Abstract: In some embodiments, a flip-flop is disposed as an integrated circuit layout on a flip-flop region of a semiconductor substrate. The flip-flop includes master switch circuitry made up of a first plurality of devices which are circumscribed by a master switch perimeter that resides within the flip-flop region. The flip-flop also includes slave switch circuitry operably coupled to an output of the master switch circuitry. The slave switch circuitry is made up of a third plurality of devices that are circumscribed by a slave switch perimeter. The slave switch perimeter resides within the flip-flop region and is non-overlapping with the master switch perimeter.

Abstract: An integrated circuit designing system includes a non-transitory storage medium and a hardware processor. The non-transitory storage medium is encoded with a layout of a standard cell corresponding to a predetermined manufacturing process. The predetermined manufacturing process has a nominal minimum pitch, along a predetermined direction, of metal lines. The layout of the standard cell has a cell height along the predetermined direction, and the cell height is a non-integral multiple of the nominal minimum pitch. The hardware processor communicatively coupled with the non-transitory storage medium and configured to execute a set of instructions for generating an integrated circuit layout based on the layout of the standard cell and the nominal minimum pitch.

Abstract: A flip-flop circuit includes a first latch, a second latch and a trigger circuit. The first latch is configured to set a first output signal based on a first input signal and a clock signal. The second latch is configured to set a second output signal based on a second input signal and the clock signal. The trigger circuit is coupled with the first latch and the second latch. The trigger circuit is configured to generate the second input signal based on at least the second output signal. The trigger circuit is configured to cause the second input signal to have different voltage swings based on the first output signal and the second output signal. The trigger circuit includes a logic circuit coupled to at least the first latch or the second latch. The logic circuit is configured to output the second output signal.

Abstract: A circuit is disclosed that includes a latch and a logic circuit. The latch includes is configured to generate a gating control signal in response to a latch enable signal and an input clock signal. The latch includes a pair of logic gates each configured to perform multi-level compound logic function. The logic circuit is configured to receive the gating control signal and the input clock signal, and generate an output clock signal in response to the gating control signal and the input clock signal.

Abstract: An integrated circuit, manufactured by a process having a nominal minimum pitch of metal lines, includes a plurality of metal lines and a plurality of standard cells under the plurality of metal lines. The plurality of metal lines extends along a first direction, and the plurality of metal lines are separated, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, by integral multiples of the nominal minimum pitch. At least one of the plurality of standard cells has a cell height along the second direction, and the cell height is a non-integral multiple of the nominal minimum pitch.

Abstract: A flip-flop includes a master latch configured to receive a data signal and a scan input signal. The master latch provides one of the data signal or the scan input signal to a slave latch based on a scan enable signal. The flip-flop includes circuitry configured to generate clock signals based on one or both of an input clock signal and the scan enable signal. A first clock signal is provided to the master latch and a second clock signal is provided to the slave latch. The first clock signal does not include edge transitions that occur at same times as edge transitions of the second clock signal when the scan enable signal has a first logic level. The first clock signal includes edge transitions that occur at same times as edge transitions of the second clock signal when the scan enable signal has a second logic level.

Abstract: A device is disclosed that includes a level shifter and a selector. The level shifter includes a first current limiter. The level shifter is configured to generate a first output signal at a first terminal of the first current limiter, and to generate a second output signal at a second terminal of the first current limiter according to a first input signal. The selector configured to selectively transmit one of the first output signal and the second output signal according to the first input signal.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a flip-flop is laid-out on a flip-flop region of a semiconductor substrate. The flip-flop includes master switch circuitry made of a first plurality of devices which are circumscribed by a master switch perimeter residing within the flip-flop region. Scan mux input circuitry is operably coupled to an input of the master switch circuitry. The scan mux input circuitry is made up of a second plurality of devices that are circumscribed by a scan mux perimeter which resides within the flip-flop region and which is non-overlapping with the master switch perimeter. Slave switch circuitry is operably coupled to an output of the master switch circuitry. The slave switch circuitry is made up of a third plurality of devices that are circumscribed by a slave switch perimeter which resides within the flip-flop region and which is non-overlapping with both the master switch perimeter and the scan mux perimeter.

Abstract: An integrated circuit designing system includes a non-transitory storage medium that is encoded with first and second sets of standard cell layouts that are configured for performing a selected function and which correspond to a specific manufacturing process. The manufacturing process is characterized by a nominal minimum pitch (T) for metal lines with each of the standard cell layouts being characterized by a cell height (H) that is a non-integral multiple of the nominal minimum pitch. The system also includes a hardware processor coupled to the storage medium for executing a set of instructions for generating an integrated circuit layout utilizing a combination of the first and second set of standard cell layouts and the nominal minimum pitch. The first and second sets of standard layouts are related in that each of the second set of standard cell layouts corresponds to a transformed version of a corresponding standard cell layout from the first set of standard cell layouts.

Abstract: A flip-flop circuit includes a first latch, a second latch, and a trigger stage. The first latch is configured to set a first latch output signal based on a first latch input signal and a clock signal. The second latch is configured to set a second latch output signal based on a second latch input signal and the clock signal. The trigger stage is configured to generate the second latch input signal based on the first latch output signal. The trigger stage is configured to cause the second input signal to have different voltage swings based on the first latch output signal and the second latch output signal.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is manufactured by a predetermined manufacturing process having a nominal minimum pitch of metal lines. The integrated circuit includes a plurality of metal lines extending along a first direction and a plurality of standard cells under the plurality of metal lines. The plurality of metal lines is separated, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, by integral multiples of the nominal minimum pitch. The plurality of standard cells includes a first standard cell configured to perform a predetermined function and having a first layout and a second standard cell configured to perform the predetermined function and having a second layout different than the first layout. The first and second standard cells have a cell height (H) along the second direction, and the cell height being a non-integral multiple of the nominal minimum pitch.

Abstract: A compressor circuit includes a plurality of inputs, a sum output, and a plurality of XOR circuits. Each XOR circuit of the plurality of XOR circuits includes first, second and third inputs, and a first output. The XOR circuit is configured to generate a logic value A?B?C at the first output, where A, B and C are logic values at the corresponding first, second and third inputs, and “?” is the XOR logic operation. The plurality of XOR circuits includes first and second XOR circuits. The first, second and third inputs of the first XOR circuit are coupled to corresponding inputs among the plurality of inputs of the compressor circuit. The first output of the first XOR circuit is coupled to the first input of the second XOR circuit. The first output of the second XOR circuit is coupled to the sum output.

Abstract: A flip-flop circuit includes a first latch, a trigger stage and a second latch. The first latch is configured to latch a selected signal in response to a first state of a clock signal, and provide a first output signal. The trigger stage receives the clock signal and the first output signal to provide a trigger signal. The trigger signal does not toggle as the clock signal transits. The second latch is configured to latch the trigger signal in response to a second state of the clock signal, and provide a second output signal. The first state and the second state of the clock signal are complementary to each other.

Abstract: A flip-flop circuit includes a first latch, a second latch, and a trigger stage. The first latch is configured to set a first latch output signal based on a first latch input signal and a clock signal. The second latch is configured to set a second latch output signal based on a second latch input signal and the clock signal. The trigger stage is configured to generate the second latch input signal based on the first latch output signal. The trigger stage is configured to cause the second input signal to have different voltage swings based on the first latch output signal and the second latch output signal.

Abstract: A flip-flop circuit is provided. The flip-flop circuit includes a first latch, a trigger stage and a second latch. The first latch is configured to latch a selected signal in response to a first state of a clock signal, and provide a first output signal. The trigger stage, connected to the first latch, is configured to provide a trigger signal based on the clock signal and the first output signal. The second latch, connected to the trigger stage, is configured to latch the trigger signal in response to a second state of the clock signal, and provide a second output signal. The first state and the second state of the clock signal are complementary to each other.

Abstract: An integrated circuit layout includes a first active region, a second active region, a first PODE (poly on OD edge), a second PODE, a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor, on the first active region, includes a gate electrode, a source region and a drain region. The second transistor, on the second active region, includes a gate electrode, a source region and a drain region. The first active region and the second active region are adjacent and electrically disconnected with each other. The first PODE and the second PODE are on respective adjacent edges of the first active region and the second active region. The source regions of the first and second transistor are adjacent with the first PODE and the second PODE respectively. The first PODE and the second PODE are sandwiched between source regions of the first transistor and the second transistor.

Abstract: A circuit includes a clock trigger block and a logic circuit. The logic circuit is configured to output a signal to the clock trigger block based on a logic level of an enable signal received at the logic circuit. The clock trigger block is configured to output an output signal response to a clock signal received at the clock trigger block and the signal received from the logic circuit.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first active area structure, an isolation structure surrounding the first active area structure, a first polysilicon structure, a first metal structure, and a second metal structure. The first polysilicon structure is over the first active area structure. The first metal structure is directly over a first portion of the first active area structure. The second metal structure is directly over and in contact with a portion of the first polysilicon structure and in contact with the first metal structure.

Abstract: Among other things, one or more techniques for enhancing device (e.g., transistor) performance are provided herein. In one embodiment, device performance is enhanced by forming an extended dummy region at an edge of a region of a device and forming an active region at a non-edge of the region. Limitations associated with semiconductor fabrication processing present in the extended dummy region more so than in non-edge regions. Accordingly, a device exhibiting enhanced performance is formed by connecting a gate to the active region, where the active region has a desired profile because it is comprised within a non-edge of the region. A dummy device (e.g., that may be less responsive) may be formed to include the extended dummy region, where the extended dummy region has a less than desired profile due to limitations associated with semiconductor fabrication processing, for example.

Abstract: A circuit includes a clock trigger block and a logic circuit. The logic circuit is configured to output a signal to the clock trigger block based on a logic level of an enable signal received at the logic circuit. The clock trigger block is configured to output an output signal response to a clock signal received at the clock trigger block and the signal received from the logic circuit.