Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first gate structure extending along a first lateral direction. The semiconductor device includes a first interconnect structure, disposed above the first gate structure, that extends along a second lateral direction perpendicular to the first lateral direction. The first interconnect structure includes a first portion and a second portion electrically isolated from each other by a first dielectric structure. The semiconductor device includes a second interconnect structure, disposed between the first gate structure and the first interconnect structure, that electrically couples the first gate structure to the first portion of the first interconnect structure. The second interconnect structure includes a recessed portion that is substantially aligned with the first gate structure and the dielectric structure along a vertical direction.

Abstract: An integrated circuit disclosed here includes several cell rows extending in a first direction and a multi-bit cell having several bit cells included in the cell rows. The bit cells include M bit cells, and an output signal of a N-th bit cell of the M bit cells is an input signal of a (N+1)-th bit cell of the M bit cells, N and M being positive integers. A first bit cell of the bit cells and a M-th bit cell of the bit cells are arranged diagonally in different cell rows in the multi-bit cell, and the N-th bit cell and the (N+1)-th bit cell are arranged diagonally in different cell rows in the multi-bit cell.

Abstract: One aspect of this description relates to a method for operating an integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing system. The method includes placing a first nano-sheet structure within a IC layout diagram. The first nano-sheet structure has a first width. The method includes abutting a second nano-sheet structure with the first nano-sheet structure. The second nano-sheet structure has a second width. The second width is less than the first width. The method includes generating and storing the IC layout diagram in a storage device.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a plurality of vias and a metal layer. The vias disposed on a semiconductor substrate. The metal layer has a plurality of metal lines and at least one transmission gate line region. The metal lines are connected to the vias. The at least one transmission gate line region is connected to at least one transmission gate corresponding to at least one transmission gate circuit. The transmission gate line region includes at least one different-net via pair. The different-net via pair has two metal lines and each of the two metal lines is connected to a via respectively. The two metal lines extend along a first axis but toward opposite directions. A distance between the two vias of the different-net via pair is within about 1.5 poly pitch.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first and a second set of conductive traces. The first set of conductive traces is in a first level and extends in a first direction. The second set of conductive traces is in a second level and extends in a second direction. The second set of conductive traces includes a first conductive trace corresponding to a gate terminal of a first p-type transistor and a gate terminal of a first n-type transistor, and a second conductive trace corresponding to a gate terminal of a second n-type transistor and a gate terminal of a second p-type transistor. The first and second conductive trace are separated from each other in the first direction. The first n-type transistor and the second p-type transistor are part of a first transmission gate. The second n-type transistor and the first p-type transistor are part of a second transmission gate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of operating a semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device includes a first latching circuit and a second latching circuit coupled to the first latching circuit. The second latching circuit includes a first feedback circuit and a first transmission circuit, the first feedback circuit configured to receive a first clock signal of a first phase and a second clock signal of a second phase, and the first transmission circuit configured to receive the second clock signal and a third clock signal of a third phase. The first feedback circuit is configured to be turned off by the first clock signal and the second clock signal before the first transmission circuit is turned on by the second clock signal and the third clock signal.

Abstract: A layout method of a semiconductor device is disposed. The layout method includes: disposing a first metal strip directed to a first clock signal and disposing a first block strip parallel with the first metal strip, wherein the first block strip is indicative of a first blockage which prevents a routing tool from placing another metal strip on the location of the first block strip.

Abstract: A system for processing a layout of a semiconductor device includes a processor, and a computer readable storage medium. The processor is configured to execute instructions to generate an active region layout pattern extending in a first direction, generate a plurality of gate layout patterns extending in a second direction different from the first direction, wherein the plurality of gate layout patterns extends across the active region layout pattern, generate a plurality of source/drain region layout patterns in the active region layout pattern on opposite sides of the plurality of gate layout patterns, generate a plurality of source/drain contact layout patterns overlapping the plurality of source/drain region layout patterns, and generate one or more mark layers. Each of the mark layers labels a corresponding source/drain contact layout pattern of the plurality of source/drain contact layout patterns and is usable to indicate a width of the corresponding source/drain layout pattern.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first transistor, a second transistor, and a first insulating layer. The first transistor is disposed in a first layer and comprises a first gate. The second transistor is disposed in a second layer above the first layer and comprises a second gate. The first gate and second gate are separated from each other in a first direction. The first insulating layer is disposed between the first gate of the first transistor and the second gate of the second transistor. The first insulating layer is configured to electrically insulate the first gate of the first transistor from the second gate of the second transistor.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a first dummy source/drain, a third transistor, a fourth transistor, and a second dummy source/drain. The first transistor and a second transistor adjacent to the first transistor are at a first elevation. The first dummy source/drain is disposed at the first elevation. The third transistor and a fourth transistor adjacent to the third transistor, are at a second elevation different from the first elevation. The second dummy source/drain is disposed at the second elevation. The second transistor is vertically aligned with the third transistor. The first dummy source/drain is vertically aligned with a source/drain of the fourth transistor. The second dummy source/drain is vertically aligned with a source/drain of the first transistor. The gate structure between the second dummy source/drain and a source/drain of the third transistor is absent. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure is also provided.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes several first cell rows extending in a first direction, each of the first cell rows having a first row height; several second cell rows extending in the first direction, each of the second cell rows having a second row height smaller than the first row height, wherein the first cell rows and the second cell rows are interlaced; a first cell arranged in a first row of the first cell rows; and at least one second cell arranged in at least one row of the second cell rows, wherein the at least one second cell abuts the first cell in a second direction different from the first direction, wherein the at least one second cell and at least one circuit component included in the first cell have the same operation configuration.

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 semiconductor device includes one or more active semiconductor components, wherein a front side is defined over the semiconductor substrate and a back side is defined beneath the semiconductor substrate. A front side power rail is formed at the front side of the semiconductor device and is configured to receive a first reference power voltage. First and second back side power rails are formed on the back side of the semiconductor substrate and are configured to receive corresponding second and third reference power voltages. The first, second and third reference power voltages are different from each other.

Abstract: A cell on an integrated circuit is provided. The cell includes: a fin structure; an intermediate fin structure connection metal track disposed in an intermediate fin structure connection metal layer above the fin structure, the intermediate fin structure connection metal track being connected to the fin structure; and a first intermediate gate connection metal track disposed in an intermediate gate connection metal layer above the intermediate fin structure connection metal layer, the first intermediate gate connection metal track being connected to the intermediate fin structure connection metal track. A first power supply terminal is connected to the first intermediate gate connection metal track.

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: A semiconductor device includes an active region in a substrate. The active region extends in a first direction. The semiconductor device further includes a gate structure extending in a second direction different from the first direction. The gate structure extends across the active region. The semiconductor device further includes a plurality of source/drain contacts extending in the second direction and overlapping a plurality of source/drain regions in the active region on opposite sides of the gate structure. A first source/drain contact of the plurality of source/drain contacts has a first width, and a second source/drain contact of the plurality of source/drain contacts has a second width less than the first width.

Abstract: An input circuit of a flip-flop includes: a first gate strip, a second gate strip and a third gate strip. The first gate strip is a co-gate terminal of a first PMOS and a first NMOS; the second gate strip is disposed immediately adjacent to the first gate strip, and a co-gate terminal of a second PMOS and a second NMOS. The first PMOS and the second PMOS share a doping region as a co-source terminal. The first NMOS and the second NMOS share a doping region as a co-source terminal. The third gate strip is disposed immediately adjacent to the second gate strip. The third gate strip is a co-gate terminal of a third PMOS and a third NMOS. The second PMOS and the third PMOS share a doping region as a co-drain terminal. The second NMOS and the third NMOS share a doping region as a co-drain terminal.

Abstract: A post placement abutment treatment for cell row design is provided. In an embodiment a first cell and a second cell are placed in a first cell row and a third cell and a fourth cell are placed into a second cell row. After placement vias connecting power and ground rails to the underlying structures are analyzed to determine if any can be merged or else removed completely. By merging and removing the closely placed vias, the physical limitations of photolithography may be by-passed, allowing for smaller structures to be formed.

Abstract: A cell on an integrated circuit is provided. The cell includes: a fin structure; an intermediate fin structure connection metal track disposed in an intermediate fin structure connection metal layer above the fin structure, the intermediate fin structure connection metal track being connected to the fin structure; and a first intermediate gate connection metal track disposed in an intermediate gate connection metal layer above the intermediate fin structure connection metal layer, the first intermediate gate connection metal track being connected to the intermediate fin structure connection metal track. A first power supply terminal is connected to the first intermediate gate connection metal track.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate electrode extending in a first direction in a first layer over an active region, a first conductive line extending in the first layer adjacent to the gate electrode, a first power rail extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in a second layer over the first layer, a second conductive line arranged in a third layer over the second layer, and a conductive via extending through the first power rail and electrically connecting the second conductive line to one of the gate electrode and the first conductive line. The conductive via is electrically insulated from the first power rail.