Abstract: A snapback electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit includes a first well in a substrate, a drain region of a transistor, a source region of the transistor, a gate region of the transistor, and a second well embedded in the first well. The first well has a first dopant type. The drain region is in the first well, and has a second dopant type different from the first dopant type. The source region is in the first well, has the second dopant type, and is separated from the drain region in a first direction. The gate region is over the first well and the substrate. The second well is embedded in the first well, and is adjacent to a portion of the drain region. The second well has the second dopant type.

Abstract: Capacitor cells are provided. A first PMOS transistor is coupled between a power supply and a first node, and has a gate connected to a second node. A first NMOS transistor is coupled between a ground and the second node, and has a gate connected to the first node. A second PMOS transistor is coupled between the second node and the power supply, and has a gate connected to the second node. A second NMOS transistor is coupled between the first node and the ground, a gate connected to the first node, and has a gate connected to the first node. Sources of the first and second PMOS transistors share a P+ doped region in N-type well region, and the first PMOS transistor is disposed between the second PMOS transistor and the first and second NMOS transistors.

Abstract: A memory device includes a memory circuit and a fuse protection circuit. The memory circuit includes a program line and a fuse. The program line is configured to receive a program voltage for programming the fuse. The fuse protection circuit is coupled to the memory circuit and is configured to prevent unintentional programming of the fuse.

Abstract: An integrated circuit design method includes receiving an integrated circuit design, and determining a floor plan for the integrated circuit design. The floor plan includes an arrangement of a plurality of functional cells and a plurality of tap cells. Potential latchup locations in the floor plan are determined, and the arrangement of at least one of the functional cells or the tap cells is modified based on the determined potential latchup locations.

Abstract: A capacitor cell is provided. A first PMOS transistor is coupled between a power supply and a first node, and has a gate connected to a second node. A first NMOS transistor is coupled between a ground and the second node, and has a gate connected to the first node. A second PMOS transistor is coupled between the second node and the first node, and has a gate connected to the second node. A second NMOS transistor has a drain connected to the first node, a gate connected to the first node, and a source connected to the ground or the second node. The first and second PMOS transistors and the first and second NMOS transistors are arranged in the same row. The second PMOS transistor is disposed between the first PMOS transistor and the first and second NMOS transistors.

Abstract: A method includes implanting a first guard ring around a periphery of core circuitry. The implanting of the first guard ring includes implanting a first component a first distance from the core circuitry on a first side of the core circuitry, and implanting a second component a second distance from the core circuitry on a second side of the core circuitry, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance. The method further includes implanting a second guard ring around the periphery of the core circuitry. The implanting of the second guard ring includes implanting a third component a third distance from the core circuitry on the first side of the core circuitry, and implanting a fourth component a fourth distance from the core circuitry on the second side of the core circuitry, wherein the third distance is greater than the fourth distance.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first type-one transistor, a second type-one transistor, a first type-two transistor, a second type-two transistor, a third type-one transistor, a fourth type-one transistor, and a fifth type-one transistor. The first type-one transistor has a gate configured to have a first supply voltage of a first power supply. The first type-two transistor has a gate configured to have a second supply voltage of the first power supply. The first active-region of the third type-one transistor is connected with an active-region of the first type-one transistor. The second active-region and the gate of the third type-one transistor are connected together. The first active-region of the fifth type-one transistor is connected with the gate of the third type-one transistor. The second active-region of the fifth type-one transistor is configured to have a first supply voltage of a second power supply.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first diode, a second diode, a clamp circuit and a third diode. The first diode is coupled between an input/output (I/O) pad and a first voltage terminal. The second diode is coupled with the first diode, the I/O pad and a second voltage terminal. The clamp circuit is coupled between the first voltage terminal and the second voltage terminal. The second diode and the clamp circuit are configured to direct a first part of an electrostatic discharge (ESD) current flowing between the I/O pad and the first voltage terminal. The third diode, coupled to the first voltage terminal, and the second diode include a first semiconductor structure configured to direct a second part of the ESD current flowing between the I/O pad and the first voltage terminal.

Abstract: An Electro-Static Discharge (ESD) includes a first well having a first conductivity type on a substrate. The device further includes a second well within the first well. The second well has a second conductivity type. The device further includes a third well within the first well. The third well has the second conductivity type. The device further includes a first gate device disposed over the first well, a plurality of active regions between the first gate device and the dummy gate, and a dummy gate disposed within a space between the active regions. The dummy gate is positioned over a space between the second and third wells.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit is coupled between first and second power supply buses. The ESD protection circuit includes a detection circuit; a pull-up circuit, coupled to the detection circuit, comprising at least a first n-type transistor; a pull-down circuit, coupled to the pull-up circuit, comprising at least a second n-type transistor; and a bypass circuit, coupled to the pull-up and pull-down circuits, wherein the detection circuit is configured to detect whether an ESD event is present on either the first or the second bus so as to cause the pull-up and pull-down circuits to selectively enable the bypass circuit for providing a discharging path between the first and second power supply buses.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) device. The MOSFET device includes a first-type substrate, a deep-second-type well in the first-type substrate, a first-type well over the deep-second-type well, and a second-type well over the deep-second-type well. The second-type well and the deep-second-type well form an enclosed space that includes the first-type well. The MOSFET also includes an embedded semiconductor region (ESR) in a vicinity of the enclosed space. The ESR includes a dopant concentration lower than at least one of a dopant concentration of the first-type well, a dopant concentration of the second-type well, and a dopant concentration of the deep-second-type well.

Abstract: A memory device includes a memory circuit and a fuse protection circuit. The memory circuit includes a program line and a fuse. The program line is configured to receive a program voltage for programming the fuse. The fuse protection circuit is coupled to the memory circuit and is configured to prevent unintentional programming of the fuse.

Abstract: An integrated circuit design method includes receiving an integrated circuit design, and determining a floor plan for the integrated circuit design. The floor plan includes an arrangement of a plurality of functional cells and a plurality of tap cells. Potential latchup locations in the floor plan are determined, and the arrangement of at least one of the functional cells or the tap cells is modified based on the determined potential latchup locations.

Abstract: A circuit device includes core circuitry. The circuit device further includes a guard ring surrounding the core circuitry. The guard ring includes a first plurality of fin structures arranged in a first direction parallel to a first side of the core circuitry, wherein adjacent fin structures of the first plurality of fin structures are separated by a first distance. The guard ring further includes a second plurality of fin structures arranged in a second direction parallel to a second side of the core circuitry, wherein adjacent fin structures of the second plurality of fin structures are separated by a second distance, and the second distance is smaller than the first distance.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first type-one transistor, a second type-one transistor, a third type-one transistor, and a fourth type-one transistor. The first type-one transistor and the third type-one transistor are in the first portion of the type-one active zone. The integrated circuit includes a first type-two transistor in the first portion of the type-two active zone. The first type-one transistor has a gate configured to have a first supply voltage of a first power supply. The first type-two transistor has a gate configured to have a second supply voltage of the first power supply. The third type-one transistor has a gate configured to have the first supply voltage of a second power supply. The third type-one transistor has a first active-region conductively connected with an active-region of the first type-one transistor.

Abstract: An Electro-Static Discharge (ESD) includes a first well having a first conductivity type on a substrate. The device further includes a second well within the first well. The second well has a second conductivity type. The device further includes a third well within the first well. The third well has the second conductivity type. The device further includes a first gate device disposed over the first well, a plurality of active regions between the first gate device and the dummy gate, and a dummy gate disposed within a space between the active regions. The dummy gate is positioned over a space between the second and third wells.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit is coupled between first and second power supply buses. The ESD protection circuit includes a detection circuit; a pull-up circuit, coupled to the detection circuit, comprising at least a first n-type transistor; a pull-down circuit, coupled to the pull-up circuit, comprising at least a second n-type transistor; and a bypass circuit, coupled to the pull-up and pull-down circuits, wherein the detection circuit is configured to detect whether an ESD event is present on either the first or the second bus so as to cause the pull-up and pull-down circuits to selectively enable the bypass circuit for providing a discharging path between the first and second power supply buses.

Abstract: A memory device includes a memory circuit and a fuse protection circuit. The memory circuit includes a program line and a fuse. The program line is configured to receive a program voltage for programming the fuse. The fuse protection circuit is coupled to the memory circuit and is configured to prevent unintentional programming of the fuse.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) device. The MOSFET device includes a first-type substrate, a deep-second-type well in the first-type substrate, a first-type well over the deep-second-type well, and a second-type well over the deep-second-type well. The second-type well and the deep-second-type well form an enclosed space that includes the first-type well. The MOSFET also includes an embedded semiconductor region (ESR) in a vicinity of the enclosed space. The ESR includes a dopant concentration lower than at least one of a dopant concentration of the first-type well, a dopant concentration of the second-type well, and a dopant concentration of the deep-second-type well.

Abstract: An Electro-Static Discharge (ESD) protection circuit includes a plurality of groups of p-type heavily doped semiconductor strips (p+ strips) and a plurality of groups of n-type heavily doped semiconductor strips (n+ strips) forming an array having a plurality of rows and columns. In each of the rows and the columns, the plurality of groups of p+ strips and the plurality of groups of n+ strips are allocated in an alternating layout. The ESD protection circuit further includes a plurality of gate stacks, each including a first edge aligned to an edge of a group in the plurality of groups of p+ strips, and a second edge aligned to an edge of a group in the plurality of groups of n+ strips.