Abstract: A system (10,90), apparatus (12,30,40,50,60,70) and method (100) is disclosed for detecting excess current leakage between drain/source of a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor (36,46) within a complementary MOS (CMOS) environment. A load control (32,42) is arranged as a compliment to the MOS transistor. A comparator (34,44) is electrically connected to the load control and the MOS transistor, and produces an output signal representative of the detection of a current leakage exceeding a threshold. In response to the received output signal indicating an excess current leakage, system voltage/frequency may be adjusted to prevent damage to the CMOS environment.

Abstract: A method (300) for optimising transistor performance in semiconductor integrated circuits built from standard cells (12), or custom transistor level layout, is disclosed. An active area of NMOS diffusion is extended with a joining area (102) between two adjacent cells (112) having the same net on diffusion at the adjacent edges of each cell. The diffusion area is extended to limit the occurrence of active and nonactive interface to minimise lattice strain effects and improve transistor performance.

Abstract: A method for designing multi-layer electronic circuits includes defining a plurality of circuit blocks in terms of physical boundaries, the plurality of circuit blocks including a first circuit block with at least one port for connecting to a portion of inter-block routing having conducting material external to the first circuit block. The method further provides protective routing for the at least one port of the first circuit block in a region between the block and the inter-block routing, wherein circuitry within the first circuit connected to the at least one port is not in-circuit with the conducting material of the inter-block routing during processing steps involving the conducting material. The protective routing is a conducting layer which is higher in the multi-layer structure than the highest conducting layer used for routing the net containing the at least one port for inter-block routing.

Abstract: A method for designing multi-layer electronic circuits includes defining a plurality of circuit blocks in terms of physical boundaries, the plurality of circuit blocks including a first circuit block with at least one port for connecting to a portion of inter-block routing having conducting material external to the first circuit block. The method further provides protective routing for the at least one port of the first circuit block in a region between the block and the inter-block routing, wherein circuitry within the first circuit connected to the at least one port is not in-circuit with the conducting material of the inter-block routing during processing steps involving the conducting material. The protective routing is a conducting layer which is higher in the multi-layer structure than the highest conducting layer used for routing the net containing the at least one port for inter-block routing.

Abstract: A method for designing multi-layer electronic circuits includes defining a plurality of circuit blocks in terms of physical boundaries, the plurality of circuit blocks including a first circuit block with at least one port for connecting to a portion of inter-block routing having conducting material external to the first circuit block. The method further provides protective routing for the at least one port of the first circuit block in a region between the block and the inter-block routing, wherein circuitry within the first circuit connected to the at least one port is not in-circuit with the conducting material of the inter-block routing during processing steps involving the conducting material. The protective routing is a conducting layer which is higher in the multi-layer structure than the highest conducting layer used for routing the net containing the at least one port for inter-block routing.

Abstract: A method for designing multi-layer electronic circuits includes defining a plurality of circuit blocks in terms of physical boundaries, the plurality of circuit blocks including a first circuit block with at least one port for connecting to a portion of inter-block routing having conducting material external to the first circuit block. The method further provides protective routing for the at least one port of the first circuit block in a region between the block and the inter-block routing, wherein circuitry within the first circuit connected to the at least one port is not in-circuit with the conducting material of the inter-block routing during processing steps involving the conducting material. The protective routing is a conducting layer which is higher in the multi-layer structure than the highest conducting layer used for routing the net containing the at least one port for inter-block routing.

Abstract: An output current unit comprises a cascode circuit having a first transistor connected between a voltage supply line and complementary outputs. Second and third transistors are controlled by inverter circuitry having parallel conducting paths between an output node and a ground line, the parallel conducting paths having different current carrying capacity with control circuitry to switch the stronger of the current carrying paths.

Abstract: An output current unit comprises a cascode circuit having a first transistor connected between a voltage supply line and complementary outputs. Second and third transistors are controlled by inverter circuitry having parallel conducting paths between an output node and a ground line, the parallel conducting paths having different current carrying capacity with control circuitry to switch the stronger of the current carrying paths.