Power Distribution Patents (Class 716/120)
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Patent number: 12136626Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first cell arranged in a first row extending in a first horizontal direction, a second cell arranged in a second row adjacent to the first row, and a third cell continuously arranged in the first row and the second row. The first cell and the second cell comprise respective portions of a first power line extending in the first horizontal direction, and the third cell includes a second power line electrically connected to the first power line and extending in the first horizontal direction in the first row.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2021Date of Patent: November 5, 2024Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jung-ho Do, Ji-su Yu, Hyeon-gyu You, Seung-young Lee, Jae-boong Lee
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Patent number: 12100659Abstract: A power supply conductive trace structure of a semiconductor device includes a first power supply conductive trace in a mesh form provided in a first power supply conductive trace layer, and a second power supply conductive trace provided in a redistribution layer located on or above the first power supply conductive trace to correspond in position to a conductive trace area that is a portion of the first power supply conductive trace and to be connected to the first power supply conductive trace.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2021Date of Patent: September 24, 2024Assignee: SOCIONEXT INC.Inventor: Mitsuru Onodera
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Patent number: 12093633Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method for extracting parasitic capacitance of interconnection lines of an integrated circuit based on discontinuous Galerkin finite element method.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2022Date of Patent: September 17, 2024Assignees: Nanjing University Of Posts And Telecommunications, NANTONG INSTITUTE OF NANJING UNIVERSITY OF POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS CO., LTD.Inventors: Zhikuang Cai, Hang Yang, Zhenghao Zhao, Hongqiang Zhu, Henglu Wang, Jingjing Guo, Jiafei Yao, Yufeng Guo
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Patent number: 12080735Abstract: A solid-state imaging element (1) includes a pixel circuit (20) in which a first transistor (26) that amplifies a pixel signal is arranged, the pixel signal being generated by a photoelectric converter performing photoelectric conversion on light that has entered a pixel. The pixel circuit (20) includes a second transistor (27) into which a reference signal is input from a reference signal generator, and a third transistor (28) that outputs bias current to the first transistor (26) and the second transistor (27).Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2019Date of Patent: September 3, 2024Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventor: Takanori Yagami
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Patent number: 12073170Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a first, second and third power rail extending in a first direction, a first, second and third set of conductive structures extending in the second direction, and being located at a second level, and a first, second and third conductive structure extending in the second direction, and being located at a third level. The first conductive structure overlaps a first conductive structure of the corresponding first, second and third set of conductive structures. The second conductive structure overlaps a second conductive structure of the corresponding first, second and third set of conductive structures. The third conductive structure overlaps a third conductive structure of the corresponding first, second and third set of conductive structures.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2023Date of Patent: August 27, 2024Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Jung-Chan Yang, Ting-Wei Chiang, Cheng-I Huang, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Chi-Yu Lu, Stefan Rusu
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Patent number: 12067335Abstract: Generation of a full register-transfer level (RTL) description of an electronics system includes generating an optimized pipeline configuration from inputs including a database of RTL elements, and a list of configurable pipeline components; and generating the full RTL description with the pipeline components configured according to the optimized pipeline configuration. Generating the configuration includes performing a search for a configuration that optimizes area and timing.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2022Date of Patent: August 20, 2024Assignee: ARTERIS, INC.Inventors: Mokhtar Hirech, Benoit de Lescure
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Patent number: 12067337Abstract: Power grid of an integrated circuit (IC) is provided. A plurality of first power lines are formed in a first metal layer. A plurality of second power lines are formed in the first metal layer and parallel to the first power lines, and the first and second power lines are interlaced in the first metal layer. A plurality of third power lines formed in a second metal layer, and the third power lines are perpendicular to the first power lines. A plurality of fourth power lines are formed in the second metal layer and parallel to the third power lines, and the third and fourth power lines are interlaced in the second metal layer. Distances from each of the third power lines to two adjacent fourth power lines are different, and distances from each of the fourth power lines to two adjacent third power lines are the same.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2021Date of Patent: August 20, 2024Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Hiranmay Biswas, Kuo-Nan Yang, Chung-Hsing Wang
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Patent number: 12056430Abstract: A method of routing a clock tree including a plurality of clock nets of an integrated circuit, where each of the plurality of clock nets includes at least one clock repeater, includes determining a level of a clock net of the plurality of clock nets based on a number of clock gating cells that a clock signal passes through until the clock net receives the clock signal from a clock source and routing a plurality of conductive lines in each of the plurality of clock nets by applying different routing rules to clock nets having different levels based on the determined level. Each of the plurality of clock nets is configured to transfer the clock signal to a plurality of synchronous elements or another clock net. The plurality of synchronous elements operate in synchronization with the clock signal and are included in the integrated circuit.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2021Date of Patent: August 6, 2024Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Bonghyun Lee
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Patent number: 12034008Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first standard cell disposed on a substrate in a first row and having a first cell height; a second standard cell disposed on the substrate in a second row, adjacent to the first row, second standard cell having a second cell height, different from the first cell height; and a power line extending in a first direction along a boundary between the first standard cell and the second standard cell.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2023Date of Patent: July 9, 2024Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Sanghoon Baek, Jungho Do, Jaewoo Seo, Jisu Yu
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Patent number: 12033443Abstract: An abnormality cause determining device that is applied to a vehicle including an electromagnetic actuator includes a storage device and an execution device. The storage device is configured to store map data which is data for defining a map. The map includes a current variable which is a variable indicating a current flowing actually in the electromagnetic actuator as an input variable and includes a cause variable which is a variable indicating a cause of an abnormality of an onboard unit including the electromagnetic actuator as an output variable. The execution device is configured to perform an acquisition process of acquiring a value of the input variable based on a detection value from a sensor which is mounted in the vehicle and a calculation process of calculating a value of the output variable by inputting the value of the input variable to the map.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2021Date of Patent: July 9, 2024Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Atsushi Tabata, Koichi Okuda, Ken Imamura, Shinichi Ito, Kota Fujii
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Patent number: 11972192Abstract: Embodiments provide for interactive routing transistor devices of an integrated circuit (IC) design using an interactive routing tool. An example method includes receiving an integrated circuit (IC) design comprising a plurality of transistor devices. The example method further includes receiving a design rule check (DRC) rules set. The example method further includes, responsive to identifying, based at least in part on the DRC rules set, that a first connection input associated with a transistor device of the plurality of transistor devices creates a design rule violation, determining whether a force mode input has been received. The example method further includes, responsive to determining that the force mode input has been received, enabling routing of the first connection input.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2021Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.Inventors: Praveen Yadav, Philippe McComber, Anoop C. Nair, Rakesh P. Shenoy
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Patent number: 11972188Abstract: To ensure proper operation (e.g., speed and/or function) of standard cells fabricated within an integrated circuit a minimum potential difference between the high and low power supply rails needs to be maintained. IR drop refers to a reduction in the potential difference between the power supply rails and is caused when the switching activity of cells that share a power supply rail is greater than can be provided at a particular time. Before fabrication, placement of the cells is reorganized within bounding box regions. Power density across the power rails within each bounding box is normalized based on spatial and temporal power density characteristics of each cell. The reorganization is IR aware and has minimal impact on timing and IR drop is mitigated because distributing current consumption between the supply rails reduces current spikes and IR drops.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2021Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: NVIDIA CorporationInventors: Shaurakar Das, Haoxing Ren, Santosh Santosh, SeshasaiJyothi Kolli, Muhammad Arif Mirza, Sreedhar Pratty
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Patent number: 11886789Abstract: Circuit design development using block design containers can include opening, within a development environment generated by an Electronic Design Automation (EDA) system, a top-level block design specifying a circuit design and inserting, within the top-level block design using the EDA system, a block design container. The block design container specifies a source block design used as a sub-design within the top-level block design.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2021Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.Inventors: Ayush Khemka, Srinivas Beeravolu, Kalyani Tummala, Jaipal Reddy Nareddy, Adithya Balaji Boda, Suman Kumar Timmireddy
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Patent number: 11854610Abstract: 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: February 3, 2023Date of Patent: December 26, 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
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Patent number: 11853678Abstract: A partitioning method for partitioning a group of power-ground (PG) cells is disclosed. The method includes: placing at least one out-boundary PG cell on a substrate, wherein power strips of the at least one out-boundary PG cell are aligned with corresponding power rails on the substrate; and placing at least one in-boundary PG cell on the substrate, wherein power strips of the at least one in-boundary PG cell are aligned with corresponding power rails on the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2023Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yen-Hung Lin, Yuan-Te Hou, Chung-Hsing Wang
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Patent number: 11842131Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device to which corresponds a layout diagram stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The method includes generating the layout diagram using an electronic design system (EDS), the EDS including at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs are configured to cause the EDS to execute the generating. Testing the semiconductor device. Revising, the layout diagram, based on testing results indicative of selected standard functional cells in the layout diagram which merit modification or replacement. Programming one or more of the ECO cells which correspond to the one or more selected standard functional cells resulting in one or more programmed ECO cells. Routing the one or more programmed ECO cells correspondingly to at least one of the selected standard functional cells or to one or more other ones of the standard functional cells.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2021Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Mao-Wei Chiu, Ting-Wei Chiang, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Li-Chun Tien, Chi-Yu Lu
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Patent number: 11829699Abstract: A packaging technology to improve performance of an AI processing system resulting in an ultra-high bandwidth system. An IC package is provided which comprises: a substrate; a first die on the substrate, and a second die stacked over the first die. The first die can be a first logic die (e.g., a compute chip, CPU, GPU, etc.) while the second die can be a compute chiplet comprising ferroelectric or paraelectric logic. Both dies can include ferroelectric or paraelectric logic. The ferroelectric/paraelectric logic may include AND gates, OR gates, complex gates, majority, minority, and/or threshold gates, sequential logic, etc. The IC package can be in a 3D or 2.5D configuration that implements logic-on-logic stacking configuration. The 3D or 2.5D packaging configurations have chips or chiplets designed to have time distributed or spatially distributed processing. The logic of chips or chiplets is segregated so that one chip in a 3D or 2.5D stacking arrangement is hot at a time.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2021Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: KEPLER COMPUTING INC.Inventors: Amrita Mathuriya, Christopher B. Wilkerson, Rajeev Kumar Dokania, Debo Olaosebikan, Sasikanth Manipatruni
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Patent number: 11803683Abstract: A method includes receiving a design rule deck including a predetermined set of widths and spacings associated with active regions. The method also includes providing a cell library including cells having respective active regions, wherein widths and spacings of the active regions are selected from the predetermined set of the design rule deck. The method includes placing a first cell and a second cell from the cell library in a design layout. The first cell has a cell height in a first direction, and a first active region having a first width in the first direction. The second cell has the cell height, and a second active region having a second width in the first direction. The second width is different from the first width. The method further includes manufacturing a semiconductor device according to the design layout.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2021Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Yao-Jen Yang, Meng-Sheng Chang
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Patent number: 11799043Abstract: Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for string connecting photovoltaic modules. The method includes: acquiring position information of n photovoltaic modules to be connected; categorizing the n photovoltaic modules into m partitions based on the position information of the n photovoltaic modules; generating k candidate connection solutions of an ith partition in the m partitions, wherein the ith partition includes m photovoltaic modules, and each of the k candidate connection solutions uses one photovoltaic module in the m photovoltaic modules as a starting point, and obtaining at least one string of photovoltaic modules by simulating connection of the m photovoltaic modules according to a preset connection solution; and selecting a target connection solution from the k candidate connection solutions based on an estimated cable use amount corresponding to each of the k candidate connection solutions.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2020Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignees: ENVISION DIGITAL INTERNATIONAL PTE. LTD., SHANGHAI ENVISION DIGITAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Yijie Hu, Ning Xu, Chen Zhang, Xiu Jiang, Guokun Huang, Tianmin Zheng
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Patent number: 11799471Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first area including a logic circuit, a second area including a functional circuit, a first power line, a second power line that supplies a power to the logic circuit and the functional circuit, and a first power switch circuit connected to the first power line and the second power line, wherein the first power switch circuit includes a first transistor larger than a transistor provided in the logic circuit and being connected to the first power line and the second power line, an end cap provided in an area next to the functional circuit, and a second transistor provided between the end cap and an area including the first transistor, the second transistor being of a same size as the transistor provided in the logic circuit and being connected to the first power line and the second power line.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2022Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: SOCIONEXT INC.Inventors: Atsushi Okamoto, Hirotaka Takeno, Junji Iwahori
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Patent number: 11775727Abstract: A method (of generating a layout diagram of a wire routing arrangement in a multi-patterning context having multiple masks, the layout diagram being stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium) includes: placing, relative to a given one of the masks, a given cut pattern at a first candidate location over a corresponding portion of a given conductive pattern in a metallization layer; determining whether the first candidate location results in at least one of a non-circular group or a cyclic group which violates a design rule; and temporarily preventing, if there is a violation, placement of the given cut pattern in the metallization layer at the first candidate location until a correction is made which avoids violating the design rule.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2019Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Fong-Yuan Chang, Chin-Chou Liu, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Meng-Kai Hsu, Pin-Dai Sue, Po-Hsiang Huang, Yi-Kan Cheng, Chi-Yu Lu, Jung-Chou Tsai
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Patent number: 11755809Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided. The integrated circuit includes a first cell that has a first height and is arranged in a first row which extends in a first direction; a second cell that has a second height and is arranged in a second row which extends in the first direction and is adjacent to the first row, wherein the second cell is adjacent to the first cell in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and a power line that extends in the first direction, is arranged on a boundary between the first cell and the second cell, and is configured to supply power to the first cell and the second cell. The first cell overlaps a first width of the power line along the second direction and the second cell overlaps a second width of the power line along the second direction, and the first width and the second width are different from each other.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2021Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Jisu Yu, Jaewoo Seo, Hyeongyu You, Sanghoon Baek, Jonghoon Jung
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Patent number: 11748550Abstract: A method includes steps of dividing a first arrangement of metal lines in a circuit layout into two sets of metal lines, a first set of metal lines in a peripheral area, and a second set of metal lines in a center area. The arrangement of metal lines is configured to electrically connect to contacts of a second layer of the circuit layout. The method includes adjusting a metal line perimeter of at least one metal line in the center area to make a second arrangement of metal lines, where each adjusted metal line perimeter is separated from contacts in the second layer of the integrated circuit layout by at least a check distance.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2021Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignees: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD., TSMC CHINA COMPANY, LIMITEDInventors: XinYong Wang, Qiquan Wang, Li-Chun Tien, Yuan Ma
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Patent number: 11748543Abstract: One aspect of this description relates to an integrated circuit (IC) structure including a first layer and a second layer. The first layer includes a first metal structure coupled to a first power supply having a first voltage level and a second metal structure coupled to a second power supply having a second voltage level different from the first voltage level. The second layer is formed over the first layer. The second layer includes a first nano-sheet device coupled to the first metal structure and a second nano-sheet device adjacent to the first nano-sheet device. The second nano-sheet device is coupled to the second metal structure. A distance between the first nano-sheet device and the second nano-sheet device is less than a minimum n-well to n-well spacing.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2020Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITEDInventors: Kuo-Nan Yang, Jack Liu
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Patent number: 11734485Abstract: Various embodiments provide for routing a circuit design using routing congestion based on fractional via cost, via density, or both in view of one or more design rules. For instance, some embodiments model via cost based on one or more design rules to determine routing congestion, where routing demand (e.g., routing capacity occupied by) of a via is fractional to the amount of the track blocked by the via. Additionally, some embodiments apply via density modeling based on one or more design rules to determine a routing demand of a via for routing congestion.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2021Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.Inventors: Gracieli Posser, Derong Liu, Mehmet Can Yildiz, Zhuo Li
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Patent number: 11720738Abstract: A system includes a library, a processor and an output interface. The library contains at least one leakage lookup table related to leakage current values for different cell abutment cases of abutted cells in a semiconductor device. The cell abutment cases are associated with terminal types of cell edges of the abutted cells. The processor is configured to perform an analysis to detect boundaries between the abutted cells, identify attributes associated with the terminal types of the cell edges, identify the cell abutment cases based on the attributes, and calculate maximal boundary leakages between the abutted cells based on leakage current values associated with the cell abutment cases and leakage probabilities associated with the cell abutment cases. The output interface is for outputting boundary leakages corresponding to the maximal boundary leakages in the semiconductor device. A method is also disclosed herein.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Cheng-Hua Liu, Yun-Xiang Lin, Yuan-Te Hou, Chung-Hsing Wang
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Patent number: 11710733Abstract: A MOS IC logic cell includes a plurality of gate interconnects extending on tracks in a first direction. The logic cell includes intra-cell routing interconnects coupled to at least a subset of the gate interconnects. The intra-cell routing interconnects include intra-cell Mx layer interconnects on an Mx layer extending in the first direction. The Mx layer is a lowest metal layer for PG extending in the first direction. The intra-cell Mx layer interconnects extend in the first direction over at least a subset of the tracks excluding every mth track, where 2?m<PPG and PPG is a PG grid pitch. A MOS IC may include at least one MOS IC logic cell, and may further include a first set of PG Mx layer interconnects extending in the first direction over the at least one logic cell. The first set of PG Mx layer interconnects have the pitch PPG>m*P.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2020Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATEDInventors: Hyeokjin Lim, Bharani Chava, Foua Vang, Seung Hyuk Kang, Venugopal Boynapalli
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Patent number: 11704465Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a first and second power rail extending in a first direction and being located at a first level, a first and second set of conductive structures located at a second level and extending in a second direction, a first and second set of vias, and a first and second conductive structure located at a third level and extending in the second direction. The first set of vias coupling the first power rail to the first set of conductive structures. The second set of vias coupling the second power rail to the second set of conductive structures. The first conductive structure overlaps a first conductive structure of the first set of conductive structures and the second set of conductive structures. The second conductive structure overlaps a second conductive structure of the first set of conductive structures and the second set of conductive structures.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2020Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Jung-Chan Yang, Ting-Wei Chiang, Cheng-I Huang, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Chi-Yu Lu, Stefan Rusu
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Patent number: 11688686Abstract: A semiconductor device includes bumps and a plurality of input/output areas on a substrate. Each of the input/output areas include semiconductor elements on the substrate, lower wiring patterns connected to the semiconductor elements, and input/output pins above and connected to the lower wiring patterns. The semiconductor elements provide a logic circuit and a protection circuit. The bumps are above the lower wiring patterns and connected to the input/output pins by upper wiring patterns. The input/output areas include a first input/output area and a second input/output area. The input/output areas includes a first circuit area including the electrostatic discharge protection circuit and a second circuit area including the logic circuit. In the first input/output area, the input/output pin is in the first circuit area. In the second input/output area, the input/output pin is in the second circuit area.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Woonki Lee, Minsic Kim, Seunghun Oh, Jinhyeong Kim, Junyeong An, Jooyeon Lee, Sangwoo Pyo
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Patent number: 11676966Abstract: Disclosed herein are stacked transistors having device strata with different channel widths, as well as related methods and devices. In some embodiments, an integrated circuit structure may include stacked strata of transistors, wherein different channel materials of different strata have different widths.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2019Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Gilbert W. Dewey, Jack T. Kavalieros, Willy Rachmady, Cheng-Ying Huang, Matthew V. Metz, Kimin Jun, Patrick Morrow, Aaron D. Lilak, Ehren Mannebach, Anh Phan
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Patent number: 11669664Abstract: A method includes: extracting a first current profile model corresponding to a System on Chip (SOC) at a first design stage of the SOC; determining that a first design data of an Integrated Voltage Regulator (IVR) and the SOC pass a first co-simulation based on the extracted first current profile model; extracting a second current profile model corresponding to the SOC at a second design stage of the SOC, the second design stage being subsequent to the first design stage; refining the first design data of the IVR to generate a second design data of the IVR; determining that the second design data of the IVR and the SOC pass a second co-simulation based on the extracted second current profile model.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Haohua Zhou, Tze-Chiang Huang, Mei Hsu Wong
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Patent number: 11663392Abstract: A method for cell swapping is provided. A location for swapping a first cell is determined. One or more legal positions for cell placement are determined at the location. A plurality of cells is determined for of the plurality of legal positions. A second cell from the plurality of cells is determined based on timing information associated with each of the plurality. The first cell is swapped with the second cell.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2021Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventor: Yen-Hung Lin
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Patent number: 11610042Abstract: Using scalable scribe regions for implementing a user circuit design includes generating a scribe region having a plurality of contours for a static top design of a circuit design for an integrated circuit. The static top design is configured to integrate with a user circuit design in the integrated circuit. Each contour defines a different size of the scribe region having a boundary that extends outward in at least one direction from a boundary of a floorplan area of the static top design on the IC. The scribe region can be translated into design constraints defining the plurality of contours of the scribe region and restrict placement of components of the user circuit design within the scribe region as sized according to a selected contour. The static top design and the plurality of design constraints can be stored in a memory for use in implementing the user circuit design.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2021Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.Inventors: Adam P. Donlin, Kyle Corbett, Christopher J. Case
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Patent number: 11593005Abstract: A processing device of a memory sub-system is configured to sort a plurality of blocks of the memory device; divide the sorted plurality of blocks into a plurality of block segments; scan a first block at a first boundary of a first block segment of the plurality of block segments; scan a second block at a second boundary of the first block segment; identify, based on a scanning result of the first block, a first voltage bin associated with the first block; identify, based on a second scanning result of the second block, a second voltage bin associated with the second block; and responsive to determining that the first voltage bin matches the second voltage bin, assign the first voltage bin to each block of a subset of the plurality of blocks assigned to the first block segment.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2021Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Kishore Kumar Muchherla, Mustafa N Kaynak, Peter Feeley, Sampath K Ratnam, Shane Nowell, Sivagnanam Parthasarathy, Karl D Schuh, Jiangang Wu
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Patent number: 11580288Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a standard cell including a first output pin and a second output pin configured to each output the same output signal, a first routing path connected to the first output pin, and a second routing path connected to the second output pin. The first routing path includes a first cell group including at least one load cell, the second routing path includes a second cell group including at least one load cell, and the first routing path and the second routing path are electrically disconnected from each other outside the standard cell.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2020Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Kyungbong Kim, Minsu Kim, Yonggeol Kim
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Patent number: 11574108Abstract: A partitioning method for partitioning a group of power-ground (PG) cells is disclosed. The method includes: placing at least one out-boundary PG cell on a substrate, wherein power strips of the at least one out-boundary PG cell are aligned with corresponding power rails on the substrate; and placing at least one in-boundary PG cell on the substrate, wherein power strips of the at least one in-boundary PG cell are aligned with corresponding power rails on the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2021Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yen-Hung Lin, Yuan-Te Hou, Chung-Hsing Wang
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Patent number: 11508432Abstract: According to one or more embodiments, a semiconductor storage device includes a first chip and a second chip. The first chip includes a semiconductor substrate and a plurality of transistors on the semiconductor substrate. The second chip includes a memory cell array and a plurality of first patterns. The memory cell array is connected to the plurality of transistors of the first chip and includes a plurality of memory blocks arranged in a first direction. The plurality of first patterns are spaced from each other in the first direction. Each first pattern represents a different number and is at a position corresponding to one or more of the memory blocks.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2020Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: KIOXIA CORPORATIONInventor: Mineo Watanabe
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Patent number: 11461530Abstract: Various embodiments provide for routing a circuit design based on adjusting a routing demand. More specifically, some embodiments implement routing demand smoothing of a grid cell, routing overflow spreading of a grid cell, or some combination of both prior to detailed routing of a circuit design, which can result in improved detailed routing over conventional routing techniques.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2021Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.Inventors: Mateus Paiva Fogaça, Gracieli Posser, Wing-Kai Chow, Mehmet Can Yildiz, Zhuo Li
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Patent number: 11454941Abstract: Exemplary methods, apparatuses, and systems include a first die in a power network receiving, from each die of a plurality of dice in the power network, a first signal indicating that the respective die of the plurality of dice is in a high current state or a second signal indicating that the respective die of the plurality of dice is an active current state. The received signals include at least one second signal. The first die determines, based upon the received signals, a number of dice of the plurality of dice that are currently active and selects an activity threshold based upon that number. The first die further determines an activity level for the power network and transmits, to the plurality of dice, the first signal indicating that the first die is in the high current state in response to determining that the activity level is less than the activity threshold.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2019Date of Patent: September 27, 2022Assignee: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Jonathan S. Parry, David A. Palmer
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Patent number: 11387776Abstract: An optimization engine determines an optimal configuration for a solar power system projected onto a target surface. The optimization engine identifies an alignment axis that passes through a vertex of a boundary associated with the target surface and then constructs horizontal or vertical spans that represent contiguous areas where solar modules may be placed. The optimization engine populates each span with solar modules and aligns the solar modules within adjacent spans to one another. The optimization engine then generates a performance estimate for a collection of populated spans. By generating different spans with different solar module types and orientations, the optimization engine is configured to identify an optimal solar power system configuration.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2014Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: Sunrun, Inc.Inventors: Gary Wayne, Billy Hinners
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Patent number: 11378943Abstract: In an information processing device according to the present invention, a statistics estimation unit estimates a value of a state quantity by using a statistical model constructed based on values of past state quantities of a target device. A physical estimation unit estimates a value of a state quantity by using a physical model constructed based on design data of the target device. A specification unit specifies a value to be used to manage the target device from the value estimated by the statistics estimation unit and the value estimated by the physical estimation unit based on deterioration of the target device with time.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2018Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Shintaro Kumano, Makoto Kishi, Keisuke Yamamoto, Katsuhiko Abe
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Patent number: 11347922Abstract: A method (of fabricating a power grid (PG) arrangement in a semiconductor) includes: forming a first conductive layer including segments which are conductive, including forming first segments designated for a first reference voltage and second segments designated for a second reference voltage, and interspersing the first and second segments; relative to a first direction; and forming a second conductive layer over the first conductive layer, the second conductive layer including segments that are conductive, including forming third segments designated for the first reference voltage and fourth segments designated for the second reference voltage, interspersing the third and fourth segments relative to a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction, and arranging the segments in the second conductive layer substantially asymmetrically including, relative to the first direction, locating each fourth segment substantially asymmetrically between corresponding adjacent ones ofType: GrantFiled: March 8, 2021Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Hiranmay Biswas, Chung-Hsing Wang, Chin-Shen Lin, Kuo-Nan Yang
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Patent number: 11340813Abstract: A system can include a memory device and a processing device to perform operations that include identifying voltage offset bins of the memory device, each of the first voltage offset bins satisfying a first age threshold criterion, identifying one or more second voltage offset bins of the memory device, each of the second voltage offset bins satisfying a second age threshold criterion, identifying a first block family associated with one of the first voltage offset bins, and performing a first scan of a first block of the first block family by: identifying, based on determined values of the first data state metric, a first identified voltage offset bin, and identifying one or more values of a second data state metric in scan metadata generated by a second scan, and identifying, based on the one or more values of the second data state metric, a second identified voltage offset bin.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2020Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Vamsi Pavan Rayaprolu, Shane Nowell, Michael Sheperek
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Patent number: 11233046Abstract: An automated system and method of determining power sequencing risks (e.g. power-up, power-down time sequences) for complex computer circuits with multiple independent power supplies. The system operates by logical consideration of the topological arrangement of MOSFETs and other devices in standard netlists. The system inspects the various devices and automatically traces DC circuit paths to DC power rails. The system then evaluates, as a type of logical existence proof, and on a per MOSFET device level, if due to assignment to different DC power levels, various factors, such as forward-biased diodes, floating MOSFET gate, and other risk factors could ever occur. The system generates comprehensive records of such risks and can output an overall analysis of a circuit reporting on both problematic power sequences, as well as circuit design factors that may be sub-optimal from a power sequence perspective.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2020Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Inventor: Jesse Conrad Newcomb
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Patent number: 11151295Abstract: A method for enhancing performance of SEC of two representations of an electronic design (with and without gated clock) includes selecting one or more pairs of correlated flip-flops (FFs), a first FF of each pair in the first representation toggled by the gated clock controlled by an enable combinational logic and a second FF of the pair, correlating to the first FF, in the second representation toggled by the constantly toggling clock. The method also includes defining a modified enable combinational logic for the gated clock, as a disjunction of the enable combinational logic of the gated clock and an enable combinational logic for each FF of a plurality of FFs that are toggled by the gated clock. The method also includes performing SEC on the two representations design, using the modified enable combinational logic for the gated clock instead of the enable combinational logic of the gated clock.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2020Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: CADENCE DESIGN SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Doron Bustan, Karam Abdelkader, Yaron Schiller
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Patent number: 11126778Abstract: Implementations described herein are directed to a device with a processor and memory having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to acquire an integrated circuit layout of physical cells from a database and define wirelength relationships between input/output connections and a cell count for the physical cells in multiple domains. The instructions may cause the processor to define wirelength parameters of the integrated circuit layout in each domain of the multiple domains and generate a data file for the integrated circuit layout of the physical cells based on the wirelength relationships and the wirelength parameters to guide power and performance of the integrated circuit layout of the physical cells. The instructions may cause the processor to fabricate, or contribute to the fabrication of, an integrated circuit based on the data file for the integrated circuit layout of the physical cells.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2020Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: Arm LimitedInventors: Divya Madapusi Srinivas Prasad, Saurabh Pijuskumar Sinha, Brian Tracy Cline, Stephen Lewis Moore
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Patent number: 11030379Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated circuit (IC) layout method capable of reducing an IR drop as a result of an IC layout process. The method includes the following steps: performing the IC layout process and obtaining an original IC layout; performing an IR drop analysis on the original IC layout and identifying an IR drop hot zone; determining a circuit density limit of the IR drop hot zone; and performing the IC layout process again according to the circuit density limit and obtaining an updated IC layout.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2020Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Tien-Kuo Lin, Li-Yi Lin, Yun-Chih Chang
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Patent number: 11017146Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first set of devices, a set of metal layers and a header circuit. The first set of devices are configured to operate on a first supply voltage, and are located on a first layer of the integrated circuit. The set of metal layers are above the first layer, and includes a first metal layer and a second metal layer. The first metal layer extends in at least a first direction and a second direction. The header circuit is above the first set of devices. At least a portion of the header circuit is positioned between the first metal layer and the second metal layer. The header circuit is configured to provide the first supply voltage to the first set of devices, and is configured to be coupled to a second voltage supply having a second supply voltage different from the first supply voltage.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2019Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: John Lin, Chung-Hsing Wang, Chin-Shen Lin, Kuo-Nan Yang
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Patent number: 10991663Abstract: A method is disclosed and includes forming a plurality of dummy conductive cells that provides different densities in empty areas in metal layers of a semiconductor device according to overlap conditions of the empty areas each arranged between a pair of neighboring metal layers of metal layers. Forming the plurality of dummy conductive cells includes operations of forming a group of dummy conductive cells in a single empty area of the empty areas when the single empty area in one pair of the neighboring metal layers is overlapped by a signal line in the same pair of the neighboring metal layers. When viewed in plan view, projection areas of the group of dummy conductive cells are vertically overlapped by a projection area of the signal line. A semiconductor device is also disclosed herein.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2019Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Wei-Yu Ma, Hui-Mei Chou, Kuo-Ji Chen
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Patent number: 10970439Abstract: A System On Chip (SOC) current profile model for Integrated Voltage Regulator (IVR) co-design may be provided. A first current profile model may be extracted corresponding to an SOC at a first design stage of the SOC. Then it may be determined that an IVR and the SOC pass a first co-simulation based on the extracted first current profile model. Next, a second current profile model may be extracted corresponding to the SOC at a second design stage of the SOC. Then it may be determined that the IVR and the SOC pass a second co-simulation based on the extracted second current profile model. A third current profile model may be extracted corresponding to the SOC at a third design stage of the SOC. Then it may be determined that the IVR and the SOC pass a third co-simulation based on the extracted third current profile model.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2019Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Inventors: Haohua Zhou, Tze-Chiang Huang, Mei Hsu Wong