Abstract: A MOS IC logic cell includes a plurality of gate interconnects extending on tracks in a first direction. The logic cell includes intra-cell routing interconnects coupled to at least a subset of the gate interconnects. The intra-cell routing interconnects include intra-cell Mx layer interconnects on an Mx layer extending in the first direction. The Mx layer is a lowest metal layer for PG extending in the first direction. The intra-cell Mx layer interconnects extend in the first direction over at least a subset of the tracks excluding every mth track, where 2?m<PPG and PPG is a PG grid pitch. A MOS IC may include at least one MOS IC logic cell, and may further include a first set of PG Mx layer interconnects extending in the first direction over the at least one logic cell. The first set of PG Mx layer interconnects have the pitch PPG>m*P.

Abstract: Field-effect transistor (FET) circuits employing topside and backside contacts for topside and backside routing of FET power and logic signals. A FET circuit is provided that includes a FET that includes a conduction channel, a source, a drain, and a gate. The FET circuit also includes a topside metal contact electrically coupled with at least one of the source, drain, and gate of the FET. The FET circuit also includes a backside metal contact electrically coupled with at least one of the source, drain, and gate of the FET. The FET circuit also includes topside and backside metal lines electrically coupled to the respective topside and backside metal contacts to provide power and signal routing to the FET. A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuit is also provided that includes a PFET and NFET that each includes a topside and backside contact for power and signal routing.

Abstract: Circuits employing a back side-front side connection structure for coupling back side routing to front side routing, and related complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuits and methods are disclosed. The circuit includes a front side metal line disposed adjacent to a front side of a semiconductor device for providing front side signal routing. The circuit also includes a back side metal line disposed adjacent to a back side of the semiconductor device for providing back side signal routing. In this manner, the back side area of the semiconductor device may be employed for signal routing to conserve area and/or reduce routing complexity. The circuit also includes a back side-front side connection structure that electrically couples the front side metal line to the back side metal line to support signal routing from the back side to the front side of the circuit, or vice versa to provide greater routing flexibility.

Abstract: A MOS IC includes first and second sets of adjacent transistor logic, each of which include collinear gate interconnects extending in a first direction with the same gate pitch. The first set of transistor logic has a first cell height h1 and a first number of Mx layer tracks that extend unidirectionally in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The second set of transistor logic has a second cell height h2 and a second number of Mx layer tracks that extend unidirectionally in the second direction, where h2>h1 and the second number of Mx layer tracks is greater than the first number of Mx layer tracks. At least one of a height ratio hR=h2/h1 is a non-integer value or a subset of the first set of transistor logic and a subset of the second set of transistor logic are within one logic cell.

Abstract: Circuits employing a back side-front side connection structure for coupling back side routing to front side routing, and related complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuits and methods are disclosed. The circuit includes a front side metal line disposed adjacent to a front side of a semiconductor device for providing front side signal routing. The circuit also includes a back side metal line disposed adjacent to a back side of the semiconductor device for providing back side signal routing. In this manner, the back side area of the semiconductor device may be employed for signal routing to conserve area and/or reduce routing complexity. The circuit also includes a back side-front side connection structure that electrically couples the front side metal line to the back side metal line to support signal routing from the back side to the front side of the circuit, or vice versa to provide greater routing flexibility.

Abstract: A MOS IC includes a MOS logic cell that includes first and second sets of transistor logic in first and second subcells, respectively. The first and second sets of transistor logic are functionally isolated from each other. The MOS logic cell includes a first set of Mx layer interconnects on an Mx layer extending in a first direction over the first and second subcells. A first subset of the first set of Mx layer interconnects is coupled to inputs/outputs of the first set of transistor logic in the first subcell and is unconnected to the second set of transistor logic. Each of the first subset of the first set of Mx layer interconnects extends from the corresponding input/output of the first set of transistor logic of the first subcell to the second subcell, and is the corresponding input/output of the first set of transistor logic.

Abstract: Field-effect transistor (FET) circuits employing topside and backside contacts for topside and backside routing of FET power and logic signals. A FET circuit is provided that includes a FET that includes a conduction channel, a source, a drain, and a gate. The FET circuit also includes a topside metal contact electrically coupled with at least one of the source, drain, and gate of the FET. The FET circuit also includes a backside metal contact electrically coupled with at least one of the source, drain, and gate of the FET. The FET circuit also includes topside and backside metal lines electrically coupled to the respective topside and backside metal contacts to provide power and signal routing to the FET. A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuit is also provided that includes a PFET and NFET that each includes a topside and backside contact for power and signal routing.

Abstract: A MOS IC includes a MOS logic cell that includes first and second sets of transistor logic in first and second subcells, respectively. The first and second sets of transistor logic are functionally isolated from each other. The MOS logic cell includes a first set of Mx layer interconnects on an Mx layer extending in a first direction over the first and second subcells. A first subset of the first set of Mx layer interconnects is coupled to inputs/outputs of the first set of transistor logic in the first subcell and is unconnected to the second set of transistor logic. Each of the first subset of the first set of Mx layer interconnects extends from the corresponding input/output of the first set of transistor logic of the first subcell to the second subcell, and is the corresponding input/output of the first set of transistor logic.

Abstract: A system includes: a first power supply; a second power supply; a headswitch disposed between the first power supply and logic circuitry; an enable driver coupling the second power supply to a control terminal of the headswitch; and a voltage generator operable to adjust a control voltage from the second power supply to the control terminal of the headswitch in response to a first voltage level of the first power supply exceeding a reference voltage level.

Abstract: A MOS IC logic cell includes a plurality of gate interconnects extending on tracks in a first direction. The logic cell includes intra-cell routing interconnects coupled to at least a subset of the gate interconnects. The intra-cell routing interconnects include intra-cell Mx layer interconnects on an Mx layer extending in the first direction. The Mx layer is a lowest metal layer for PG extending in the first direction. The intra-cell Mx layer interconnects extend in the first direction over at least a subset of the tracks excluding every mth track, where 2?m<PPG and PPG is a PG grid pitch. A MOS IC may include at least one MOS IC logic cell, and may further include a first set of PG Mx layer interconnects extending in the first direction over the at least one logic cell.

Abstract: In certain aspects, a semiconductor die includes a first doped region, a second doped region, and an interconnect formed from a first middle of line (MOL) layer, wherein the interconnect electrically couples the first doped region to the second doped region. The semiconductor die also includes a first metal line formed from a first interconnect metal layer, and a first via electrically coupling the interconnect to the first metal line.

Abstract: A standard cell CMOS device includes metal oxide semiconductor transistors having gates formed from gate interconnects. The gate interconnects extend in a first direction. The device further includes M1 layer interconnects. The M1 layer interconnects are parallel to the gate interconnects and extend in the first direction only. The device further includes a M0 layer interconnect. The M0 layer interconnect extends directly over a first gate interconnect and extends in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction only. The M0 layer interconnect is below the M1 layer and is isolated from directly connecting to the first gate interconnect. The device further includes a layer interconnect that is different from the M1 layer interconnects and the M0 layer interconnect. The layer interconnect is connected to the M0 layer interconnect and is directly connected to a second gate electrode.

Abstract: In certain aspects, a semiconductor die includes a first doped region, a second doped region, and an interconnect formed from a first middle of line (MOL) layer, wherein the interconnect electrically couples the first doped region to the second doped region. The semiconductor die also includes a first metal line formed from a first interconnect metal layer, and a first via electrically coupling the interconnect to the first metal line.

Abstract: In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium, and an apparatus for assigning feature colors for a multiple patterning process are provided. The apparatus receives integrated circuit layout information including a set of features and an assigned color of a plurality of colors for each feature of a first subset of features of the set of features. In addition, the apparatus performs color decomposition on a second subset of features to assign colors to features in the second subset of features. The second subset of features includes features in the set of features that are not included in the first subset of features with an assigned color.

Abstract: A standard cell CMOS device includes metal oxide semiconductor transistors having gates formed from gate interconnects. The gate interconnects extend in a first direction. The device further includes M1 layer interconnects. The M1 layer interconnects are parallel to the gate interconnects and extend in the first direction only. The device further includes a M0 layer interconnect. The M0 layer interconnect extends directly over a first gate interconnect and extends in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction only. The M0 layer interconnect is below the M1 layer and is isolated from directly connecting to the first gate interconnect. The device further includes a layer interconnect that is different from the M1 layer interconnects and the M0 layer interconnect. The layer interconnect is connected to the M0 layer interconnect and is directly connected to a second gate electrode.

Abstract: A standard cell CMOS device includes metal oxide semiconductor transistors having gates formed from gate interconnects. The gate interconnects extend in a first direction. The device further includes power rails that provide power to the transistors. The power rails extend in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The device further includes M1 layer interconnects extending between the power rails. At least one of the M1 layer interconnects is coupled to at least one of the transistors. The M1 layer interconnects are parallel to the gate interconnects and extend in the first direction only.

Abstract: In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium, and an apparatus for assigning feature colors for a multiple patterning process are provided. The apparatus receives integrated circuit layout information including a set of features and an assigned color of a plurality of colors for each feature of a first subset of features of the set of features. In addition, the apparatus performs color decomposition on a second subset of features to assign colors to features in the second subset of features. The second subset of features includes features in the set of features that are not included in the first subset of features with an assigned color.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate and a first active contact adjacent to the gate. Such a device further includes a first stacked contact electrically coupled to the first active contact, including a first isolation layer on sidewalls electrically isolating the first stacked contact from the gate. The device also includes a first via electrically coupled to the gate and landing on the first stacked contact. The first via electrically couples the first stacked contact and the first active contact to the gate to ground the gate.

Abstract: A transistor cell is provided that includes a dummy gate overlaying a continuous oxide definition (OD) region. A first portion of the OD region adjacent a first side of the dummy forms the drain. The cell includes a local interconnect structure that couples the dummy gate and a portion of the OD region adjacent a second opposing side of the dummy gate to a source voltage.

Abstract: A standard cell CMOS device includes metal oxide semiconductor transistors having gates formed from gate interconnects. The gate interconnects extend in a first direction. The device further includes power rails that provide power to the transistors. The power rails extend in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The device further includes M1 layer interconnects extending between the power rails. At least one of the M1 layer interconnects is coupled to at least one of the transistors. The M1 layer interconnects are parallel to the gate interconnects and extend in the first direction only.