Abstract: A device includes a first cell active area asymmetrically positioned in a first device column between a first barrier line and a second barrier line, a second cell active area asymmetrically positioned in a second device column between the first barrier line and a third barrier line, where the first cell has a first cell length in a first direction perpendicular to the first barrier line which is three times a second cell length in the first direction. The first cell active area and the second cell active area are a first distance from the first barrier line, and the first cell active area is a second distance from the second barrier line, and the second cell active area is the second distance away from the third barrier line.

Abstract: In an integrated circuit, the gates of a first high-threshold transistor and a first low-threshold transistor are connected together, and the gates of a second high-threshold transistor and a second low-threshold transistor are connected together. The drain of the first high-threshold transistor is conductively connected to the source of the first low-threshold transistor, and the drain of the second high-threshold transistor is conductively connected to the source of the second low-threshold transistor. The gates of the first low-threshold transistor and the second low-threshold transistor are conductively connected to the drain of the first low-threshold transistor. The threshold-voltage of the first high-threshold transistor is larger than a threshold-voltage of the first low-threshold transistor. The threshold-voltage of the second high-threshold transistor is larger than a threshold-voltage of the second low-threshold transistor.

Abstract: A device including an inverter circuit, a hysteresis control circuit, and a high-side input level shifter. The inverter circuit having an output and including at least two series connected PMOS transistors connected, at the output, in series to at least two series connected NMOS transistors. The hysteresis control circuit coupled to the output to provide feedback to the at least two series connected PMOS transistors and to the at least two series connected NMOS transistors. The high-side input level shifter connected to gates of the at least two PMOS transistors and configured to shift a low level of an input signal to a higher level and provide the higher level to one or more of the gates of the at least two PMOS transistors.

Abstract: A device includes an electrical circuit having a first set of circuit elements. The device further includes a first set of conductive pillars over a first side of a substrate. The device further includes a first conductive rail electrically connected to each of the first set of conductive pillars, wherein each of the first set of conductive pillars is electrically connected to each of the first set of circuit elements by the first conductive rail. The device further includes a first plurality of power pillars extending through the substrate, wherein each of the first plurality of power pillars is electrically connected to the first conductive rail.

Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed for automatically generating sub-cells for a non-final layout of an analog integrated circuit. Device specifications and partition information for the analog integrated circuit is received. Based on the device specifications and the partition information, first cut locations for a first set of cuts to be made along a first direction of a non-final layout of the analog integrated circuit and second cut locations for a second set of cuts to be made along a second direction in the non-final layout are determined. The first set of cuts are made in the non-final layout at the cut locations to produce a temporary layout. The second set of cuts are made in the temporary layout at the cut locations to produce a plurality of sub-cells.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an edge active cell, an inner active cell and a middle active cell. The edge active cell is located near an edge of the semiconductor device. The edge active cell includes a plurality of fingers. The inner active cell is adjacent to the edge active cell toward a central portion of the semiconductor device. The inner active cell includes a plurality of fingers and at least one of the plurality of fingers of the edge active cell is electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of fingers of the inner active cell. The middle active cell is located near the central portion of the semiconductor device. The middle active cell includes a plurality of fingers and each of the fingers of the middle active cell is electrically connected to each other.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of active area structures. One or more active devices include portions of the plurality of active area structures. A metal layer is formed on the plurality of active area structures and separated from the one or more active devices by one or more dummy gate layers. The metal layer is configured to measure, due to a change of resistance in the metal layer, a temperature of the plurality of active area structures.

Abstract: Techniques for generating one or more non-final layouts for an analog integrated circuit are disclosed. The techniques include generating a non-final layout of an analog integrated circuit based on device specifications, partitioning the non-final layout into a plurality of subcells, merging the verified sub-cells to form a merged layout of the analog integrated circuit, and performing quality control checks on the merged layout. Additionally or alternatively, generating the non-final layout can include determining an allowable spacing between adjacent cells of different cell types or inserting one or more filler cells into a filler zone in the non-final layout.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a hysteresis block configured to generate an output voltage at corresponding disabling enabling voltage levels and a core-voltage-gated (CVG) device configured to receive a core voltage, an input terminal of the hysteresis block is coupled to a control node. The CVG device is configured to alter a control voltage at the control node so as to cause the output voltage of the hysteresis block to be generated in response to the core voltage either at the disabling voltage level or at the enabling voltage level.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: first and second active regions (ARs) included correspondingly in abutting first and second analog cell regions, a region where the first and second analog cell regions abut (analog-cell-boundary (ACB) region) extending from about a top boundary of the first AR to about a bottom boundary of the second AR; via-to-PGBM_1st-segment contact structures (VBs) correspondingly being under the first or second ARs, a long axis of each VB and a short axis of each of the first and second ARs having about a same length; and a PG segment in a first buried metallization layer (PGBM_1st segment) under the VBs, the PGBM_1st segment underlapping a majority of each of the VBs, and a Y-midline of the PGBM_1st segment being at or proximal to where the first and second analog cell regions abut and thus being at or proximal to a middle of the ACB region.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are related to a system and a method of amplifying an input voltage based on cascaded charge pump boosting. In one aspect, first electrical charges are stored at a first capacitor according to the input voltage to obtain a second voltage. In one aspect, the second voltage is amplified according to the first electrical charges stored by the first capacitor to obtain a third voltage. In one aspect, second electrical charges are stored at the second capacitor according to the third voltage. In one aspect, the third voltage is amplified according to the second electrical charges stored by the second capacitor to obtain a fourth voltage.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an active region over a substrate extending along a first lateral direction. The semiconductor device includes a number of first conductive structures operatively coupled to the active region. The first conductive structures extend along a second lateral direction. The semiconductor device includes a number of second conductive structures disposed above the plurality of first conductive structures. The second conductive structures extend along the first lateral direction. The semiconductor device includes a first capacitor having a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode includes one of the first conductive structures and the active region, and the second electrode includes a first one of the second conductive structures. Each of the active region and the first conductive structures is electrically coupled to a power rail structure configured to carry a supply voltage.

Abstract: A digitally controlled delay line (DCDL) includes input and output terminals, and a plurality of stages that propagate a signal along a first signal path from the input terminal to a selectable return stage and along a second signal path from the return stage to the output terminal. Each stage includes a first inverter that selectively propagates the signal along the first signal path, a second inverter that selectively propagates the signal along the second signal path, and a third inverter that selectively propagates the signal from the first signal path to the second signal path. At least one of the first or third inverters includes a tuning portion including either a plurality of parallel, independently controllable p-type transistors coupled in series with a single independently controllable n-type transistor, or a plurality of parallel, independently controllable n-type transistors coupled in series with a single independently controllable p-type transistor.

Abstract: A device includes a first cell active area asymmetrically positioned in a first device column between a first barrier line and a second barrier line, a second cell active area asymmetrically positioned in a second device column between the first barrier line and a third barrier line, where the first cell has a first cell length in a first direction perpendicular to the first barrier line which is three times a second cell length in the first direction. The first cell active area and the second cell active area are a first distance from the first barrier line, and the first cell active area is a second distance from the second barrier line, and the second cell active area is the second distance away from the third barrier line.

Abstract: A method of generating an IC layout diagram includes positioning a resistor unit cell in the IC layout diagram, a resistor of the resistor unit cell including a source/drain metal region, positioning a MOS unit cell in the IC layout diagram, overlapping the resistor unit cell with a first via region, overlapping the MOS unit cell with a second via region, overlapping the first and second via regions with a continuous conductive region, and storing the IC layout diagram in a storage device.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an active region over a substrate extending along a first lateral direction. The semiconductor device includes a number of first conductive structures operatively coupled to the active region. The first conductive structures extend along a second lateral direction. The semiconductor device includes a number of second conductive structures disposed above the plurality of first conductive structures. The second conductive structures extend along the first lateral direction. The semiconductor device includes a first capacitor having a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode includes one of the first conductive structures and the active region, and the second electrode includes a first one of the second conductive structures. Each of the active region and the first conductive structures is electrically coupled to a power rail structure configured to carry a supply voltage.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are related to a method of amplifying an input voltage based on cascaded charge pump boosting. The method includes generating, at a set of capacitors, an input voltage corresponding to input data. The method further includes storing, by a first capacitor, first electrical charges corresponding to the input voltage to obtain a second voltage. The method further includes amplifying, a voltage amplifier, the second voltage according to the first electrical charges stored by the first capacitor to obtain a third voltage. The method further includes storing, by a second capacitor, second electrical charges according to the third voltage. The method further includes amplifying, by the voltage amplifier, the third voltage according to the second electrical charges stored by the second capacitor to obtain a fourth voltage.

Abstract: A semiconductor cell structure includes a first complementary metal oxide silicon (CMOS) a second CMOS, a first conducting element, and a second conducting element. The first and second CMOSs are disposed on the substrate and a reference voltage is provided to the first CMOS and the second CMOS respectively through the first conducting element and the second conducting element. A product of a width of the first conducting element multiplied by a channel length of the first CMOS is positively related to a product of a width of the second conducting element multiplied by a channel length of the second CMOS.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes an array of metal conducting lines in a metal layer overlying an insulation layer supported by a substrate, a first metal segment lineup having multiple metal segments in the metal layer between a first metal conducting line and a second metal conducting line in the array of metal conducting lines, and an electric circuit having a first input and a second input. The first input is connected to the first metal conducting line and the second input is connected to the second metal conducting line, and a first length of the first metal conducting line is equal to a second length of the second metal conducting line.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first circuit with m first units coupled in parallel, any of the first units including one or more first transistors coupled in series, and a second circuit with n second units coupled in parallel, any of the second units including one or more second transistors coupled in series. A gate terminal of the first circuit is coupled to a gate terminal of the second circuit. M and n are different positive integers.