Abstract: The disclosure provides transistor cells for integrated circuits and methods to form the same. A transistor cell according to the disclosure may include a substrate region including width between a first end and a second end, and a length between a third end and a fourth end in a direction orthogonal to the width. A first doped well (FDW) within the substrate region may be oppositely doped and may extend from the first end to a first interior boundary between the first and second ends of the substrate region, and from the third end to a second interior boundary between the third and fourth ends. A second doped well (SDW) within the substrate region may extend from the second end to a third interior boundary between the first and second ends, and the fourth end to a fourth interior boundary between the third and fourth ends.

Abstract: The disclosure provides transistor cells for integrated circuits and methods to form the same. A transistor cell according to the disclosure may include a substrate region including width between a first end and a second end, and a length between a third end and a fourth end in a direction orthogonal to the width. A first doped well (FDW) within the substrate region may be oppositely doped and may extend from the first end to a first interior boundary between the first and second ends of the substrate region, and from the third end to a second interior boundary between the third and fourth ends. A second doped well (SDW) within the substrate region may extend from the second end to a third interior boundary between the first and second ends, and the fourth end to a fourth interior boundary between the third and fourth ends.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a multi-port read request for retrieval of data stored in three memories, each comprising two memory modules and a parity module. The multi-port read request is associated with first data stored at a first memory address, second data stored at a second memory address, and third data stored at a third memory address. When the first memory address, the second memory address, and the third memory address are associated with a first memory module, first data is retrieved from the first memory module, second data is reconstructed using data from a second memory module and a first parity module, and third data is reconstructed using data from a fourth memory module and a seventh memory module. The first data, the second data, and the third data are provided in response to the multi-port read request.

Abstract: A method for creating a design for an integrated circuit, by developing a set of delay cells where each of the cells in the set has a different delay time from the other cells in the set, and where each of the cells in the set has the same surface area, has the same pin-outs, has the same drive strength, and has the same input capacitance, where an originally-used cell in the set can be swapped out for a different replacement cell in the set without any impact on the design of the integrated circuit besides a change in delay time from the originally-used cell to the replacement cell.

Abstract: An improvement to an integrated circuit of a type having a test enable line for enabling an electrical test of the integrated circuit only when the test enable line is at a logical high value, and output lines that are only used during the electrical test of the integrated circuit, where the improvement is a switch circuit for disabling a state change in the output lines when the test enable line is at a logical low value. In this manner, the output lines do not switch during functional use of the integrated circuit, and cannot be aggressors on the data signals that are carried by the data lines that are used during the functional use of the integrated circuit. In addition, these non-switching output lines can act as guard traces that run between the data lines, further electrically isolating the data lines from one another. Further, because they do not switch during functional use of the integrated circuit, the overall power consumption of the integrated circuit is reduced.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for storing a value in a process register of an electrical circuit, which indicates a strength of a process in which the circuit was fabricated, and adjusting an input delay applied to data signals received by a synchronous storage element of the electrical circuit based on the stored value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for storing a value in a process register of an electrical circuit, which indicates a strength of a process in which the circuit was fabricated, and adjusting an input delay applied to data signals received by a synchronous storage element of the electrical circuit based on the stored value.

Abstract: A method of performing a write-through operation with a memory circuit having a write enable line, a write address line, a data in line, a read address line, a data out line, a bit array, a comparator, and a mux. A write address is received on the write address line, a read address is received on the read address line, data is received on the data in line. The comparator determines as a first condition whether the write address is identical to the read address, and determines as a second condition whether the write enable line is enabled. When both the first condition and the second condition are met, the comparator signals the mux to directly output the data receiving on the data in line on the data out line without writing the data to the bit array. In this manner, the memory circuit checks to determine whether a write-through operation is called for.

Abstract: An improvement to an integrated circuit of a type having a test enable line for enabling an electrical test of the integrated circuit only when the test enable line is at a logical high value, and output lines that are only used during the electrical test of the integrated circuit, where the improvement is a switch circuit for disabling a state change in the output lines when the test enable line is at a logical low value. In this manner, the output lines do not switch during functional use of the integrated circuit, and cannot be aggressors on the data signals that are carried by the data lines that are used during the functional use of the integrated circuit. In addition, these non-switching output lines can act as guard traces that run between the data lines, further electrically isolating the data lines from one another. Further, because they do not switch during functional use of the integrated circuit, the overall power consumption of the integrated circuit is reduced.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for storing a value in a process register of an electrical circuit, which indicates a strength of a process in which the circuit was fabricated, and adjusting an input delay applied to data signals received by a synchronous storage element of the electrical circuit based on the stored value.

Abstract: A decoupling circuit disposed between a first rail and a second rail, where a third power rail is disposed between the first and second rails. A resistor having a first electrode and a second electrode is disposed between the first and second rails. Two capacitors are disposed between the first and second rails. The resistor is connected to the third rail and the two capacitors. In this manner, the two capacitors are connected in series with respect to the resistor, and in parallel with respect to one another. A first of the two capacitors is connected to the first rail, and a second of the two capacitors is connected to the second rail. At least one of the resistor and the two capacitors is disposed at least in part beneath the third rail.

Abstract: A scannable flip-flop and method are provided. The flip-flop includes a clock input, a normal data input, a test data input, a normal data output and a scan data output. The flip-flop has a normal operating mode during which the normal data output is enabled and the scan data output disabled and has a scan-shift mode during which the normal data output is disabled and the scan data output is enabled.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for storing a value in a process register of an electrical circuit, which indicates a strength of a process in which the circuit was fabricated, and adjusting an input delay applied to data signals received by a synchronous storage element of the electrical circuit based on the stored value.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for powering an integrated circuit chip with a supply voltage generated externally to the chip. An on-chip clock signal is generated with a ring oscillator fabricated on the integrated circuit chip. The supply voltage is altered as a function of a difference between a frequency of the on-chip clock signal and a reference clock frequency.

Abstract: A decoupling circuit disposed between a first rail and a second rail, where a third power rail is disposed between the first and second rails. A resistor having a first electrode and a second electrode is disposed between the first and second rails. Two capacitors are disposed between the first and second rails. The resistor is connected to the third rail and the two capacitors. In this manner, the two capacitors are connected in series with respect to the resistor, and in parallel with respect to one another. A first of the two capacitors is connected to the first rail, and a second of the two capacitors is connected to the second rail. At least one of the resistor and the two capacitors is disposed at least in part beneath the third rail.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for powering an integrated circuit chip with a supply voltage generated externally to the chip. An on-chip clock signal is generated with a ring oscillator fabricated on the integrated circuit chip. The supply voltage is altered as a function of a difference between a frequency of the on-chip clock signal and a reference clock frequency.

Abstract: A scannable flip-flop and method are provided. The flip-flop includes a clock input, a normal data input, a test data input, a normal data output and a scan data output. The flip-flop has a normal operating mode during which the normal data output is enabled and the scan data output disabled and has a scan-shift mode during which the normal data output is disabled and the scan data output is enabled.

Abstract: A digital multi-phase clock generator includes a reference clock input and first and second digitally-programmable delay lines. The first and second delay lines are coupled in parallel with one another, in series with the reference clock input. Each delay line includes a delay control input. The first delay line has a plurality of phase outputs which are synchronized with the reference clock input and have different phases from one another. The generator further includes a phase detector and a delay control circuit, which are coupled with second delay line to form a phase-locked loop. The delay control circuit has a digital delay control output, which is coupled to the delay control inputs of both the first and second delay lines. The phase-locked loop adjusts delay through the first and second delay lines to lock a phase of an output of the second delay line to a phase of the reference clock input.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a plurality of flip-flops each comprising (i) a first input, (ii) a second input and (iii) an output, where (a) each of the outputs are coupled to the first input of a subsequent flip-flop to form a chain, (b) the first input of a first of the flip-flops receives a pattern signal, (c) each of the second inputs receives a respective first logic signal, and (d) each of the outputs presents a respective second logic signal in response to the signals received at the first and second inputs, a pattern generator configured to generate the pattern signal, and a checking circuit configured to generate a check signal in response to the second logic signal of a last of the flip-flops. The pattern signal and the first logic signals are generally selected to influence a behavior of the apparatus.

Abstract: A digitally programmable delay circuit is provided, which includes a control input and a plurality of delay stages coupled in series with one another to form a delay line. Each stage has a previous stage input, a previous stage output, a next stage input and a next stage output. The next stage output and the next stage input are coupled to the previous stage input and the previous stage output, respectively, of a next one of the delay stages in the delay line. The previous stage input is coupled to the next stage output. The previous stage input and the next stage input are selectively coupled to the previous stage output based on the control input.