Abstract: A device includes a plurality of active areas, a plurality of gates, and a plurality of conductors. The active areas are elongated in a first direction. The gates are elongated in a second direction. The conductors are disposed between the active areas and elongated in the second direction. Each one of the conductors has an overlap with at least one corresponding gate of the gates to form at least one capacitor.

Abstract: A circuit includes a first current source that provides a current and a resistive branch in series with the first current source that provides a first voltage value and a second voltage value. A capacitive device is coupled with a voltage node having a voltage value, and a switching network alternates between charging the capacitive device to have the voltage value increase to the first voltage value, and discharging the capacitive device to have the voltage value decrease to the second voltage value.

Abstract: A voltage reference circuit is provided that includes a first circuit, a second circuit and a third circuit. The first circuit has a first MOS transistor pair and the second circuit has a second MOS transistor pair. The first circuit is configured to provide a first voltage component that changes at a first rate having a first slope as a temperature to which the voltage reference circuit is subjected changes. The second circuit is configured to provide a second voltage component that changes at a second rate having a second slope as the temperature changes. The third circuit is configured to use the first voltage component and the second voltage component to generate the reference voltage component that changes at a fifth rate having a fifth slope as the temperature changes. The fifth slope is substantially equal to zero to promote insensitivity of the reference voltage component to temperature changes.

Abstract: In a method, conductive lines used in a circuit are formed. Signal traces of a plurality of signal traces are grouped to a first group of first signal traces or a second group of second signal traces. A first mask is used to form a first conductive line for a first signal trace of the first group. A second mask is used to form a second conductive line for a second signal trace of the second group. The first traces each have a first width. The second traces each have a second width different from the first width. The grouping is based on at least one of following conditions: a current flowing through a signal trace of the signal traces of the plurality of signal traces, a length of the signal trace, a resistivity of the signal trace, or a resistivity-capacitive constant of the signal trace.

Abstract: A device is disclosed that includes active areas, gates, and conductors. The active areas are disposed apart from each other. The gates are crossing over the active areas. The conductors are disposed over the active areas and disposed between the active areas. Each one of the conductors disposed between the active areas is arranged between adjacent two of the gates, and has an overlap with at least one corresponding gate of the gates to form at least one capacitor.

Abstract: A device is disclosed that includes active areas, gates, and conductors. The active areas are disposed apart from each other. The gates are crossing over the active areas. The conductors are disposed over the active areas and disposed between the active areas. Each one of the conductors disposed between the active areas is arranged between adjacent two of the gates, and has an overlap with at least one corresponding gate of the gates to form at least one capacitor.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first GAA transistor and a second GAA transistor. The first GAA transistor includes: a first top OD region, a first bottom OD region, and a first nanowire. A second GAA transistor includes: a second top OD region, a second bottom OD region, and a second nanowire. The first top OD region, the first bottom OD region, and the first nanowire are symmetrical with the second top OD region, the second bottom OD region, and the second nanowire respectively, the first GAA transistor is arranged to provide a first current to flow from the first top OD region to the first bottom OD region, and the second GAA transistor is arranged to provide a second current to flow from the second top OD region to the second bottom OD region.

Abstract: A circuit includes a comparator unit and a switching network. The comparator unit is configured to receive a first voltage value, a second voltage value and a third voltage value of a voltage node, and to provide a control signal. The switching network includes the voltage node and is configured to operate in a first condition or in a second condition based on the control signal. Based on the first condition, the voltage node is configured to have a voltage value increase to the first voltage value. Based on a second condition, the voltage node is configured to have a voltage decrease to the second voltage.

Abstract: A bandgap reference circuit includes a first bipolar junction transistor (BJT) in series with a first current generator, the first BJT and the first current generator configured to produce a first proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) signal. The circuit also includes a second BJT in series with a second current generator, the second BJT and the second current generator configured to produce a second PTAT signal. The bandgap reference circuit maintains a current through at least one of the first BJT or the second BJT within a constant ideality factor region of the at least one of the first BJT or the second BJT.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a semiconductor structure includes first and second GAA structures configured to form corresponding similar first and second circuits. At least one of the first or second GAA structure includes at least one GAA device. A GAA device of the at least one GAA device includes at least one nanowire and a gate region. A nanowire of the at least one nanowire has a cross-section asymmetrical with respect to a middle line of the cross-section. The cross-section has first and second end lines substantially parallel the middle line. The first end line is shorter than the second end line. The gate region wraps all around part of the nanowire. The first and second GAA structures have substantially a same of a number of GAA devices in the at least one GAA device configured to have current flow from the first end line to the second end line.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including field-effect transistors (finFETs) and fin capacitors are formed on a silicon substrate. The fin capacitors include silicon fins, one or more electrical conductors between the silicon fins, and insulating material between the silicon fins and the one or more electrical conductors. The fin capacitors may also include insulating material between the one or more electrical conductors and underlying semiconductor material.

Abstract: A bandgap reference circuit including two sets of bipolar junction transistors (BJTs). A first set of two or more BJTs configured to electrically connect in a parallel arrangement. The first set of BJTs is configured to produce a first proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) signal. A second set of two or more BJTs configured to electrically connect in a parallel arrangement. The second set of BJTs is configured to produce a second PTAT signal. A circuitry configured to electrically connect to the first set of BJTs and the second set of BJTs. The circuitry is configured to combine the first PTAT signal and the second PTAT signal to produce a reference voltage.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes implanting dopants in a first region of the semiconductor device to form a source region. The method further includes forming a guard ring in a second region of the semiconductor device, the guard ring being separated from the source region by a first spacing. The method further includes depositing a first heat conductive layer over the source region, wherein the first heat conductive layer is directly coupled to the source region and directly coupled to the guard ring. The first heat conductive layer is configured to dissipate heat generated by the semiconductor device from the source region to the guard ring.

Abstract: A device comprises a semiconductor substrate having first and second implant regions and an electrode above and between the first and second implant regions of a first dopant type. A contact structure is in direct contact with the first and second implant regions and the electrode. A third implant region has a second dopant type different from the first dopant type. A bulk contact is provided on the third implant.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a substrate, a source region over the substrate, and a guard ring over the substrate. The guard ring is separated from the source region by a first spacing. The semiconductor device also comprises a first heat conductive layer formed over couples the source region and the guard ring. The semiconductor device further comprises a first via over a first portion of the first heat conductive layer. The semiconductor device additionally comprises a second via separate from the first via over a second portion of the first conductive layer. The semiconductor device also comprises a second heat conductive layer over and coupling the first via and the second via. In use, the semiconductor device generates heat, and the heat dissipates, at least partially, from the source region through the first heat conductive layer to the guard ring and the substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including field-effect transistors (finFETs) and fin capacitors are formed on a silicon substrate. The fin capacitors include silicon fins, one or more electrical conductors between the silicon fins, and insulating material between the silicon fins and the one or more electrical conductors. The fin capacitors may also include insulating material between the one or more electrical conductors and underlying semiconductor material.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for polysilicon MOS capacitors in a replacement gate process. A method includes disposing a gate dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate; disposing a polysilicon gate layer over the dielectric layer; patterning the gate dielectric layer and the polysilicon gate layer to form a plurality of polysilicon gates spaced by at least a minimum polysilicon to polysilicon pitch; defining a polysilicon resistor region containing at least one of the polysilicon gates and not containing at least one other of the polysilicon gates, which form dummy gates; depositing a mask layer over an inter-level dielectric layer; patterning the mask layer to expose the dummy gates; removing the dummy gates and the gate dielectric layer underneath the dummy gates to leave trenches in the inter-level dielectric layer; and forming high-k metal gate devices in the trenches in the inter-level dielectric layer. An apparatus produced by the method is disclosed.

Abstract: A semiconductor substrate has at least two active regions, each having at least one active device that includes a gate electrode layer, and a shallow trench isolation (STI) region between the active regions. A decoupling capacitor comprises first and second dummy conductive patterns formed in the same gate electrode layer over the STI region. The first and second dummy conductive regions are unconnected to any of the at least one active device. The first dummy conductive pattern is connected to a source of a first potential. The second dummy conductive pattern is connected to a source of a second potential. A dielectric material is provided between the first and second dummy conductive patterns.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a signal line and a plurality of shielding structures. The signal line is routed along a first direction and is in a first metallization layer. Each shielding structure includes a plurality of non-contiguous shielding patterns aligned along the first direction. The plurality of shielding structures includes a first and a second shielding structures in a second metallization layer that adjoins the first metallization layer and a third and a fourth shielding structures in a third metallization layer that adjoins the first metallization layer. The first metallization layer is between the second and the third metallization layers. The first and the second shielding structures are separated from each other along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The third and the fourth shielding structures are separated from each other along the second direction.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for polysilicon MOS capacitors in a replacement gate process. A method includes disposing a gate dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate; disposing a polysilicon gate layer over the dielectric layer; patterning the gate dielectric layer and the polysilicon gate layer to form a plurality of polysilicon gates spaced by at least a minimum polysilicon to polysilicon pitch; defining a polysilicon resistor region containing at least one of the polysilicon gates and not containing at least one other of the polysilicon gates, which form dummy gates; depositing a mask layer over an inter-level dielectric layer; patterning the mask layer to expose the dummy gates; removing the dummy gates and the gate dielectric layer underneath the dummy gates to leave trenches in the inter-level dielectric layer; and forming high-k metal gate devices in the trenches in the inter-level dielectric layer. An apparatus produced by the method is disclosed.