Abstract: A monolithic three dimensional integrated circuit is provided. The monolithic three dimensional integrated circuit includes a first cell layer having a first cell having a first active component of the monolithic three dimensional integrated circuit. A second layer having a second cell including a second active component. The second cell layer is formed vertically above the first cell layer. The first cell layer having the first active component and the second cell layer having the second active component are formed on a single die. The first cell has a smaller metal pitch than the second cell. A buried via electrically couples the first active component of the first cell of the first cell layer with the second active component of the second cell of the second cell layer.

Abstract: A monolithic three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuit (IC) device includes a lower tier including a lower tier cell and an upper tier arranged over the lower tier. The upper tier has a first upper tier cell and a second upper tier cell separated by a predetermined lateral space. A monolithic inter-tier via (MIV) extends from the lower tier through the predetermined lateral space, and the MIV has a first end electrically connected to the lower tier cell and a second end electrically connected to the first upper tier cell.

Abstract: Generating a circuit layout is provided. A circuit layout associated with a circuit is received. A parallel pattern recognition is performed on the circuit layout. Performing the parallel pattern recognition includes determining that there is a parallel pattern in the circuit layout. In response to determining that there is a parallel pattern in the circuit layout, a cell swap for a first cell associated with the parallel pattern with a second cell is performed. After the cell swap for the first cell, engineering change order routing is performed to connect the second cell in the circuit layout. An updated circuit layout having the second cell is provided.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit (IC) structure includes forming an opening in a first dielectric material between a first gate structure and a second gate structure by removing a portion of the first dielectric material overlying a fin structure; filling at least part of the opening with a second dielectric material; and forming a contact overlying the fin structure and the second dielectric material.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor structure includes depositing a first insulation material over a substrate, wherein the substrate includes an active region. The method further includes etching the first insulation material to define a first recess extending along a first direction at a first level of the first insulation material. The method further includes depositing a second insulation material lining with a sidewall of the first recess. The method further includes depositing a first metal line in the first recess.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device includes a first fin protruding from the semiconductor substrate and extending along a first direction. The semiconductor device includes a second fin protruding from the semiconductor substrate and extending along the first direction. A first epitaxial source/drain region coupled to the first fin and a second epitaxial source/drain region coupled to the second fin are laterally spaced apart from each other by an air void.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first pair of power rails and a second pair of power rails that are disposed in a first layer, conductive lines disposed in a second layer above the first layer, and a first active area disposed in a third layer above the second layer. The first active area is arranged to overlap the first pair of power rails. The first active area is coupled to the first pair of power rails through a first line of the conductive lines and a first group of vias, and the first active area is coupled to the second pair of power rails through at least one second line of the conductive lines and a second group of vias different from the first group of vias.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is disclosed, including a first latch circuit, a second latch circuit, and a clock circuit. The first latch circuit transmits multiple data signals to the second latch circuit through multiple first conductive lines disposed on a front side of the integrated circuit. The clock circuit transmits a first clock signal and a second clock signal to the first latch circuit and the second latch circuit through multiple second conductive lines disposed on a backside, opposite of the front side, of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a driver cell and at least one transmission cell. The driver cell includes a first active area and a second active area, and a first conductive line coupled to the first active area and the second active area on a back side of the integrated circuit. The at least one transmission cell having a second cell height includes a third active area and a fourth active area, a second conductive line coupled to the third active area and the fourth active area on the back side of the integrated circuit, and a conductor coupled to the third active area and the fourth active area. The integrated circuit further includes a third conductive line coupled between the first conductive line and the second conductive line on the back side to transmit a signal between the driver cell and the at least one transmission cell.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first active region, disposed on a first side of a substrate, that extends along a first lateral direction. The semiconductor device includes a second active region, disposed on the first side, that extends along the first lateral direction. The first active region has a first conduction type and the second active region has a second conduction type opposite to the first conduction type. The semiconductor device includes a first interconnect structure, formed on a second side of the substrate opposite to the first side, that includes: a first portion extending along the first lateral direction and vertically disposed below the first active region; and a second portion extending along a second lateral direction. The first latera direction is perpendicular to the first lateral direction.

Abstract: A method including depositing a first dielectric layer over a first conductive line. The method further includes forming a first opening in the first dielectric layer. The method further includes filling the first opening with a first conductive material to define a second conductive line. The method further includes depositing a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer. The method further includes forming a second opening in the second dielectric layer. The method further includes filling the second opening with a second conductive material to define a third conductive line. The method further includes forming a supervia opening in the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer. The method further includes filling the supervia opening with a third conductive material to define a supervia, wherein the supervia directly connects to the first conductive line and the third conductive line.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes: an integrated circuit structure includes: a first plurality of cell rows extending in a first direction, and a second plurality of cell rows extending in the first direction. Each of the first plurality of cell rows has a first row height and comprises a plurality of first cells disposed therein. Each of the second plurality of cell rows has a second row height different from the first row height and comprises a plurality of second cells disposed therein. The plurality of first cells comprises a first plurality of active regions each of which continuously extends across the plurality of first cells in the first direction. The plurality of second cells comprises a second plurality of active regions each of which continuously extends across the plurality of second cells in the first direction. At least one active region of the first and second pluralities of active regions has a width varying along the first direction.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first pair of power rails and a second pair of power rails that are disposed in a first layer, conductive lines disposed in a second layer above the first layer, and a first active area disposed in a third layer above the second layer. The first active area is arranged to overlap the first pair of power rails. The first active area is coupled to the first pair of power rails through a first line of the conductive lines and a first group of vias, and the first active area is coupled to the second pair of power rails through at least one second line of the conductive lines and a second group of vias different from the first group of vias.

Abstract: Disclosed are semiconductor devices including a substrate, a first transistor formed over a first portion of the substrate, wherein the first transistor comprises a first nanosheet stack including N nanosheets and a second transistor over a second portion of the substrate, wherein the second transistor comprises a second nanosheet stack including M nanosheets, wherein N is different from M in which the first and second nanosheet stacks are formed on first and second substrate regions that are vertically offset from one another.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first, second and third active region and a first, second and third conductive line. The first, second and third active regions extend in a first direction, and are on a first level of a front-side of a substrate. The second active region is between the first active region and the third active region. The first and second conductive line extend in the first direction, and are on a second level of a back-side of the substrate. The first conductive line is between the first and second active region. The second conductive line is between the second and third active region. The third conductive line extends in the second direction, is on a third level of the back-side of the substrate, overlaps the first and second conductive line, and electrically couples the first and second active regions.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method (of manufacturing fins for a semiconductor device) includes: forming a first layer (on a semiconductor substrate) that has first spacers and etch stop layer (ESL) portions which are interspersed; forming second spacers on central regions of the first spacers and the ESL portions; removing exposed regions of the first spacers and the ESL portions and corresponding underlying portions of the semiconductor substrate; removing the second spacers resulting in corresponding first capped semiconductor fins and second capped semiconductor fins that are organized into first and second sets; each member of the first set having a first cap with a first etch sensitivity; and each member of the second set having a second cap with a different second etch sensitivity; and eliminating selected ones of the first capped semiconductor fins and selected ones of the second capped semiconductor fins.

Abstract: Devices and methods are described herein that obviate the need for a read assist circuit. In one example, a semiconductor device includes a source region and a drain region formed above a substrate. A buried insulator (BI) layer is formed beneath either the source region or the drain region. A first nano-sheet is formed (i) horizontally between the source region and the drain region and (ii) vertically above the BI layer. The BI layer reduces current flow through the first nano-sheet.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes: an integrated circuit structure includes: a first plurality of cell rows extending in a first direction, and a second plurality of cell rows extending in the first direction. Each of the first plurality of cell rows has a first row height and comprises a plurality of first cells disposed therein. Each of the second plurality of cell rows has a second row height different from the first row height and comprises a plurality of second cells disposed therein. The plurality of first cells comprises a first plurality of active regions each of which continuously extends across the plurality of first cells in the first direction. The plurality of second cells comprises a second plurality of active regions each of which continuously extends across the plurality of second cells in the first direction. At least one active region of the first and second pluralities of active regions has a width varying along the first direction.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a substrate and a first conductive line extending in a first direction parallel to a top surface of the substrate, wherein the first conductive line is a first distance from the top surface of the substrate. The integrated circuit further includes a second conductive line extending in a second direction parallel to the top surface of the substrate, wherein the second conductive line is a second distance from the top surface of the substrate, and the second distance is greater than the first distance. The integrated circuit further includes a third conductive line extending in the first direction, wherein the second conductive line is a third distance from the top surface of the substrate, and the third distance is greater than the second distance. The integrated circuit further includes a supervia directly connected to the first conductive line and the third conductive line.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure, including a substrate, a first metal line over the substrate and extending along a first direction, a protection layer lining a sidewall of the first metal line, a second metal line above the first metal line and extending along the first direction, and a third metal line above the second metal line, extending along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.