Abstract: A method, system and computer program product reducing clock noise generated by clock signals in an integrated circuit (IC) are disclosed. Conventional IC design attempts to ensure coincident clock active edge arrival times for all clocked elements. The coincident active clock edges generate coincident noise currents, which elevates the total noise current. The current invention assigns clock arrival times for clocked elements of an IC based on a desired clock arrival time distribution such that active clock edges are not coincident. As a consequence, the total noise would be spread over a large portion of the clock cycle, thus reducing the noise magnitude substantially.

Abstract: A static random access memory (SRAM) device a pair of cross-coupled, complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) inverters configured as a storage cell for a bit of data, a first pair of transfer gates configured to couple complementary internal nodes of the storage cell to a corresponding pair of bitlines during a read operation of the device; and a second pair of transfer gates configured to couple the storage cell nodes to the pair of bitlines during a write operation of the device, wherein impedance between the bitlines and the storage cell nodes during the write operation is less than that for the read operation, wherein impedance between the bitlines and the storage cell nodes during the write operation is less than that for the read operation.

Abstract: Design structures, method and systems of powering on an integrated circuit (IC) are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a region in the IC including functional logic, a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature in the region when the IC is powered up and a heating element therefor; a processing unit including: a comparator for comparing the temperature against a predetermined temperature value, a controller, which in the case that the temperature is below the predetermined temperature value, delays functional operation of the IC and controls heating of the region of the IC, and a monitor for monitoring the temperature in the region; and wherein the controller, in the case that the temperature rises above the predetermined temperature value, ceases the heating and initiates functional operation of the IC.

Abstract: A digital to analog converter (DAC) system comprising, a first segment, wherein a segment comprises, a first path including an array of resistors connected in series between a first reference voltage node and a second reference voltage node, wherein the array is connected to a first switch device disposed between nodes of the array and an output node, and a third path including a second resistor in series with a second switch device, wherein the third path is connected in parallel with the first path.

Abstract: A design structure for eliminating step response power supply perturbation during voltage island power-up/power-down on an integrated circuit is disclosed. An IC chip communicates with a primary power supply and includes at least one voltage island. A primary header on the voltage island of the chip communicates with the primary power supply via a primary header power path. A secondary header on the voltage island of the chip communicates with a secondary power supply via a secondary header power path. A control decoder communicating with the IC chip and the voltage island regulates the state of the primary and secondary headers.

Abstract: A detection method for identifying unintentionally forward-biased diode devices identifies one or more forward-biased diodes directly from a graphical representation of an integrated circuit (IC) device design. The graphical representation describing one or more IC components as a plurality of geometric shapes that correspond to a set of patterns in at least one semiconductor layer. A detection method may work in conjunction with one or more checks (e.g., electrical rule check (ERC)) to analyze the graphical representation and ensure its manufacturability by reducing the likelihood the forward-biased diodes will be present in the manufactured IC device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a programmable phase adjusting circuit, a programmable phase adjusting mixer circuit and design structures for these circuits. These circuits comprise a variable delay device connected between input and output nodes. The device includes multiple FETs with input diffusion regions that are connected to a voltage rail via switches so that they can be selectively biased, gates that are connected in series to the input node so that a periodic input signal can be propagated sequentially through each of the gates and output diffusion regions that are connected in parallel to the output node. A current source is connected between the output node and another voltage rail for biasing the output node when the variable delay device is off. The variable delay device enables a circuit in which small increments of selectable phase adjustments can be made to the periodic input signal as a function of propagation delay.

Abstract: A method for noise comprising synthesizing blocks of sequential latches, e.g., a pipeline circuit architecture or clocking domain, which comprises combinational logic, synthesizing a root or a master clock and at least one phase-shifted sub-domain clock for each block, assigning primary inputs and primary outputs of the block to the root clock, assigning non-primary inputs and non-primary outputs of the block to the sub-domain clock, splitting root clock inputs into root clock inputs and phase-shifted sub-domain clock inputs, assigning each of the blocks a different phase-shifted sub-domain clock phase offset, creating a clock generation circuitry for the root clocks and the phase-shifted sub-domain clocks.

Abstract: A differential system producing differential signals with offset cancellation utilizing a double differential input pair system is disclosed. It uses two parallel differential transistor pairs which are intentionally skewed. Nominally, the differential pairs are skewed in opposite direction from each, but with equal magnitude, so that the combination of the two differential pairs is nominally balanced. The current through each differential pair is then increased or decreased until any offset is sufficiently cancelled, using a selection means for providing an equi-potential value to first and second differential inputs in a calibration mode of the system and a comparison means for comparing first and second differential outputs in a calibration mode to determine the offset of the system.

Abstract: A design structure embodied in a machine readable medium used in a design process includes a voltage divider device, including a double gate field effect transistor (FET) having a first gate and a second gate disposed at opposite sides of a body region; the first and second gates configured to have an input voltage coupled thereacross; and at least one of a source of the FET and a drain of the FET configured to have an output voltage taken therefrom; wherein the output voltage represents a divided voltage with respect to the input voltage.

Abstract: A resistor-based digital to analog converter (DAC) having mux fastpaths, which selectively connect a subset (or an entirety) of voltage divider nodes in a DAC to either a higher level of multiplexor hierarchy, or a DAC output node, effectively bypassing one or more levels of multiplexor devices. In addition, the fastpaths may selectively connect lower levels of multiplexor hierarchy to higher levels of multiplexor hierarchy and/or a DAC output node.

Abstract: A digital to analog converter (DAC) system comprising, a first segment, wherein a segment comprises, a first path including an array of resistors connected in series between a first reference voltage node and a second reference voltage node, wherein the array is connected to a first switch device disposed between nodes of the array and an output node, and a third path including a second resistor in series with a second switch device, wherein the third path is connected in parallel with the first path.

Abstract: A system, structure and method is provided for providing dynamic optimization of integrated circuits using a non-contact method of selection, and a design structure on which a subject circuit resides. The method is provided for optimizing an electronic system having at least one integrated circuit. The method includes storing a target performance voltage of the at least one integrated circuit; remotely querying the at least one integrated circuit to obtain the target performance voltage; and providing an operational voltage of a next-level assembly according to the stored target performance voltage.

Abstract: A design structure for a multimode circuit that is configured to operate in one of multiple operating modes is disclosed. In particular, an exemplary multimode circuit may be configured to operating in one of a full-swing mode, a limited-swing mode, a full-swing to limited-swing converter mode, and a limited-swing to full-swing converter mode. The operating modes of the multimode circuit may be dynamically selectable. One or more multimode circuits may be part of a configurable distribution path for controlling the performance of a signal distribution path or tree of an integrated circuit.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of a design structure transistor that operates as a capacitor and an associated method of tuning capacitance within such a capacitor. The embodiments of the capacitor comprise a field effect transistor with front and back gates above and below a semiconductor layer, respectively. The capacitance value exhibited by the capacitor can be selectively varied between two different values by changing the voltage condition in a source/drain region of the transistor, e.g., using a switch or resistor between the source/drain region and a voltage supply. Alternatively, the capacitance value exhibited by the capacitor can be selectively varied between multiple different values by changing voltage conditions in one or more of multiple channel regions that are flanked by multiple source/drain regions within the transistor. The capacitor will exhibit different capacitance values depending upon the conductivity in each of the channel regions.

Abstract: A gate array cell adapted for standard cell design methodology or programmable gate array that incorporates a dual gate FET device to offer a range of performance options within the same unit cell area. The conductivity and drive strength of the dual gate device may be selectively tuned through independent processing of manufacturing parameters to provide an asymmetric circuit response for the device or a symmetric response as dictated by the circuit application.

Abstract: An integrated circuit and a design structure are disclosed. An integrated circuit may comprise: multiple clocked elements; a clock signal source providing clock signals to the multiple clocked elements; and a clock shifting means coupled between the clock signal source and each of the multiple clocked elements; wherein the clock shifting means shifts clock signals of the multiple clocked elements such that the clock signals of the multiple clocked elements have aligned active edges and misaligned inactive edges to reduce the clock noise generated by the inactive edges of the clock signals.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of a design structure for a variable-delay field effect transistor (FET) having multiple source regions that can be individually and selectively biased to provide an electrical connection to a single drain region. Delay is a function of which of the multiple source regions is/are selectively biased as well as a function of gate resistance and capacitance. Such a variable-delay FET can be incorporated into a phase adjusting circuit, which uses gate propagation delays to selectively phase adjust an input signal. The phase adjusting circuit can be tuned by incorporating non-salicided resistances and additional capacitance at various positions on the gate structure. The phase adjusting circuit can further be modified into a phase adjusting mixer circuit that enables a phase adjusted signal to be combined with an additional signal.

Abstract: An embodiment of a design structure is shown for noise reduction comprising synthesizing blocks of sequential latches, e.g., a pipeline circuit architecture or clocking domain, which comprises combinational logic, synthesizing a root or a master clock and at least one phase-shifted sub-domain clock for each block, assigning primary inputs and primary outputs of the block to the root clock, assigning non-primary inputs and non-primary outputs of the block to the sub-domain clock, splitting root clock inputs into root clock inputs and phase-shifted sub-domain clock inputs, assigning each of the blocks a different phase-shifted sub-domain clock phase offset, creating a clock generation circuitry for the root clocks and the phase-shifted sub-domain clocks.

Abstract: A detection method for identifying unintentionally forward-biased diode devices identifies one or more forward-biased diodes directly from a graphical representation of an integrated circuit (IC) device design. The graphical representation describing one or more IC components as a plurality of geometric shapes that correspond to a set of patterns in at least one semiconductor layer. A detection method may work in conjunction with one or more checks (e.g., electrical rule check (ERC)) to analyze the graphical representation and ensure its manufacturability by reducing the likelihood the forward-biased diodes will be present in the manufactured IC device.