Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a cell that is between a substrate and a supply conductive line and that includes a source region, a contact conductive line, a power conductive line, and a power via. The contact conductive line extends from the source region. The power conductive line is coupled to the contact conductive line. The power via interconnects the supply conductive line and the power conductive line.

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: For a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a corresponding layout diagram is stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the layout diagram being arranged relative to first and second perpendicular directions, the layout diagram including cells such that, for a subset of the cells, each subject one of the cells (subject cell) in the subset has a neighborhood including first and second neighbor cells on corresponding first and second sides of the subject cell relative to the first direction. The method includes: for each subject cell in the subset, generating a sidefile which represents neighborhood-specific proximity-effect information.

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 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: A failure-in-time (FIT) evaluation method for an IC is provided. The FIT evaluation method includes accessing data representing a layout of the IC including a metal line and a plurality of vertical interconnect accesses (VIAs); picking a plurality of nodes along the metal line; dividing the metal line into a plurality of metal segments based on the nodes; and determining FIT value for each of the metal segments to verify the layout and fabricate the IC. The number of the nodes is less than the number of the VIAs, and a distance between two adjacent VIAs of the VIAs is less than a width of the metal line.

Abstract: A method (of fabricating a power grid (PG) arrangement in a semiconductor) includes: forming a first conductive layer including segments which are conductive, including forming first segments designated for a first reference voltage and second segments designated for a second reference voltage, and interspersing the first and second segments; relative to a first direction; and forming a second conductive layer over the first conductive layer, the second conductive layer including segments that are conductive, including forming third segments designated for the first reference voltage and fourth segments designated for the second reference voltage, interspersing the third and fourth segments relative to a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction, and arranging the segments in the second conductive layer substantially asymmetrically including, relative to the first direction, locating each fourth segment substantially asymmetrically between corresponding adjacent ones of

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: A method of generating a power network layout is provided. A first conductive line, generated by a processor, is in a first conductive layer along a first direction. A plurality of second conductive lines, generated by a processor, is in a second conductive layer along a second direction, substantially vertical to the first direction. The second conductive lines overlap with the first conductive line. A first plurality of interlayer vias, generated by a processor, is interposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer at where the second conductive lines overlapping the first conductive line. Each of the second conductive lines has a width such that a first routing track adjacent to the first conductive line is available for routing or a second routing track adjacent to one of the plurality of second conductive lines is available for routing.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes: providing a first circuit having a plurality of circuit cells; analyzing a loading capacitance on a first pin cell connecting a first circuit cell and a second circuit cell in the plurality of circuit cells to determine if the loading capacitance of the first pin cell is larger than a first predetermined capacitance; replacing the first pin cell by a second pin cell for generating a second circuit when the loading capacitance is larger than the first predetermined capacitance, wherein the second pin cell is different from the first pin cell; and generating the semiconductor device according to the second circuit.

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: 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: A system includes a processor configured to determine 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 processor is configured to perform 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 power parameter includes at least one of a power density of a tile containing the cell, a voltage drop of the tile containing the cell, or a voltage drop of the cell.

Abstract: A layout method includes generating a design data comprising an electronic circuit, and generating a design layout by placing a first cell corresponding to the electronic circuit. The first cell includes a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region extending in a first direction in a first layer, a gate electrode extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in a second layer, and a first conductive line arranged in a third layer over the second layer and electrically connected to one of the first source/drain region, the second source/drain region and the gate electrode. The first cell is defined by a left cell side and a right cell side. At least one of the left cell side, the right cell side, the gate electrode and the first conductive line extends in a third direction not parallel to the first and second directions.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) structure includes a power rail oriented in a power rail direction and first metal segments above the power rail, oriented in a first metal level direction perpendicular to the power rail direction. First vias positioned between the power rail and the first metal segments are positioned at locations where first metal segments overlap the power rail. A second metal segment is positioned above the first metal segments, overlaps the power rail, and is oriented in the power rail direction. Second vias are positioned above the first vias between the first metal segments and the second metal segments, and a power strap is positioned above the second metal segment. The power strap is electrically connected to the power rail, each first metal segment of the plurality of first metal segments has a minimum width, and the power strap has a width greater than a minimum width.

Abstract: A method (of generating a revised layout diagram of a conductive line structure for an IC) including: for a first set of pillar patterns that represents portions of an M(i) layer of metallization and where i is a non-negative number, the first set including first and second pillar patterns which extend in a first direction, are non-overlapping of each other with respect to the first direction, are aligned with each other and have a first distance of separation, determining a first distance of separation as between corresponding immediately adjacent members of the first set; recognizing that the first distance is less than a transverse routing (TVR) separation threshold for an M(i+j) layer of metallization, where j is an integer and j?2; and increasing the first distance so as to become a second distance which is greater than the TVR separation threshold of the M(i+j) layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The method comprises determining a dimensional quantity of a layout pattern having an angle relative to grid lines of a minimum grid. The minimum grid may be defined by a first quantity associated with a first direction and a second quantity associated with a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The determination of the dimensional quantity of the layout pattern is based on the first quantity, the second quantity and the angle of the layout pattern relative to the grid lines of the minimum grid.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a fishbone structure in a power network includes a first conductive segment in a first conductive layer running in a first direction, a plurality of second conductive segments in a second conductive layer running in a second direction and a plurality of interlayer vias between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer. The second direction is substantially vertical to the first direction. The plurality of second conductive segments overlap with the first conductive segment. The plurality of interlayer vias are formed at where the plurality of second conductive segments overlap with the first conductive segment. Each of the plurality of second conductive segments has a width such that the first conductive segment has a first unit spacing with a first adjacent conductive line or one of the plurality of second conductive segments has a second unit spacing with a second adjacent conductive line.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes: providing a first circuit having a plurality of circuit cells; analyzing a loading capacitance on a first pin cell connecting a first circuit cell and a second circuit cell in the plurality of circuit cells to determine if the loading capacitance of the first pin cell is larger than a first predetermined capacitance; replacing the first pin cell by a second pin cell for generating a second circuit when the loading capacitance is larger than the first predetermined capacitances, wherein the second pin cell is different from the first pin cell; and generating the semiconductor device according to the second circuit.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a routing structure. The routing structure includes a substrate having a first circuit region and a boundary surrounding the first circuit region. The routing structure also includes a first conductive trace coupled to a first conductive pad disposed in the first circuit region. The first conductive trace is inclined with respect to the boundary of the substrate. A method of forming a routing structure is also disclosed.