Abstract: IC devices including BPRs with integrated decoupling capacitance are disclosed. An example IC device includes a first layer comprising a transistor and a support structure adjoining the first layer. The support structure includes BPRs, which are power rails buried in the support structure, and a decoupling capacitor based on the BPRs. The conductive cores of the BPRs are the electrodes of the decoupling capacitor. The dielectric barriers of the BPRs can be the dielectric of the decupling capacitor. The dielectric of the decupling capacitor may also include a dielectric element between the BPRs. Additionally or alternatively, the IC device includes another decoupling capacitor at the backside of the support structure. The other decoupling capacitor is coupled to the BPRs and can provide additional decoupling capacitance for stabilizing power supply facilitated by the BPRs.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided. The semiconductor structure includes a plurality of transistors arranged at a front side of a semiconductor substrate and a test structure located at the front side of the semiconductor substrate. Further, the semiconductor structure comprises a first electrically conductive connection extending from the test structure through the semiconductor substrate to a backside test pad arranged at a backside of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Signal routing using structures based on buried power rails (BPRs) is described. An example IC device includes a support structure, a plurality of IC components provided over the support structure, and first and second electrically conductive structures having respective portions that are buried in the support structure, such structures referred to as “buried signal rails” (BSRs). The first BSR may be electrically coupled to a terminal of one of the plurality of IC components, the second BSR may be electrically coupled to a terminal of another one of the plurality of IC components, and the IC device may further include a bridge interconnect embedded within the support structure, the bridge interconnect having a first end in contact with the first BSR and a second end in contact with the second BSR. Implementing BSRs in IC devices may allow significantly increasing standard cell library density and provide geometry-free signal routing.

Abstract: Capacitors based on stacks of nanoribbons and associated devices and systems are disclosed. In particular, a stack of at least two nanoribbons may be used to provide a two-terminal device referred to herein as a “nanoribbon-based capacitor,” where one nanoribbon serves as a first capacitor electrode and another nanoribbon serves as a second capacitor electrode. Using portions of nanoribbon stacks to implement nanoribbon-based capacitors could provide an appealing alternative to conventional capacitor implementations because it would require only modest process changes compared to fabrication of nanoribbon-based FETs and because nanoribbon-based capacitors could be placed close to active devices. Furthermore, with a few additional process steps, nanoribbon-based capacitors may, advantageously, be extended to implement other circuit blocks such as nanoribbon-based BJTs or three-nanoribbon arrangements with a common connection between two anodes and a separate connection to a cathode.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor die comprising a semiconductor substrate and a plurality of transistors arranged at a front side of the semiconductor substrate. Further, the semiconductor die comprises a first electrically conductive structure extending from the front side of the semiconductor substrate to a backside of the semiconductor substrate and a second electrically conductive structure extending from the front side of the semiconductor substrate to the backside of the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device further comprises an interposer directly attached to the backside of the semiconductor substrate. The interposer comprises a first trace electrically connected to the first electrically conductive structure of the semiconductor die. Further the interposer comprises the first trace or a second trace electrically connected to the second electrically conductive structure of the semiconductor die.

Abstract: A semiconductor die is disclosed, including circuitry comprising a transistor at a frontside of a semiconductor substrate, and a backside inductor at a backside of the semiconductor substrate. The backside inductor is electrically connected to the transistor of the circuitry.

Abstract: A semiconductor die is disclosed, including a plurality of transistors at a frontside of a semiconductor substrate, a backside inductor at a backside of the semiconductor substrate; and a frontside inductor at the frontside of the semiconductor substrate. The frontside inductor and the backside inductor are inductively coupled.

Abstract: A semiconductor die is provided. The semiconductor die comprises a plurality of transistors arranged at a front side of a semiconductor substrate and an electrically conductive structure. A top surface of the electrically conductive structure is contacted at the front side of the semiconductor substrate and a bottom surface of the electrically conductive structure is contacted at a backside of the semiconductor substrate. Further, the semiconductor die comprises a backside metallization layer stack attached to the backside of the semiconductor substrate. A first portion of a wiring structure is formed in a first metallization layer of the backside metallization layer stack and a second portion of the wiring structure is formed in a second metallization layer of the backside metallization layer stack.

Abstract: A memory circuit, comprises a first set of memory cells configured to operate in a direct access mode or in a refresh mode and a second set of memory cells configured to operate in the direct access mode and in the refresh mode. The memory circuit further comprises a controller configured to receive a write request and to execute the write request for a set of memory cells being in direct access mode; and to buffer the write request for later execution for a set of memory cells being in refresh mode.

Abstract: A memory circuit, comprises a first set of memory cells configured to operate in a direct access mode or in a refresh mode and a second set of memory cells configured to operate in the direct access mode and in the refresh mode. The memory circuit further comprises a controller configured to receive a write request and to execute the write request for a set of memory cells being in direct access mode; and to buffer the write request for later execution for a set of memory cells being in refresh mode.

Abstract: A memory circuit (100), comprises a first set of memory cells (102a; 202a) configured to operate in a direct access mode or in a refresh mode and a second set of memory cells (102b; 202b) configured to operate in the direct access mode and in the refresh mode. The memory circuit (100) further comprises a controller (104) configured to receive a write request and to execute the write request for a set of memory cells being in direct access mode; and to buffer the write request for later execution for a set of memory cells being in refresh mode.

Abstract: A memory circuit (100), comprises a first set of memory cells (102a; 202a) configured to operate in a direct access mode or in a refresh mode and a second set of memory cells (102b; 202b) configured to operate in the direct access mode and in the refresh mode. The memory circuit (100) further comprises a controller (104) configured to receive a write request and to execute the write request for a set of memory cells being in direct access mode; and to buffer the write request for later execution for a set of memory cells being in refresh mode.

Abstract: A memory cell includes diffusion regions formed in a substrate. Each of the diffusion regions extends along a vertical direction in a layout view at a substrate level. A first gate electrode structure at a gate electrode level is generally dogleg shaped. The first gate electrode structure extends in an oblique direction, turns to a horizontal direction, extends over and crosses the diffusion regions in the horizontal direction. A first contact structure at a contact level is generally rectangular shaped in the layout view of the cell. The first contact structure electrically connects a first source/drain region of the first diffusion region to the first gate electrode structure and the first source/drain region of the second diffusion region. The first contact structure extends from the first source/drain region of the first diffusion region to the first source/drain region of the second diffusion region at the contact level.

Abstract: A system and a method for transistor level routing are disclosed. The method comprises forming a high-k dielectric layer over a substrate, forming a metal layer directly over the high-k dielectric layer, and selectively disposing a semiconductive layer over the metal layer. The method further comprises forming a first transistor in a first region and a second transistor in a second region spaced from the first region, the first and second transistor having gate stacks comprising a high-k dielectric layer, a metal layer and a semiconductive layer, and forming an electrical connection between the first transistor and the second transistor comprising the high-k dielectric layer and the metal layer but not the semiconductive layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices, capacitors, and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of fabricating a capacitor includes forming a first material over a workpiece, and patterning the first material, forming a first capacitor plate in a first region of the workpiece and forming a first element in a second region of the workpiece. A second material is formed over the workpiece and over the patterned first material. The second material is patterned, forming a capacitor dielectric and a second capacitor plate in the first region of the workpiece over the first capacitor plate and forming a second element in a third region of the workpiece.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices, capacitors, and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of fabricating a capacitor includes forming a first material over a workpiece, and patterning the first material, forming a first capacitor plate in a first region of the workpiece and forming a first element in a second region of the workpiece. A second material is formed over the workpiece and over the patterned first material. The second material is patterned, forming a capacitor dielectric and a second capacitor plate in the first region of the workpiece over the first capacitor plate and forming a second element in a third region of the workpiece.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices, capacitors, and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of fabricating a capacitor includes forming a first material over a workpiece, and patterning the first material, forming a first capacitor plate in a first region of the workpiece and forming a first element in a second region of the workpiece. A second material is formed over the workpiece and over the patterned first material. The second material is patterned, forming a capacitor dielectric and a second capacitor plate in the first region of the workpiece over the first capacitor plate and forming a second element in a third region of the workpiece.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of operating a memory cell coupled to a first port and to a second port includes determining if a first port is requesting to access the memory cell and determining if a second port is requesting to access the memory cell. Based on the determining, if the first port and the second port are simultaneously requesting to access the memory cell, the second port is deactivated, the memory cell is accessed from the first port, and an accessed memory state is propagated from the first port to circuitry associated with the second port.

Abstract: Mask sets, layout design, and methods for forming contacts in devices are described. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a plurality of contacts disposed over a substrate, the plurality of contacts being disposed as rows and columns on an orthogonal grid, each row of the plurality of contacts is spaced from an neighboring row of the plurality of contacts by a first distance, and each column of the plurality of contacts is spaced from an neighboring column of the plurality of contacts by a second distance.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method for making a semiconductor device comprises forming a photo sensitive layer on a semiconductive substrate, and forming an L-shaped structure in the photo sensitive layer by exposing the photo sensitive layer to light via a reticle, wherein the reticle comprises an L-shapes feature having a first non-orthogonal edge at an intersection of two legs of the L-shaped feature.