Abstract: A voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) includes a power supply source, a voltage source, a reference voltage node, first and second transistors, each including a source terminal coupled to the reference voltage node, and first through fourth conductive structures. The first conductive structure includes a first terminal coupled to the power supply source, a first extending portion coupled between the first terminal and a drain terminal of the first transistor, and a second extending portion coupled between the first terminal and a drain terminal of the second transistor, and the second conductive structure includes a second terminal coupled to the voltage source, a third extending portion coupled in series with the third conductive structure between the second terminal and a gate of the first transistor, and a fourth extending portion coupled in series with the fourth conductive structure between the second terminal and a gate of the second transistor.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate including a well region of a first conductive type; a first gate electrode on the substrate; a second gate electrode on the substrate; a first doped region embedded within the well region and is of the first conductive type, a second doped region embedded within the well region and is of the first conductive type, and a third doped region embedded within the well region and is of the first conductive type; and a first interconnection structure electrically connecting the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode. The first doped region and the second doped region are on opposite sides of the first gate electrode.

Abstract: A band-pass filter (BPF) includes first and second windings. The first winding includes first and second terminals, a first outer extending portion extending from the first terminal, a second outer extending portion extending from the second terminal, and a first conductive structure configured to electrically connect the first and second outer extending portions to each other at a location opposite the first and second terminals. The second winding includes third and fourth terminals positioned between the first and second terminals, and a second conductive structure electrically connected to the third and fourth terminals and extending between the first conductive structure and each of the first and second outer extending portions.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a first-type transistor and a second-type transistor stacked with each other at a front side of a substrate. The second-type transistor is between the first-type transistor and the substrate. The integrated circuit device also includes a front-side inductor having one or more conductors in a front-side upper metal layer above both the first-type transistor and the second-type transistor, and a back-side inductor having one or more conductors in a back-side lower metal layer at a back side of the substrate. The front-side inductor, the first-type transistor, and the second-type transistor form a stack directly above the back-side inductor.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes an inductor that includes a first set of conductors in at least a first metal layer, and a guard ring enclosing the inductor. The guard ring includes a first conductor extending in a first direction, a second conductor extending in a second direction, and a first set of staggered conductors coupled to a first end of the first conductor and a first end of the second conductor. The first set of staggered conductors includes a second set of conductors in a second metal layer, a third set of conductors in a third metal layer and a first set of vias coupling the second set of conductors with the third set of conductors. The third metal layer is above the second metal layer. All metal lines in the second metal layer that are part of the guard ring extend in the first direction.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device comprises a substrate, a first gate electrode, a second gate electrode, a first doped region, a second doped region, a third doped region, and a first interconnection structure. The substrate comprises a well region of a first conductive type. The first and second gate electrodes are disposed on the substrate. The first, second, and third doped regions are embedded within the well region and are of the first conductive type. The first interconnection structure electrically connects the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode. The first doped region and the second doped region are disposed on opposite sides of the first gate electrode.

Abstract: A band-pass filter (BPF) includes first and second windings. The first winding includes first and second terminals, a first outer extending portion extending from the first terminal, a second outer extending portion extending from the second terminal, and a first conductive structure configured to electrically connect the first and second outer extending portions to each other at a location opposite the first and second terminals. The second winding includes third and fourth terminals positioned between the first and second terminals, and a second conductive structure electrically connected to the third and fourth terminals and extending between the first conductive structure and each of the first and second outer extending portions.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes an inductor that includes a first set of conductive lines in a first metal layer, and is over a substrate, and a guard ring. The guard ring includes a first conductive line in a second metal layer, and extending in a first direction, a second conductive line extending in a second direction, and a first staggered line coupled between the first conductive line and the second conductive line. The first staggered line includes a second set of conductive lines in the second metal layer, and extends in the first direction, a third set of conductive lines in a third metal layer, and extends in the second direction, and a first set of vias coupling the second and third set of conductive lines together. All metal lines in the third metal layer that are part of the guard ring extend in the second direction.

Abstract: An oscillator includes a forward stage including first and second terminals and a transformer-coupled band-pass filter (BPF) coupled between the first and second terminals and including a coupling device between the first and second terminals, and a transformer including first and second windings in a metal layer of an IC. The first winding includes a first conductive structure coupled to the first terminal and a second conductive structure coupled to a voltage node, a third conductive structure including first and second extending portions connected to the first and second conductive structures. The second winding includes a fourth conductive structure including a third extending portion coupled to the voltage node, and a fourth extending portion coupled to the second terminal. The third extending portion is between the second conductive structure and the first extending portion, and the fourth extending portion is between the first conductive structure and the second extending portion.

Abstract: A cell layout design for an integrated circuit. In one embodiment, the integrated circuit includes a dual-gate cell forming two transistors connected with each other via a common source/drain terminal. The dual-gate cell includes an active region, two gate lines extending across the active region, at least one first gate via disposed on one or both of the two gate lines and overlapped with the active region, and second gate vias disposed on one or both of the two gate lines and located outside the active region.

Abstract: A differential oscillator includes a differential circuit and a transformer-coupled band-pass filter (BPF) coupled between first and second output nodes. The BPF includes a coupling device coupled between the output nodes and a transformer including first and second windings in a metal layer of an IC. The first winding includes first and second conductive structures coupled to the first output node and a voltage node, respectively, and a third conductive structure including first and second extending portions connected to the first and second conductive structures, respectively. The second winding includes a fourth conductive structure including a third extending portion coupled to the voltage node and a fourth extending portion coupled to the second output node. The third extending portion is between the second conductive structure and the first extending portion, and the fourth extending portion is between the first conductive structure and the second extending portion.

Abstract: A phase shifter includes a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor includes a first gate terminal configured to receive a first voltage. The first transistor is configured to adjust at least a resistance or a first capacitance of the phase shifter responsive to the first voltage. The second transistor is coupled to the first transistor. The second transistor includes a second gate terminal configured to receive a second voltage. The second transistor is configured to adjust a second capacitance of the phase shifter responsive to the second voltage. The second gate terminal includes a first polysilicon portion and a second polysilicon portion extending in a first direction. The first polysilicon portion and the second polysilicon portion are positioned along opposite edges of an active region of the first transistor and the second transistor.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods for forming a semiconductor structure are provided. An active semiconductor region is disposed in a substrate. A gate is formed over the substrate. Source and drain regions of a transistor are formed in the active semiconductor region on opposite sides of the gate. The drain region has a first width, and the source region has a second width that is not equal to the first width.

Abstract: An oscillator includes a forward stage including first and second terminals and a transformer-coupled band-pass filter (BPF) coupled between the first and second terminals and including a coupling device between the first and second terminals, and a transformer including first and second windings in a metal layer of an IC. The first winding includes a first conductive structure coupled to the first terminal and a second conductive structure coupled to a voltage node, a third conductive structure including first and second extending portions connected to the first and second conductive structures. The second winding includes a fourth conductive structure including a third extending portion coupled to the voltage node, and a fourth extending portion coupled to the second terminal. The third extending portion is between the second conductive structure and the first extending portion, and the fourth extending portion is between the first conductive structure and the second extending portion.

Abstract: A differential oscillator includes a differential circuit and a transformer-coupled band-pass filter (BPF) coupled between first and second output nodes. The BPF includes a coupling device coupled between the output nodes and a transformer including first and second windings in a metal layer of an IC. The first winding includes first and second conductive structures coupled to the first output node and a voltage node, respectively, and a third conductive structure including first and second extending portions connected to the first and second conductive structures, respectively. The second winding includes a fourth conductive structure including a third extending portion coupled to the voltage node and a fourth extending portion coupled to the second output node. The third extending portion is between the second conductive structure and the first extending portion, and the fourth extending portion is between the first conductive structure and the second extending portion.

Abstract: A phase shifter includes an active region, a first and a second set of gates and a set of contacts. The active region extends in a first direction and is located at a first level. The first and second set of gates each extend in a second direction, overlap the active region and are located at a second level. The second set of gates are positioned along opposite edges of the active region, are configured to receive a first voltage, and are part of a first transistor. The first transistor is configured to adjust a first capacitance of the phase shifter responsive to the first voltage. The set of contacts extend in the second direction, are over the active region, are located at a third level, and are positioned between at least the second set of gates.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a differential oscillator includes a differential circuit coupled between a first output node and a second output node and a transformer-coupled band-pass filter (BPF). The transformer-coupled BPF is coupled between the first output node and the second output node and includes a coupling device and a transformer. The coupling device is coupled between the first output node and the second output node. The transformer includes a first winding coupled between the first output node and a voltage node and a second winding coupled between the second output node and the voltage node.

Abstract: A band-pass filter (BPF) includes a pair of coupled transformers including first through fourth conductive structures. The first conductive structure includes a first terminal and two first extending portions extending from the first terminal and configured as primary windings. The second conductive structure includes a second terminal and two second extending portions extending from the second terminal. A first via connects the third conductive structure to a first one of the two second extending portions, the third conductive structure and the first one of the two second extending portions thereby being configured as a first secondary winding. A second via connects the fourth conductive structure to a second one of the two second extending portions, the fourth conductive structure and the second one of the two second extending portions thereby being configured as a second secondary winding.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes an inductor that includes a first set of conductive lines in a first metal layer, and is over a substrate, and a guard ring. The guard ring includes a first conductive line in a second metal layer, and extending in a first direction, a second conductive line extending in a second direction, and a first staggered line coupled between the first conductive line and the second conductive line. The first staggered line includes a second set of conductive lines in the second metal layer, and extends in the first direction, a third set of conductive lines in a third metal layer, and extends in the second direction, and a first set of vias coupling the second and third set of conductive lines together. All metal lines in the third metal layer that are part of the guard ring extend in the second direction.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes an inductor over a substrate and a guard ring surrounding the inductor. The guard ring includes a first staggered line, a first metal line extending in a first direction and a second metal line extending in a second direction different from the first direction. The first staggered line has a first end coupled to the first metal line, and a second end coupled to the second metal line. The first staggered line includes a first set of vias, a first set of metal lines in a first metal layer and a second set of metal lines in a second metal layer different from the first metal layer. The first set of vias coupling the first set of metal lines with the second of second metal lines.