacts the first and second fins. An output logic circuit is configured to provide a selected one of the first, second, third and fourth data signals at an output terminal.

Abstract: A clock gating circuit includes a NOR logic gate, a transmission gate, a cross-coupled pair of transistors, and a first transistor. The NOR logic gate is coupled to a first node, and receives a first and a second enable signal, and outputs a first control signal. The transmission gate is coupled between the first and a second node, and receives the first control signal, an inverted clock input signal and a clock output signal. The cross-coupled pair of transistors is coupled between the second node and an output node, and receives at least a second control signal. The first transistor includes a first gate terminal configured to receive the inverted clock input signal, a first drain terminal coupled to the output node, and a first source terminal coupled to a reference voltage supply. The first transistor adjusts the clock output signal responsive to the inverted clock input signal.

Abstract: A semiconductor standard cell of a flip-flop circuit includes semiconductor fins extending substantially parallel to each other along a first direction, electrically conductive wirings disposed on a first level and extending substantially parallel to each other along the first direction, and gate electrode layers extending substantially parallel to a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and formed on a second level different from the first level. The flip-flop circuit includes transistors made of the semiconductor fins and the gate electrode layers, receives a data input signal, stores the data input signal, and outputs a data output signal indicative of the stored data in response to a clock signal, the clock signal is the only clock signal received by the semiconductor standard cell, and the data input signal, the clock signal, and the data output signal are transmitted among the transistors through at least the electrically conductive wirings.

Abstract: A method of modifying an integrated circuit layout includes determining whether a first conductive line and a second conductive line are subject to a parasitic capacitance above a parasitic capacitance threshold. The method further includes adjusting the integrated circuit layout by moving the first conductive line in the integrated circuit layout in response to determining to move the first conductive line. The method further includes inserting an isolation structure between the first and second conductive lines in the integrated circuit layout in response to determining not to move the first conductive line.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a flip-flop circuit and a gating circuit. The flip-flop circuit is arranged to receive an input data for generating a master signal during a writing mode according to a first clock signal and a second clock signal, and to output an output data according to the first clock signal and the second clock signal during a storing mode. The gating circuit is arranged for generating the first clock signal and the second clock signal according to the master signal and an input clock signal. When the input clock signal is at a signal level, the first clock signal and the second clock signal are at different logic levels. When the input clock signal is at another signal level, the first clock signal and the second clock signal are at a same logic level determined according to a signal level of the master signal.

Abstract: A flip-flop circuit configured to latch an input signal to an output signal is disclosed. The circuit includes a first latch circuit; and a second latch circuit coupled to the first latch circuit. In some embodiments, in response to a clock signal, the first and second latch circuits are complementarily activated so as to latch the input signal to the output signal, and the first and second latch circuits each comprises at most two transistors configured to receive the clock signal.

Abstract: A clock gating circuit includes a NOR logic gate, a transmission gate, a cross-coupled pair of transistors, and a first transistor. The NOR logic gate is coupled to a first node, and receives a first and a second enable signal, and outputs a first control signal. The transmission gate is coupled between the first and a second node, and receives the first control signal, an inverted clock input signal and a clock output signal. The cross-coupled pair of transistors is coupled between the second node and an output node, and receives at least a second control signal. The first transistor includes a first gate terminal configured to receive the inverted clock input signal, a first drain terminal coupled to the output node, and a first source terminal coupled to a reference voltage supply. The first transistor adjusts the clock output signal responsive to the inverted clock input signal.

Abstract: A method of making an integrated circuit includes operations to identify reverse signal nets of the circuit layout, determine the parasitic capacitance in conductive lines, and determine how to adjust an integrated circuit layout to reduce the parasitic capacitance of the conductive lines to the reverse signal net. The method further includes an operation to determine whether to move one of the conductive lines in the integrated circuit layout, an operation to determine whether to insert an isolation structure between the conductive lines of the reverse signal net having parasitic capacitance, and operations to adjust the layout by moving a conductive line.