Abstract: A conductive line structure includes: first and second offset sets of long pillars that are substantially coaxial on an intra-set basis; a third set of offset short pillars, the short pillars being: overlapping of long pillars in the first and second sets; and organized into groups of first quantities of the short pillars; each of the groups being overlapping of and electrically coupled between a pair of one of the long pillars in the first set and a one of the long pillars in the second set such that, in each of the groups, each short pillar being overlapping of and electrically coupled between the pair; and each long pillar in each of the first and second sets being overlapped by a second quantity of short pillars in the third set and being electrically coupled to same; and the first quantity being less than the second quantity.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device including: providing a first circuit cell including a first pin cell; forming a connecting path originated from the first pin cell of the first circuit cell; performing an Electromigration (EM) checking process with a first parasitic capacitance of the first pin cell and a second parasitic capacitance of the connecting path by loading a loading capacitance file to determine whether the loading capacitance of the first pin cell is larger than a first predetermined capacitance; and substituting a second pin cell for the first pin cell when the loading capacitance of the first pin cell is larger than the first predetermined capacitance, wherein the second pin cell is different from the first pin cell.

Abstract: A clock distribution system includes a clock mesh structure which has first metal patterns extending along a first axis, second metal patterns extending along a second axis, third metal patterns extending along a third axis. The first metal patterns, second metal patterns, and third metal patterns are electrically coupled with each other. The second axis is transverse to the first axis. The third axis is oblique to both the first axis and the second axis. The first metal patterns include a main first metal pattern, and other first metal patterns. The second metal patterns include a main second metal pattern, and other second metal patterns. The third metal patterns include a main third metal pattern, and other third metal patterns.

Abstract: An IC structure includes first, second, third, and fourth transistors on a substrate, a first net and a second net. The first net includes a plurality of first metal lines routed on a first metallization layer, and a plurality of first metal vias electrically connecting the plurality of first metal lines to the first and second transistors. The second net includes a plurality of second metal lines routed on a second metallization layer, and a plurality of second metal vias electrically connecting the plurality of second metal lines to the third and fourth transistors. A count of the first metal vias of the first net is less than a count of the second metal vias of the second net, and a line height of the first metal line of the first net is greater than a line height of the second metal line of the second net.

Abstract: The routing of conductors in the conductor layers in an integrated circuit are routed using mixed-Manhattan-diagonal routing. Various techniques are disclosed for selecting a conductor scheme for the integrated circuit prior to fabrication of the integrated circuit. Techniques are also disclosed for determining the supply and/or the demand for the edges in the mixed-Manhattan-diagonal routing.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first-type active-region structure, a second-type active-region structure on a substrate, and a plurality of gate-conductors. The integrated circuit also includes a backside horizontal conducting line in a backside first conducting layer below the substrate, a backside vertical conducting line in a backside second conducting layer below the backside first conducting layer, and a pin-connector for a circuit cell. The pin-connector is directly connected between the backside horizontal conducting line and the backside vertical conducting line. The backside horizontal conducting line extends across a vertical boundary of the circuit cell.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) device includes a substrate and a circuit region over the substrate. The circuit region includes at least one active region extending along a first direction, at least one gate region extending across the at least one active region and along a second direction transverse to the first direction, and at least one first input/output (IO) pattern configured to electrically couple the circuit region to external circuitry outside the circuit region. The at least one first IO pattern extends along a third direction oblique to both the first direction and the second direction.

Abstract: A method of forming an IC structure includes forming first and second power rails at a power rail level. First metal segments are formed at a first metal level above the power rail level. Each first metal segment of the plurality of first metal segments overlap one or both of the first power rail or the second power rail. First vias are formed between the power rail level and the first metal level. Second metal segments are formed at a second metal level above the first metal level. At least one second metal segment of the plurality of second metal segments overlaps the first power rail. At least one second metal segment of the plurality of second metal segments overlaps the second power rail. A plurality of second vias are formed between the first metal level and the second metal level.

Abstract: A partitioning method for partitioning a group of power-ground (PG) cells is disclosed. The method includes: placing at least one out-boundary PG cell on a substrate, wherein power strips of the at least one out-boundary PG cell are aligned with corresponding power rails on the substrate; and placing at least one in-boundary PG cell on the substrate, wherein power strips of the at least one in-boundary PG cell are aligned with corresponding power rails on the substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a routing structure. The routing structure includes a substrate having a boundary and a first conductive trace configured to be coupled to a first conductive pad disposed within the boundary of the substrate. The first conductive trace is inclined with respect to the boundary of the substrate.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first power rail and a second power rail extending in a first direction, and a first power grid stub connected to the first power rail through a first via-connector. The integrated circuit also includes a first vertical conducting line extending in a second direction in a circuit cell between a first vertical cell boundary and a second vertical cell boundary. The first vertical conducting line and the first power grid stub are in a same metal layer and aligned with each other along the second direction.

Abstract: A clock distribution system includes a clock mesh structure which has a plurality of first metal patterns extending along a first axis, a plurality of second metal patterns extending along a second axis, a plurality of third metal patterns extending along a third axis. The plurality of first metal patterns, the plurality of second metal patterns, and the plurality of third metal patterns are electrically coupled with each other. The second axis is transverse to the first axis. The third axis is oblique to both the first axis and the second axis.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a cell layer including a first cell and a second cell, a first metal layer over the cell layer and having a first conductive feature, a second metal layer over the first metal layer and having a second conductive feature, and a first via between the first metal layer and the second metal layer and connecting the first conductive feature to the second conductive feature. The first conductive feature spans over a boundary between the first and second cells, and has a lengthwise direction along a first direction. The second conductive feature spans over the boundary between the first and second cells, and has a lengthwise direction along a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A method of generating an IC layout diagram includes abutting a first row of cells with a second row of cells along a border, the first row including first and second active sheets, the second row including third and fourth active sheets, the active sheets extending along a row direction and having width values. The active sheets are overlapped with first through fourth back-side via regions, the first active sheet width value is greater than the third active sheet width value, a first back-side via region width values is greater than a third back-side via region width value, and a value of a distance from the first active sheet to the border is less than a minimum spacing rule for metal-like defined regions. At least one of abutting the first row with the second row or overlapping the active sheets with the back-side via regions is performed by a processor.

Abstract: An integrated circuit layout is provided. The integrated circuit layout includes one or more first cell rows partially extending across a space arranged for an integrated circuit layout along a first direction. Each of the one or more first cell rows has a first height along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The integrated circuit layout includes one or more third cell rows partially extending across the space along the first direction. Each of the one or more third cell rows has a second height along the second direction, the second height different from the first height.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes: an integrated circuit structure includes: a first plurality of cell rows extending in a first direction, and a second plurality of cell rows extending in the first direction. Each of the first plurality of cell rows has a first row height and comprises a plurality of first cells disposed therein. Each of the second plurality of cell rows has a second row height different from the first row height and comprises a plurality of second cells disposed therein. The plurality of first cells comprises a first plurality of active regions each of which continuously extends across the plurality of first cells in the first direction. The plurality of second cells comprises a second plurality of active regions each of which continuously extends across the plurality of second cells in the first direction. At least one active region of the first and second pluralities of active regions has a width varying along the first direction.

Abstract: The routing of conductors in the conductor layers in an integrated circuit are routed using mixed-Manhattan-diagonal routing. Various techniques are disclosed for selecting a conductor scheme for the integrated circuit prior to fabrication of the integrated circuit. Techniques are also disclosed for determining the supply and/or the demand for the edges in the mixed-Manhattan-diagonal routing.

Abstract: A partitioning method for partitioning a group of power-ground (PG) cells is disclosed. The method includes: placing at least one out-boundary PG cell on a substrate, wherein power strips of the at least one out-boundary PG cell are aligned with corresponding power rails on the substrate; and placing at least one in-boundary PG cell on the substrate, wherein power strips of the at least one in-boundary PG cell are aligned with corresponding power rails on the substrate.

Abstract: A method executed at least partially by a processor includes determining a power parameter associated with a cell in an integrated circuit (IC) layout diagram. In response to the determined power parameter exceeding a design criterion, the method further includes performing a modification of the IC layout diagram, the modification including at least one of altering a placement of the cell in the IC layout diagram or modifying a power delivery path to the cell. The determining the power parameter is performed before a routing operation in the IC layout diagram.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) includes first through fourth nano-sheet structures extending in a first direction and having respective first through fourth widths along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and first through fourth via structures electrically connected to corresponding ones of the first through fourth nano-sheet structures. The second width has a value greater than that of the third width. A width of the second via structure along the second direction has a value greater than that of a width of the third via structure along the second direction. The second and third nano-sheet structures are positioned between the first and fourth nano-sheet structures. The second and third via structures are configured to electrically connect the second and third nano-sheet structures to a first portion of a back-side power distribution structure configured to carry one of a power supply voltage or a reference voltage.