Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a plurality of first layer deep lines, a plurality of first layer shallow lines, a plurality of second layer deep lines, and a plurality of second layer shallow lines. The integrated circuit also includes a first active device and a second active device coupled between a conducting path that has a low resistivity portion and a low capacitivity portion. The first active device has an output coupled to a first layer deep line that is in the low resistivity portion. The second active device has an input coupled to a first layer shallow line that is in the low capacitivity portion. The low resistivity portion excludes the first layer shallow lines and the second layer shallow lines, and the low capacitivity portion excludes the first layer deep lines and the second layer deep lines.

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: A semiconductor structure includes a first transistor having a first source/drain (S/D) feature and a first gate; a second transistor having a second S/D feature and a second gate; a multi-layer interconnection disposed over the first and the second transistors; a signal interconnection under the first and the second transistors; and a power rail under the signal interconnection and electrically isolated from the signal interconnection, wherein the signal interconnection electrically connects one of the first S/D feature and the first gate to one of the second S/D feature and the second gate.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a horizontal routing track in a first metal layer, and a backside routing track in a backside metal layer. The backside metal layer and the first metal layer are formed at opposite sides of a semiconductor substrate. The horizontal routing track is conductively connected to a first terminal of a first transistor without passing through a routing track in another metal layer. The backside routing track is conductively connected to a second terminal of the first transistor without passing through a routing track in another metal layer.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a horizontal routing track in a first metal layer, and a backside routing track in a backside metal layer. The backside metal layer and the first metal layer are formed at opposite sides of a semiconductor substrate. The horizontal routing track is conductively connected to a first terminal of a first transistor without passing through a routing track in another metal layer. The backside routing track is conductively connected to a second terminal of the first transistor without passing through a routing track in another metal layer. One of the first terminal and the second terminal is a gate terminal of the first transistor while another one the first terminal and the second terminal is either a source terminal or a drain terminal of the first transistor.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first transistor having a first source/drain (S/D) feature and a first gate; a second transistor having a second S/D feature and a second gate; a multi-layer interconnection disposed over the first and the second transistors; a signal interconnection under the first and the second transistors; and a power rail under the signal interconnection and electrically isolated from the signal interconnection, wherein the signal interconnection electrically connects one of the first S/D feature and the first gate to one of the second S/D feature and the second gate.

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 method of making an integrated circuit includes steps of etching an opening in an insulating mask to expose a first dummy contact on a backside of the integrated circuit, depositing a conductive material into the opening, the conductive material contacting a sidewall of the first dummy contact, and recessing the conductive material to expose an end of the first dummy contact. The method also includes steps of depositing an insulating material over the conductive material in the opening, removing the first dummy contact from the insulating mask to form a first contact opening, and forming a first conductive contact in the first contact opening, the first conductive contact being electrically connected to the conductive material.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an integrated circuit cell includes a first circuit component and a second circuit component. The first circuit component includes fin field-effect transistors (finFETs) formed in a high fin portion of the integrated circuit cell, the high fin portion of the integrated circuit including a plurality of fin structures arranged in rows. The second circuit component that includes finFETs formed in a less fin portion of the integrated circuit cell, the less fin portion of the integrated circuit including a lesser number of fin structures than the high fin portion of the integrated circuit cell.

Abstract: A layout method includes: providing a library comprising a first cell and a second cell, wherein each of the first and second cells includes: a first active region and a second active region extending in a first direction; a first cell-edge gate structure and a second cell-edge gate structure extending in a second direction; and a third cell-edge gate structure and a fourth cell-edge gate structure extending in the second direction, wherein each of the first and second cell further includes one of a tie-off conductive line or a tie-off marker layer on each of the first and second cell-edge gate structures. The layout method further includes: generating a design layout by placing and abutting the first cell and the second cell; updating the design layout by performing a post-processing step on the tie-off conductive line and the tie-off marker layer of each of the first and second cells.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of testing the device are disclosed. In one aspect, the semiconductor device includes a first active region that extends along a first lateral direction and includes a plurality of first epitaxial structures. The semiconductor device also includes an interconnect structure that also extends along the first lateral direction and is disposed below the first active region, wherein at least one of the plurality of first epitaxial structures is electrically coupled to the interconnect structure. The interconnect structure includes at least a first portion that offsets from the first active region along a second lateral direction perpendicular to the first lateral direction.

Abstract: A memory device is provided. The memory device includes first and second pull-up transistors. The first pull-up transistor is disposed over a semiconductor substrate, and including a first gate structure and two first source/drain structures at opposite sides of the first gate structure. The second pull-up transistor is laterally spaced apart from the first pull-up transistor, and including a second gate structure and two second source/drain structures at opposite sides of the second gate structure. The first and second gate structures extend along a first direction and laterally spaced apart from each other along a second direction intersected with the first direction. The first gate structure further extends along a sidewall of one of the second source/drain structures, and the second gate structure further extends along a sidewall of one of the first source/drain structures.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an area including cell regions arranged in alternating first and second rows extending in a first direction, relative to a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, the first rows having a first height, and the second rows having a second height different from the first height; a majority of the cell regions having the first height; a minority of the cell regions having a third height that is at least a sum of the first height and the second height; and for first and second types of cell regions, the first type of cell region having the first height and the second type of cell region having the third height, the first type of cell region having a width greater than a width of the second type of cell region.

Abstract: A memory device is provided. The memory device includes first and second pull-up transistors. The first pull-up transistor is disposed over a semiconductor substrate, and including a first gate structure and two first source/drain structures at opposite sides of the first gate structure. The second pull-up transistor is laterally spaced apart from the first pull-up transistor, and including a second gate structure and two second source/drain structures at opposite sides of the second gate structure. The first and second gate structures extend along a first direction and laterally spaced apart from each other along a second direction intersected with the first direction. The first gate structure further extends along a sidewall of one of the second source/drain structures, and the second gate structure further extends along a sidewall of one of the first source/drain structures.

Abstract: A method (of forming a semiconductor device) including forming cell regions (in alternating first and second rows having first and second heights) including forming a majority of the cell regions in the first rows including: limiting a height of the majority of the cell regions to be single-row cell regions that span corresponding single one of the first rows but do not extend therebeyond; and forming a minority of the cell regions correspondingly in at least the first rows including reducing widths of the multi-row cell regions to be smaller than comparable single-row cell regions; and expanding heights of the minority of the cell regions to be multi-row cell regions, each of the multi-row cell regions spanning a corresponding single first row and at least a corresponding second row such that cell region densities of the second rows are at least about forty percent.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first transistor having a first fin, wherein a base of the first fin is surrounded by a first dielectric material, the first fin having a first fin height measured from the top surface of the first dielectric material to a top surface of the first fin; and a second transistor having a second fin, wherein a base of the second fin is surrounded by a second dielectric material, the second fin having a second fin height measured from a top surface of the second dielectric material to a top surface of the second fin, wherein the first fin height is different from the second fin height.

Abstract: A method includes fabricating active-region structures extending in a first direction on a substrate, and fabricating a plurality of gate-conductors extending in a second direction above the substrate. The method also includes fabricating a backside horizontal conducting line in a backside first conducting layer below the substrate and having the backside horizontal conducting line extending in the first direction across a vertical boundary of a circuit cell. The method further includes fabricating a pin-connector that is connected to the backside horizontal conducting line, and fabricating a backside vertical conducting line extending in the second direction in a backside second conducting layer below the backside first conducting layer. The pin-connector is directly connected between the backside horizontal conducting line and the backside vertical conducting line.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an apparatus with a local interconnect structure. The apparatus can include a first transistor, a second transistor, a first interconnect structure, a second interconnect structure, and a third interconnect structure. The local interconnect structure can be coupled to gate terminals of the first and second transistors and routed at a same interconnect level as reference metal lines coupled to ground and a power supply voltage. The first interconnect structure can be coupled to a source/drain terminal of the first transistor and routed above the local interconnect structure. The second interconnect structure can be coupled to a source/drain terminal of the second transistor and routed above the local interconnect structure. The third interconnect structure can be routed above the local interconnect structure and at a same interconnect level as the first and second interconnect structures.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for generating a physical layout for a high density routing circuit are disclosed. An exemplary semiconductor structure includes: a gate structure; a plurality of first metal lines formed in a first dielectric layer below the gate structure; at least one first via formed in a second dielectric layer between the gate structure and the first dielectric layer; a plurality of second metal lines formed in a third dielectric layer over the gate structure; and at least one second via formed in a fourth dielectric layer between the gate structure and the third dielectric layer. Each of the at least one first via is electrically connected to the gate structure and a corresponding one of the plurality of first metal lines. Each of the at least one second via is electrically connected to the gate structure and a corresponding one of the plurality of second metal lines.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a horizontal routing track in a first metal layer, and a backside routing track in a backside metal layer. The backside metal layer and the first metal layer are formed at opposite sides of a semiconductor substrate. The horizontal routing track is conductively connected to a first terminal of a first transistor without passing through a routing track in another metal layer. The backside routing track is conductively connected to a second terminal of the first transistor without passing through a routing track in another metal layer. One of the first terminal and the second terminal is a gate terminal of the first transistor while another one the first terminal and the second terminal is either a source terminal or a drain terminal of the first transistor.