Abstract: A flip-flop includes a first, second, third and a fourth active region extending in a first direction, and being on a first level of a substrate. The first active region corresponds to a first set of transistors of a first type. The second active region corresponds to a second set of transistors of a second type different from the first type. The third active region corresponds to a third set of transistors of the second type. The fourth active region corresponds to a fourth set of transistors of the first type. The flip-flop further includes a first gate structure extending in the second direction, overlapping at least the second active region and the third active region, and being on a second level different from the first level. The first gate structure is configured to receive a first clock signal.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first cell and a second cell. The first cell has a first height along a first direction. The second cell has a second height shorter than the first height along the first direction. A transistor of the first cell and a transistor of the second cell share a first active area, and a first boundary of the first cell, a first boundary of the second cell, a second boundary of the first cell and a second boundary of the second cell are arranged in order along the first direction.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an integrated circuit layout is disclosed. The integrated circuit layout includes a first block including multiple first cells, each of which has a first cell height, and a second block including multiple second cells, each of which has a second cell height. The first block is disposed next to the second block with a spacing that is either equal to zero or less than any of the first or second cell heights.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes forming a first active region on a first side of a substrate. The method further includes forming a first source/drain (S/D) electrode surrounding a first portion of the first active region. The method further includes forming an S/D connect via extending through the substrate. The method further includes flipping the substrate. The method further includes forming a second active region on a second side of the substrate, wherein the second side of the substrate is opposite to the first side of the substrate. The method further includes forming a second S/D electrode surrounding a first portion of the second active region, wherein the S/D connect directly contacts both the first S/D electrode and the second S/D electrode.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first transistor of a first conductivity type including a first active area extending in a first direction; a second transistor of the first conductivity type including at least two second active areas extending in the first direction and a first gate stripe crossing the at least two second active areas; and a third transistor of a second conductivity type that is stacked on the second transistor and includes at least two third active areas arranged above the at least two second active areas. A top most boundary line of the first active area is aligned with a top most boundary line of one of the at least two third active areas in a layout view.

Abstract: Systems, methods and devices are provided, which can include an engineering change order (ECO) base. A base layout cell includes metal layer regions, conductive gate patterns arranged above metal layer regions; oxide definition (OD) patterns, metal-zero layer over oxide-definition (metal-zero) patterns, at least one cut metal layer (CMD) pattern; and at least one via region. The base layout cell can be implemented in at least two non-identical functional cells. A first functional cell of the at least two non-identical functional cells includes first interconnection conductive patterns arranged connecting metal-zero structures corresponding to at least two metal-zero patterns in a first layout, and a second functional cell of the at least two non-identical functional cells includes second interconnection conductive patterns arranged connecting metal-zero structures corresponding to at least two metal-zero patterns in a second layout.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first and second active region, a first insulating region, and a first and second contact. The first and second active regions extend in a first direction, are in a substrate, and are located on a first level. The first active region includes a first drain/source region and a second drain/source region. The second active region includes a third drain/source region. The first insulating region is over the first drain/source region. The first contact extends in a second direction, overlaps the third drain/source region, is electrically coupled to the third drain/source region and is located on a second level. The second contact extends in at least the second direction, overlaps the first insulating region and the first contact. The second contact is electrically insulated from the first drain/source region, is electrically coupled to the third drain/source region, and is located on a third level.

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 circuit structure includes a substrate that includes a first transistor stack over the substrate that includes: a first transistor where the first transistor is a first conductivity type; and a second transistor, above the first transistor, where the second transistor is a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type. The structure also includes a plurality of first conductive lines in a first metal layer above the first transistor stack, the plurality of first conductive lines electrically connected to the first transistor stack. The structure also includes a plurality of second conductive lines in a second metal layer below the substrate and underneath the first transistor stack, the plurality of second conductive lines electrically connected to the first transistor stack. The plurality of first conductive lines are configured asymmetrically with respect to the plurality of second conductive lines.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a first power rail, a first active area extending in a first direction, and a plurality of gates contacting the first active area and extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A first transistor includes the first active area and a first one of the gates. The first transistor has a first threshold voltage (VT). A second transistor includes the first active area and a second one of the gates. The second transistor has a second VT different than the first VT. A tie-off transistor is positioned between the first transistor and the second transistor, and includes the first active area and a third one of the gates, wherein the third gate is connected to the first power rail.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a cell region including active regions where components of transistors are formed; the cell region are arranged to function as a D flip-flop that includes a primary latch (having a first sleepy inverter and a first non-sleepy (NS) inverter), a secondary latch (having a second sleepy inverter and a second NS inverter), and a clock buffer (having third and fourth NS inverters). The transistors are grouped: a first group has a standard threshold voltage (Vt_std); a second group has a low threshold voltage (Vt_low); and an optional third group has a high threshold voltage (Vt_high). The transistors which comprise the first or second NS inverter have Vt_low. Alternatively, the transistors of the cell region are further arranged to function as a scan-insertion type of D flip-flop (SDFQ) that further includes a multiplexer; and the transistors of the multiplexer have Vt_low.

Abstract: A semiconductor device, includes a first metal layer, a second metal layer, and at least one conductive via. The first metal layer has a first conductor that extends in a first direction and a second conductor that extends in the first direction, wherein the second conductor is directly adjacent to the first conductor. The second metal layer has a third conductor that extends in a second direction, wherein the second direction is transverse to the first direction. The at least one conductive via connects the first conductor and the second conductor through the third conductor.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate and a first transistor on a first side of the substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a first electrode contacting a first region of the first transistor. The semiconductor device further includes a spacer extending along a sidewall of the first transistor. The semiconductor device further includes a self-aligned interconnect structure (SIS) separated from at least a portion of the first electrode by the spacer, wherein the SIS extends through the substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a second electrode contacting a surface of the first electrode farthest from the substrate, wherein the second electrode directly contacts the SIS.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrated circuit. The method includes generating two first-type active zones and two second-type active zones, and generating a gate-strip intersecting the two first-type active zones and the two second-type active zones. The method further includes patterning one or more poly cuts intersecting the gate-strip based on a determination of a difference between the poly extension effect of a p-type transistor and the poly extension effect of an n-type transistor.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a gated circuit configured to operate on at least a first or a second voltage, a header circuit coupled to the gated circuit, a first and second power rail on a back-side of a wafer, and a third power rail on a front-side of the wafer. The header circuit is configured to supply the first voltage to the gated circuit by the first power rail. The first power rail includes a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, the third portion being between the first portion and the second portion. The second power rail is configured to supply the second voltage to the gated circuit, and is between the first portion and the second portion. The third power rail includes a first set of conductors. Each of the first set of conductors being configured to supply a third voltage to the header circuit.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit (IC) includes forming a first active region in a first cell. The method includes forming a plurality of second active regions in a second cell, wherein the second cell abuts the first cell. The method includes forming a third active region in a third cell, wherein the second cell is between the first cell and the third cell, and a height of the second cell is different from a height of the first cell or the third cell. The method includes forming a plurality of gate structures extending across each of the first active region, the plurality of second active regions, and the third active region. The method includes removing a first portion of a first gate structure at an interface between the first cell and the second cell between the first active region and the plurality of second active regions.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of an input circuit of a flip-flop including: depositing a first gate strip, a second gate strip, a third gate strip, and a fourth gate strip, wherein a distance between the first and second gate strips, a distance between the second and third gate strips, and a distance between the third and fourth gate strips equal; executing a cut-off operation upon the first gate strip to generate a first first gate strip and a second first gate strip; executing a cut-off operation upon the third gate strip to generate a first third gate strip and a second third gate strip; and directing a first signal to the first first gate strip and the second third gate strip, and a second signal to the second first gate strip and the first third gate strip.

Abstract: A method of designing a semiconductor device including the operations of analyzing a vertical abutment between a first standard cell block and a second cell block and, if a mismatch is identified between the first standard cell block and the second cell block initiating the selection of a first modified cell block that reduces the mismatch and a spacing between the first modified cell block and the second cell block, the first modified cell block comprising a first abutment region having a continuous active region arranged along a first axis parallel to an edge of the vertical abutment, and replacing the first standard cell block with the first modified cell block to obtain a first modified layout design and devices manufactured according to the method.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a set of gates, a first, second and third conductive structure, and a first, second and third via. The set of gates includes a first, second and third gate. The first, second and third conductive structure extend in the first direction and are located on a second level. The first via couples the first conductive structure and the first gate. The second via couples the second conductive structure and the second gate. The third via couples the third conductive structure and the third gate. The first, second and third via are in a right angle configuration. The first and second gate are separated from each other by a first pitch. The first and third gate are separated from each other by a removed gate portion. The first and second conductive structure are separated from each other in the first direction.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device to which corresponds a layout diagram stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The method includes generating the layout diagram using an electronic design system (EDS), the EDS including at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs are configured to cause the EDS to execute the generating. Testing the semiconductor device. Revising, the layout diagram, based on testing results indicative of selected standard functional cells in the layout diagram which merit modification or replacement. Programming one or more of the ECO cells which correspond to the one or more selected standard functional cells resulting in one or more programmed ECO cells. Routing the one or more programmed ECO cells correspondingly to at least one of the selected standard functional cells or to one or more other ones of the standard functional cells.