Placement Or Layout Patents (Class 716/119)
-
Patent number: 12255176Abstract: A microelectronic assembly may include a semiconductor wafer having first and second surfaces extending in first and second directions, the semiconductor wafer having network nodes connected to one another via local adjacent connections each extending in only one of the first and second directions, and an interconnection structure comprising a low-loss dielectric material and having first and second opposite surfaces extending in third and fourth directions each oriented at an oblique angle relative to the first and second directions, the interconnection structure having local oblique connections each extending in only one of the third and fourth directions. The semiconductor wafer may be directly bonded to the interconnection structure such that each of the network nodes is connected with at least one of the other network nodes, without use of conductive bonding material, through at least one of the local adjacent connections and at least one of the local oblique connections.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2023Date of Patent: March 18, 2025Assignee: Adeia Semiconductor Technologies LLCInventors: Javier A. DeLaCruz, Richard E. Perego
-
Patent number: 12242781Abstract: Machine assisted systems and methods for enhancing the resolution of an IC thermal profile from a system analysis are described. These systems and methods can use a neural network based predictor, that has been trained to determine a temperature rise across an entire IC. The training of the predictor can include generating a representation of two or more templates identifying different portions of an integrated circuit (IC), each template associated with location parameters to position the template in the IC; performing thermal simulations for each respective template of the IC, each thermal simulation determining an output based on a power pattern of tiles of the respective template, the output indicating a change in temperature of a center tile of the respective template relative to a base temperature of the integrated circuit; and training a neural network.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2023Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: ANSYS, INC.Inventors: Norman Chang, Hsiming Pan, Jimin Wen, Deqi Zhu, Wenbo Xia, Akhilesh Kumar, Wen-Tze Chuang, En-Cih Yang, Karthik Srinivasan, Ying-Shiun Li
-
Patent number: 12242789Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed are generally related to masklessly developing connections between a chip-group and a design connection point on a substrate. In placement of the chip-group on the substrate, according to certain embodiments the chip-group may be dispositioned relative to an expected position per a substrate layout design, causing a connection misalignment with the design connection point. According to certain embodiments, a machine learning (ML) model is trained on historical and simulated pixel models of chip-group connections and design connection points. Upon determining the chip-group misalignment by a metrology measurement, the trained ML model determines a pixel model to connect the misaligned chip-group, and causes the pixel model to be exposed to a substrate with a digital lithography tool, thereby connecting the dispositioned chip-group to the design connection point.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2024Date of Patent: March 4, 2025Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Tamer Coskun, Aidyn Kemeldinov, Chung-Shin Kang, Uwe Hollerbach, Thomas L. Laidig
-
Patent number: 12210290Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes performing an optical proximity correction (OPC) operation on a layout and forming a photoresist pattern on a substrate using a photomask that is manufactured with the layout corrected by the OPC operation. The OPC operation includes sectioning the layout into a low-level patch and a high-level patch, performing a first OPC operation on the low-level patch, the first OPC operation including generating a first boundary correction pattern of a curvilinear shape on a boundary between the low-level patch and the high-level patch, performing a second OPC operation on the high-level patch, the second OPC operation including a second boundary correction pattern of a curvilinear shape on the boundary, and conforming the first boundary correction pattern and the second boundary correction pattern to each other to generate a conformed boundary correction pattern of a curvilinear shape.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2021Date of Patent: January 28, 2025Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Pilsoo Kang, Sangwook Kim, Sanghun Kim
-
Patent number: 12141511Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure include techniques for generating a capacitor comprising receiving a total capacitance for a capacitor to be generated, determining a number N of unit capacitors having a unit capacitance to be combined to form the total capacitance, generating a transistor level schematic comprising N unit capacitor schematics having the unit capacitance, wherein the N unit capacitor schematics are configured to produce the total capacitance, and generating a layout comprising N capacitor layout elements configured to produce said capacitor.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2023Date of Patent: November 12, 2024Assignee: Celera, Inc.Inventors: Calum MacRae, John Mason, Karen Mason
-
Patent number: 12093619Abstract: In some embodiments, information specifying a transistor to be generated is received, the information comprising an on resistance. A total width of a gate of the transistor to be generated is determined based at least on the on resistance. A first width, a number of fingers (F), and a number of device cells (P) are determined based on the total width. A transistor level schematic is generated comprising one or more transistors configured with the first width and the number of fingers (F). A layout is generated, wherein the layout comprises P device cells, each device cell comprising a plurality of gates corresponding to said number of fingers (F) each gate having said first width, wherein the device cells are configured in a two-dimensional array.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2023Date of Patent: September 17, 2024Assignee: Celera, Inc.Inventors: Calum MacRae, John Mason, Karen Mason
-
Patent number: 12081214Abstract: A clock gating cell is provided. The clock gating cell includes an input stage and an output stage. The input stage receives a first clock signal and at least one input enable signal and generates a first enable signal corresponding to one of the least one input enable signal according to the first clock signal. The output stage is coupled to the input stage. The output stage receives the first enable signal and the first clock signal and generates a clock gating signal according to the first enable signal and the first clock signal. The input stage operates based on a first voltage threshold, and the output stage operates based on a second voltage threshold. The first voltage threshold is different from the second voltage threshold.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2022Date of Patent: September 3, 2024Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.Inventors: Kin-Hooi Dia, Ssu-Yen Wu, Shih-Yun Lin
-
Patent number: 12032892Abstract: Systems and methods for analyzing a semiconductor layout design around a point of interest (POI) are disclosed. Semiconductor layout designs are a representation of an integrated circuit in terms of planar geometric shapes which make up the components of the integrated circuit, and are used to manufacture the integrated circuit. The layout design may be analyzed using one or more POI-based approaches to determine whether to modify the layout design. In one POI-based approach, set of kernels, tailored to the downstream application, are convolved with a representation of the layout design about or around the POI in order to generate a signature associated with the POI. In turn, the signatures may be analyzed based on the downstream application. Another POI-based approach consists of analyzing geometrical parameters associated with the POI, which may be used during a design stage to identify and modify problem areas in the layout design.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2019Date of Patent: July 9, 2024Assignee: Siemens Industry Software Inc.Inventors: David A. Abercrombie, Mohamed Alimam Mohamed Selim, Mohamed Bahnas, Hazem Hegazy, Ahmed Hamed Fathi Hamed
-
Patent number: 12019967Abstract: The disclosure provides a general solution for determining connections between terminals of various types of circuits using machine learning (ML). A ML method that uses reinforcement learning (RL), such as deep RL, to determine and optimize routing of circuit connections using a game process is provided. In one example a method of determining routing connection includes: (1) receiving a circuit design having known terminal groups, (2) establishing terminal positions for the terminal groups in a routing environment, and (3) determining, by the RL agent, routes of nets between the known terminal groups employing a model that is independent of a number of the nets of the circuit. A method of creating a model for routing nets using RL, a method of employing a game for training a RL agent to determine routing connections, and a RL agent for routing connections of a circuit are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2021Date of Patent: June 25, 2024Assignee: NVIDIA CorporationInventors: Haoxing Ren, Matthew Fojtik
-
Patent number: 12001922Abstract: A quantum circuit includes: a qubit, a resonant cavity, and a feeder, the resonant cavity being coupled to the qubit, and the feeder being coupled to the qubit. The feeder is configured to feed an initialization signal to the qubit, the initialization signal being a modulation signal used for causing a frequency of the qubit to generate a vibration. The vibration causes an equivalent state exchange to occur between the qubit and the resonant cavity, and an excited state of the qubit is initialized to a ground state by using the resonant cavity.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2022Date of Patent: June 4, 2024Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITEDInventors: Yu Zhou, Zhenxing Zhang, Shuoming An, Zelong Yin, Sainan Huai, Xiu Gu, Xiong Xu, Shengyu Zhang
-
Patent number: 11934762Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed are generally related to masklessly developing connections between a chip-group and a design connection point on a substrate. In placement of the chip-group on the substrate, according to certain embodiments the chip-group may be dispositioned relative to an expected position per a substrate layout design, causing a connection misalignment with the design connection point. According to certain embodiments, a machine learning (ML) model is trained on historical and simulated pixel models of chip-group connections and design connection points. Upon determining the chip-group misalignment by a metrology measurement, the trained ML model determines a pixel model to connect the misaligned chip-group, and causes the pixel model to be exposed to a substrate with a digital lithography tool, thereby connecting the dispositioned chip-group to the design connection point.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2021Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Tamer Coskun, Aidyn Kemeldinov, Chung-Shin Kang, Uwe Hollerbach, Thomas L Laidig
-
Patent number: 11928413Abstract: A method and system for generating a physical layout for a grating coupler integrated in a photonically-enabled circuit are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the method receives a parametrized wavelength, a parametrized first refractive index, a parametrized second refractive index, a parametrized taper length, a parametrized width, a parametrized grating length, and a parametrized incident angle of the optical beam incident onto the grating coupler and generates a physical layout for the grating coupler based on the received parametrized inputs, the generating of the physical layout is according to a predefined model, and outputs the physical layout of the grating coupler for manufacturing under a semiconductor fabrication process.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2021Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Feng-Wei Kuo, Wen-Shiang Liao
-
Patent number: 11916055Abstract: Semiconductor structures are provided. A semiconductor structure includes a plurality of first logic cells having a first cell height, a plurality of second logic cells having a second cell height, and a plurality of metal lines parallel to each other in a metal layer. The second cell height is different than the first cell height. The first logic cells are arranged in odd rows of a cell array, and the second logic cells are arranged in even rows of the cell array. The metal lines covering the first and second logic cells are wider than the metal lines inside the first logic cells, and the metal lines inside the first logic cells are wider than the metal lines inside the second logic cells.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2019Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventor: Jhon-Jhy Liaw
-
Patent number: 11868698Abstract: Various embodiments provide for context-aware circuit design layout construct, which may be part of electronic design automation (EDA). In particular, some embodiments enable use of a circuit design layout construct with a layout of a circuit design (hereafter, a circuit design layout), where a programmable pattern of layout shapes of the circuit design layout construct can be inserted into a circuit design layout and can be adapted based on context information associated with the location of its placement within the circuit design layout.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2021Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.Inventors: Joshua David Tygert, Jonathan R. Fales, Rwik Sengupta, Timothy H. Pylant
-
Patent number: 11853661Abstract: Machine assisted systems and methods for enhancing the resolution of an IC thermal profile from a system analysis are described. These systems and methods can use a neural network based predictor, that has been trained to determine a temperature rise across an entire IC. The training of the predictor can include generating a representation of two or more templates identifying different portions of an integrated circuit (IC), each template associated with location parameters to position the template in the IC; performing thermal simulations for each respective template of the IC, each thermal simulation determining an output based on a power pattern of tiles of the respective template, the output indicating a change in temperature of a center tile of the respective template relative to a base temperature of the integrated circuit; and training a neural network.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2022Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: ANSYS, INC.Inventors: Norman Chang, Hsiming Pan, Jimin Wen, Deqi Zhu, Wenbo Xia, Akhilesh Kumar, Wen-Tze Chuang, En-Cih Yang, Karthik Srinivasan, Ying-Shiun Li
-
Patent number: 11803685Abstract: The disclosure discloses a layout design method, chip and terminal of power device, wherein the non-top metal layout design: the metal is routed along the first direction and several metal wires that fully occupy the available area of the die unit are thereby obtained, and the wiring properties of the metal wires are sequentially changed at intervals, making the source ends and the drain ends of the device are alternately distributed at intervals, and the metal routing in two or more layers of non-top metal are arranged vertically; the top metal layout design: the source end region and drain end region in the top metal are formed into sheets independently and the pad is arranged in the top metal region; eventually realize the interconnection of metal layers and complete the layout design.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2023Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Inventors: Chun Su, Shuai Zhang, Yu Liu, Hongshuang Dong, Wei Chen, Yi Chen, Xin Wang, Gaoqiang Dai
-
Patent number: 11776996Abstract: An ESD protection device includes a semiconductor body having an upper surface, a plurality of p-type wells that each extend from the upper surface into the semiconductor body, a plurality of n-type wells that each extend from the upper surface into the semiconductor body, first isolation regions comprising an electrical insulator that laterally surrounds the p-type wells and extends from the upper surface into the semiconductor body at least as deep as the p-type wells, and second isolation regions comprising an electrical insulator that laterally surrounds the n-type wells and extends from the upper surface into the semiconductor body at least as deep as the n-type wells, wherein the p-type wells and the n-type wells alternate with one another a first direction, and wherein an isolating area of the first isolation regions is greater than an isolating area of the second isolation regions.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AGInventors: Egle Tylaite, Joost Adriaan Willemen
-
Patent number: 11734484Abstract: Disclosed is a method for automating a semiconductor design based on artificial intelligence, which is performed by a computing device. The method may include: generating a first embedding for a semiconductor element to be placed in a canvas based on feature information and logical design information of the semiconductor element by using a first neural network; and generating a probability distribution for placing the semiconductor element based on the first embedding and a second embedding for semiconductor elements already placed in the canvas by using a second neural network.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2022Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: MAKINAROCKS CO., LTD.Inventors: Jinwoo Park, Wooshik Myung, Kyeongmin Woo, Jiyoon Lim
-
Patent number: 11734483Abstract: A method of driving design on gate electrodes includes steps of: determining position information of a gate-on-array (GOA) device in an available drawing space according to a size design information and a resolution design information of a display panel, based on user configuration; determining target GOA design strategy information used for a current gate electrode driving design among a plurality of preset GOA design strategies; and drawing a GOA device pattern in the available drawing space of the GOA device, based on the target GOA design strategy information.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2020Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Semiconductor Display Technology Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yang Liu
-
Patent number: 11727188Abstract: A semiconductor device including a cell region which includes components representing a circuit arranged such that a rectangular virtual perimeter is drawable around substantially all of the components and includes first and second virtual side boundaries, the components including: a first conductor which is an intra-cell conductor of a first signal that is internal to the circuit, a first end of the intra-cell conductor being substantially a minimum virtual boundary offset inside the first virtual side boundary; and a second conductor of a second signal of the circuit; a portion of the second conductor having a first end which extends outside the first virtual side boundary by a protrusion length substantially greater than the minimum virtual boundary offset; and a second end of the second conductor being receded inside the second virtual side boundary by a first gap substantially greater than the minimum virtual boundary offset.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2022Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Fong-Yuan Chang, Chin-Chou Liu, Sheng-Hsiung Chen, Po-Hsiang Huang
-
Patent number: 11720735Abstract: Using a flat shell for an accelerator card includes reading a flat shell from one or more computer readable storage media using computer hardware, wherein the flat shell is a synthesized, unplaced, and unrouted top-level circuit design specifying platform circuitry. A kernel specifying user circuitry is synthesized using the computer hardware. The kernel is obtained from the one or more computer readable storage media. The synthesized kernel is linked, using the computer hardware, to the flat shell forming a unified circuit design. The unified circuit design is placed and routed, using the computer hardware, to generate a placed and routed circuit design specifying the platform circuitry and the user circuitry for implementation in an integrated circuit.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.Inventors: Sebastian Turullols, Kyle Corbett, Sudipto Chakraborty, Siva Santosh Kumar Pyla, Ravinder Sharma, Kaustuv Manji, Jayaram Pvss, Stephen P. Rozum, Ch Vamshi Krishna, Susheel Puthana
-
Patent number: 11714947Abstract: A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit includes adjusting a first spacing between an adjacent pair of routing tracks in a first set of routing tracks to be equal to a second spacing, adjusting a third spacing between an adjacent pair of routing tracks in a second set of routing tracks to be equal to a fourth spacing, placing a first and second pair of conductive patterns on the corresponding first and second set of routing tracks, forming a first set of conductive structures based on the first pair of conductive patterns, and a second set of conductive structures based on the second pair of conductive patterns. A first and second cell have a same cell height that is a non-integer multiple of a minimum pitch. One spacing of a first set of spacings is different from another spacing of the first set of spacings.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2022Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Mahantesh Hanchinal, Shu-Yi Ying, Chi Wei Hu, Min-Yuan Tsai
-
Patent number: 11694007Abstract: Automated circuit and layout generation is disclosed. Various embodiments may include a computer system and/or method for generating a circuit layout comprising specifying a circuit schematic to be converted to a circuit layout, receiving a layout script associated with the circuit schematic, the layout script configured to position a plurality of layout instances generated from the circuit schematic, converting the circuit schematic into the plurality of layout instances; and positioning the plurality of layout instances based on the layout script to produce the circuit layout. A circuit may be produced by fabricating a circuit using the layout.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Celera, Inc.Inventors: Karen Mason, John Mason
-
Patent number: 11681852Abstract: The present disclosure describes an example method for cell placement in an integrated circuit (IC) layout design. The method includes defining a layout unit for a circuit implementation and arranging multiple layout units into a layout cell. The method also includes editing the layout cell to connect a first set of the layout units to be representative of the circuit implementation and to connect a second set of the layout units to be representative of a non-functional circuit. Further, the method includes inserting one or more dummy fill structures in areas of the layout cell unoccupied by the first and second sets of layout units.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2022Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ruey-Bin Sheen, Tien-Chien Huang, Chuan-Yao Tan
-
Patent number: 11669764Abstract: A method for the development of a compilation process for a quantum circuit on a quantum processor, includes an implementation step of the compilation method including an iteration loop successively including: a step of simulation of a given implementation of the logical qubits on the physical qubits of the quantum processor; a step of detecting, in the quantum circuit, ineffective quantum gate(s); a step of estimating the number of quantum swap gates to be inserted into the quantum circuit so that all of the quantum gates of the quantum circuit are effective; and a retroaction step, by way of a simulated annealing, involving a new step of simulation, until attaining, whereupon all the quantum gates are effective: either a minimum threshold of the number of estimated quantum value swap gates between two physical qubits, or a maximum threshold of iterations in the loop.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2019Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: BULL SASInventors: Arnaud Gazda, Simon Martiel
-
Patent number: 11657206Abstract: Disclosed is an artificial intelligence-based semiconductor design method performed by a computing device. The artificial intelligence-based semiconductor design method includes: inputting state map information related to a connection relationship between semiconductor devices to a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) of a semiconductor placement model; placing the semiconductor device based on an output of the convolutional neural network; and training the semiconductor placement model based on the placement of the semiconductor devices.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2023Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: MakinaRocks Co., Ltd.Inventor: Wooshik Myung
-
Patent number: 11620427Abstract: A method for assigning connections between IO pad pins and connectors on an integrated circuit (IC) die. A pattern (300) including a physical layout of connectors (302) and pad pins (304) is associated with a mapping of connections between the connectors (302) and the pad pins (304). A processor (204) identifies instances (402, 404) of the pattern (300) within a design image (400) of an integrated circuit (IC) die using a machine learning model. The design image (400) includes a physical layout of connectors (414) and pad pins (416). For each identified instance (402, 404) of the pattern (300) within the design image (400), the mapping of connections is assigned to respective connectors (414) and pad pins (416) in the identified instance (402, 404).Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2021Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.Inventors: Xun Liu, Shamik Saha
-
Patent number: 11620425Abstract: Methods for iteratively optimizing a two-dimensioned tiled area such as a lithographic mask include determining a halo area around each tile in the tiled area. An extended tile is made of a tile and a halo area. Each extended tile in the tiled area is iterated until a criterion is satisfied or a maximum number of iterations is met. Optimizing the extended tile produces a pattern for the tile such that at a perimeter of the tile, the pattern matches adjacent patterns that are calculated at perimeters of adjacent tiles.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2022Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: D2S, Inc.Inventors: P. Jeffrey Ungar, Hironobu Matsumoto
-
Patent number: 11581038Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an active area extending in a first direction, a first transistor including a first gate electrode and first source and drain areas disposed on the active area, the first source and drain areas being disposed at opposite sides of the first gate electrode, a second transistor including a second gate electrode and second source and drain areas disposed on the active area, the second source and drain areas being disposed at opposite sides of the second gate electrode, and a third transistor including a third gate electrode and third source and drain areas disposed on the active area, the third source and drain areas being disposed at opposite sides of the third gate electrode, and the first gate electrode, the second gate electrode, and the third gate electrode extending in a second direction different from the first direction. The second transistor is configured to turn on and off, based on an operation mode of the semiconductor device.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2021Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Sang-Yeop Baeck, Tae-Hyung Kim, Daeyoung Moon, Dong-Wook Seo, Inhak Lee, Hyunsu Choi, Taejoong Song, Jae-Seung Choi, Jung-Myung Kang, Hoon Kim, Jisu Yu, Sun-Yung Jang
-
Patent number: 11568120Abstract: The apparatus according to various embodiments includes one or more processors, and one or more memories operatively connected to the one or more processors. The one or more memories may store instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to acquire a plurality of first position offsets of a plurality of first components respectively mounted on a plurality of first substrates with respect to a plurality of pads of the plurality of first substrates corresponding to the plurality of first components from the optical measurement device, set a range of a normal state for a component position offset based on the plurality of first position offsets, generate a control signal for adjusting at least one control parameter of the component mounting device associated with a component mounting position based on the range of the normal state, and transmit the control signal to the component mounting device.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2021Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: KOH YOUNG TECHNOLOGY INC.Inventors: Duk Young Lee, Jun Ho Lee, Jae Hwan Lee
-
Patent number: 11522071Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor device comprising an active region that protrudes upwardly from a substrate, a plurality of channel patterns that are spaced apart from each other in a first direction on the active region, and a gate electrode that extends in the first direction on the active region and covers the plurality of channel patterns. Each of the plurality of channel patterns includes a plurality of semiconductor patterns that are spaced apart from each other in a direction perpendicular to a top surface of the active region. The gate electrode covers the top surface of the active region between the plurality of channel patterns.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2019Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Taehyung Kim, Kwanyoung Chun, Yoonjin Kim
-
Patent number: 11468207Abstract: A simulation-based framework for optimizing resource allocation and layout design is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2019Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on Behalf of the University of ArizonaInventors: Sara Masoud, Young-Jun Son, Russell E. Tronstad, Chieri Kubota
-
Patent number: 11436401Abstract: Transient voltage noise, including resistive and reactive noise, causes timing errors at runtime. A heuristic framework, Walking Pads, is introduced to minimize transient voltage violations by optimizing power supply pad placement. It is shown that the steady-state optimal design point differs from the transient optimum, and further noise reduction can be achieved with transient optimization. The methodology significantly reduces voltage violations by balancing the average transient voltage noise of the four branches at each pad site. When pad placement is optimized using a representative stressmark, voltage violations are reduced 46-80% across 11 Parsec benchmarks with respect to the results from IR-drop-optimized pad placement. It is shown that the allocation of on-chip decoupling capacitance significantly influences the optimal locations of pads.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2019Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA PATENT FOUNDATIONInventors: Ke Wang, Kevin Skadron, Mircea R. Stan, Runjie Zhang
-
Patent number: 11397842Abstract: A method (of generating a layout diagram) includes: generating a shell including wiring patterns in a first layer of metallization, the wiring patterns having long axes which are substantially aligned with corresponding tracks that extend in a first direction, the wiring patterns having a default arrangement which has, relative to the corresponding tracks, a first amount of free space; and refining the shell into a cell, the refining including selectively shrinking, in the first direction, one or more of the wiring patterns resulting in a second amount of free space, the second amount being greater than the first amount, increasing, in the first direction, one or more chosen ones of the wiring patterns (chosen patterns), and backfilling the second amount of free space with one or more of at least one dummy pattern or at least one wiring pattern.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2020Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Fong-Yuan Chang, Chin-Chou Liu, Sheng-Hsiung Chen, Po-Hsiang Huang
-
Patent number: 11366947Abstract: Machine assisted systems and methods for enhancing the resolution of an IC thermal profile from a system analysis are described. These systems and methods can use a neural network based predictor, that has been trained to determine a temperature rise across an entire IC. The training of the predictor can include generating a representation of two or more templates identifying different portions of an integrated circuit (IC), each template associated with location parameters to position the template in the IC; performing thermal simulations for each respective template of the IC, each thermal simulation determining an output based on a power pattern of tiles of the respective template, the output indicating a change in temperature of a center tile of the respective template relative to a base temperature of the integrated circuit; and training a neural network.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2019Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: ANSYS, INC.Inventors: Norman Chang, Hsiming Pan, Jimin Wen, Deqi Zhu, Wenbo Xia, Akhilesh Kumar, Wen-Tze Chuang, En-Cih Yang, Karthik Srinivasan, Ying-Shiun Li
-
Patent number: 11362110Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a first dummy source/drain, a third transistor, a fourth transistor, and a second dummy source/drain. The first transistor and a second transistor adjacent to the first transistor are at a first elevation. The first dummy source/drain is disposed at the first elevation. The third transistor and a fourth transistor adjacent to the third transistor, are at a second elevation different from the first elevation. The second dummy source/drain is disposed at the second elevation. The second transistor is vertically aligned with the third transistor. The first dummy source/drain is vertically aligned with a source/drain of the fourth transistor. The second dummy source/drain is vertically aligned with a source/drain of the first transistor. The gate structure between the second dummy source/drain and a source/drain of the third transistor is absent. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2020Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.Inventors: Pochun Wang, Guo-Huei Wu, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Chih-Liang Chen, Li-Chun Tien
-
Patent number: 11347924Abstract: A chip layout method based on a minimum total wire length, includes: initializing a total wire length to a preset value, initializing a number of iterations, randomly generating a sequence pair to represent a positional relationship between rectangular circuit modules, inputting the sequence pair to a model, and solving to obtain a sequence pair having a minimum wire length within the number of iterations; changing a field operator of the sequence pair to obtain a new one, inputting the new sequence pair to the model, retaining, if an obtained total wire length is less than the original total wire length, the new sequence pair, or otherwise, abandoning the new sequence pair; repeating the above operation till the number of iterations is reached; and outputting a minimum total wire length, and coordinates of each rectangular circuit module to obtain the chip layout based on the minimum total wire length.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2022Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: GUANGDONG UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: Qiang Liu, Lijun Wei, Xin Chen, Duxi Yan, Long Li
-
Patent number: 11341308Abstract: A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit includes generating a layout of a first and a second cell, adjusting a first spacing between an adjacent pair of routing tracks in a first set of routing tracks to be equal to a second spacing, adjusting a third spacing between an adjacent pair of routing tracks in a second set of routing tracks to be equal to a fourth spacing, placing a first pair of conductive patterns on the first set of routing tracks, placing a second pair of conductive patterns on the second set of routing tracks, forming a first set of conductive structures based on the first pair of conductive patterns, and forming a second set of conductive structures based on the second pair of conductive patterns. The first and second cell have a same cell height that is a non-integer multiple of a minimum pitch.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2021Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Mahantesh Hanchinal, Shu-Yi Ying, Chi Wei Hu, Min-Yuan Tsai
-
Patent number: 11334697Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for characterizing an electronic design with efficient cell cloning. A cell instance corresponding to multiple similar cell instances in a view of an electronic design may be identified, where the cell instance is instantiated from a master parameterized cell. An analysis engine may be configured at least by associating a parameter of the master parameterized cell with multiple different parameter values respectively corresponding to the multiple similar cell instances. An analysis result including respective metric values corresponding to the multiple similar cell instances may be generated at least by performing an analysis that sweeps across the multiple different parameter values.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2020Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.Inventor: Andrew David Beckett
-
Patent number: 11328110Abstract: An integrated circuit includes at least one first area including logic circuitry. The logic circuitry includes library blocks selected from a logic circuit library. A first one of the library blocks is provided with at least two symmetry mirror edges perpendicular to a height of the library blocks. Two adjacent ones of the library blocks are joined at a common symmetry mirror edge.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2020Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Juergen Pille, Tobias Werner, Shankar Kalyanasundaram, Rolf Sautter
-
Patent number: 11314915Abstract: A method of designing a layout of a semiconductor device includes determining from among a plurality of integrated circuit (IC) blocks in the semiconductor device a selection IC block for which a layout is to be changed, changing an spacing interval at which fin structures included in the selection IC block are spaced apart from each other in a first direction from a first spacing interval to a second spacing interval, and determining in the selection IC block locations of source/drain regions connected to the fin structures spaced apart from each other in the first direction at the second spacing interval.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2020Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Inventors: Jin Kim, Byungmoo Kim, Jaehwan Kim, Junsu Jeon
-
Patent number: 11314486Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of facilitating creating a computer application based on a natural language. Accordingly, the method may include receiving, using a communication device, a request from a builder device. Further, the method may include transmitting, using the communication device, a user interface on the builder device. Further, the method may include receiving, using the communication device, the workflow from the builder device. Further, the method may include analyzing, using a processing device, the workflow. Further, the method may include generating, using the processing device, an application file based on the analyzing. Further, the method may include deploying, using the processing device, the application file on at least one end-user device.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2021Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Inventor: Morgan Warstler
-
Patent number: 11263378Abstract: A discrete multi-row height cell in a hybrid row-height system with a plurality of rows of at least two different row-heights is disclosed. The discrete multi-row height cell includes: a first sub-cell deployed on a first row with a first row-height; a second sub-cell deployed on a second row with a second row-height, wherein the second row and the first row is separated by a third row with a third row-height, wherein the third row-height is different from the first row-height, wherein the first sub-cell and the second sub-cell are electrically connected by at least a wire.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2020Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company LimitedInventors: Hung-Chih Ou, Wen-Hao Chen, Chun-Yao Ku
-
Patent number: 11145661Abstract: Static random access memory (SRAM) and its forming method are provided. The forming method includes: providing a semiconductor substrate including memory cell regions, each memory cell region including a transmission region, a pull-down region and a pull-up region including a pull-up fin cutting region; forming first fins on the transmission region and the pull-down region; forming second initial fins on the pull-up region; forming initial gate structures across the first fins and the second initial fins; forming a dielectric layer on the semiconductor substrate, the first fins and the second initial fins; forming a mask layer on the dielectric layer and the initial gate structures; forming a first cutting layer in the initial gate structures at a bottom of the mask opening; and forming a second cutting layer on the pull-up fin cutting region in the dielectric layer at the bottom of the mask opening and in the second initial fins.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2020Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignees: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation, Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Beijing) CorporationInventor: Jisong Jin
-
Patent number: 11139245Abstract: In one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a first pattern metal layer, a second pattern metal layer formed over the first pattern metal layer, wherein the second pattern metal layer comprises a second plurality of metal tracks extending in a first direction and less than 9, a third pattern metal layer disposed between the first pattern metal layer and the second pattern metal layer, the third pattern metal layer including, a first metal track segment, a second metal track segment shifted in a second direction from the first metal track segment, and a third metal track segment shifted in the second direction from the second metal track segment, wherein the second plurality of metal tracks, and at least a portion of each of the first metal track segment, the second metal track segment, and the third metal track segment are within a double cell height in the second direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2020Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITEDInventors: Shih-Wei Peng, Jiann-Tyng Tzeng
-
Patent number: 11138362Abstract: A method of updating a boundary space configuration of an IC layout cell includes identifying a pin in the IC layout cell as a boundary pin, determining that a boundary spacing of the boundary pin is capable of being increased, and based on the determination that the boundary spacing of the boundary pin is capable of being increased, modifying the IC layout cell by increasing the boundary spacing of the boundary pin. At least one of the identifying, determining, or modifying is executed by a processor of a computer.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2020Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Po-Hsiang Huang, Sheng-Hsiung Chen, Fong-Yuan Chang
-
Patent number: 11127673Abstract: A method (of generating a layout diagram) includes: generating one or more first conductive patterns representing corresponding conductive material in the first metallization layer, long axes of the first conductive patterns extending substantially in a first direction; generating a first deep via pattern representing corresponding conductive material in each of the second via layer, the first metallization layer, and the first via layer; relative to the first direction and a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, aligning the first deep via pattern to overlap a corresponding component pattern representing conductive material included in an electrical path of a terminal of a corresponding transistor in the transistor layer; and configuring a size of the first deep via pattern in the first direction to be substantially less than a permissible minimum length of a conductive pattern in the first metallization layer.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2019Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Ta-Pen Guo, Li-Chun Tien, Chien-Ying Chen, Lee-Chung Lu
-
Patent number: 11120192Abstract: A method for enhancing routability in a cell-based design includes: obtaining a layout corresponding to a placement of cells in the cell-based design; identifying one or more areas of the layout where routability is predicted to be constrained; selectively adding white spaces to the identified one or more areas of the layout where routability is predicted to be constrained to thereby generate a modified layout; legalizing placement of the modified layout; and running a detailed routing on the modified layout.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2020Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Hua Xiang, Gustavo E. Tellez, Gi-Joon Nam, Jennifer Kazda
-
Patent number: 11120168Abstract: A protection method for protecting an FPGA against natural radiation, the method comprising the steps of: defining at least one category of constraining signals defined so that a predetermined placement and routing tool cannot route more than a determined maximum number of different constraining signals to any one zone of the surface of the FPGA; replicating an initial logic module in order to obtain a plurality of replicated logic modules forming a replicated logic cell; and associating constraining signals with the replicated logic modules in such a manner that the number of constraining signals associated with the replicated logic cell is greater than a determined maximum number in order to force the placement and routing tool to place the replicated logic modules of the replicated logic cell in distinct zones of the surface of the FPGA.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2019Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: SAFRAN ELECTRONICS & DEFENSEInventors: Cédric Autie, Thibault Porteboeuf
-
Patent number: 11107028Abstract: A computing device translates each of a group of structured language graphical process flow element representations, that each represents within a structured language one node of a captured graphical process flow diagram of a first business process, into one of a group of numerical strings that each represents within a set of data fields the respective node and connections to and from the respective node. The group of numerical strings is sequenced in accordance with values of the respective data fields within each numerical string that represents the respective node and the connections to and from each represented node of the captured graphical process flow diagram of the first business process.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2019Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Shravan K. Kudikala, Amar A. Shah, Swikar K. Sugandhi