IC Power Rail Layout Across Cell Boundaries Without Shorts
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing IC devices face challenges in preventing undesired short circuits and disconnections during manufacturing while achieving high integration density and reliability, particularly in miniaturized and multifunctional designs.
Innovation Solution
The IC device incorporates a power line structure with overlapping portions in the vertical direction, dummy gate insulation lines, bridge insulating patterns, and via power rails to enhance integration and reliability by minimizing defects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If power lines are extended to cover multiple cells and inter-cell isolation regions, then integration density is improved, but the risk of short circuits and disconnections increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces bridge insulating patterns as intermediary structures between power lines and dummy gate insulation lines. These bridge insulating patterns act as mediators that provide reliable electrical connection while preventing short circuits, thus resolving the contradiction between high integration density and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dummy gate insulation lines that extend into inter-cell isolation regions before actual gate lines are formed. This preliminary action ensures proper isolation and positioning, preventing manufacturing defects such as short circuits and disconnections while maintaining high integration density.
2Reliability
If dummy gate insulation lines are added to prevent manufacturing defects, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dummy gate insulation lines serve multiple functions: they provide electrical isolation between adjacent cells, prevent short circuits during manufacturing, and maintain proper spacing for power line routing. By making these structures multi-functional, the patent reduces overall device complexity while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the functions of gate insulation and power line isolation into unified dummy gate insulation line structures. This merging of functions reduces the total number of separate insulating structures needed, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If bridge insulating patterns are used to connect power lines across cells, then electrical connectivity is improved, but the risk of short circuits increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge insulating patterns are designed as intermediary structures that connect power lines across cell boundaries while maintaining proper isolation. These mediators provide controlled electrical connectivity while preventing unwanted short circuits through careful design of connection geometry and insulation layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different insulation properties to different regions of the bridge insulating patterns. Specific areas have enhanced insulation to prevent short circuits, while other areas provide electrical connectivity. This local differentiation of quality resolves the contradiction between connectivity and short circuit prevention.
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated circuit device includes a first cell and a second cell apart from each other in a first lateral direction on a substrate, the first cell and the second cell each including a plurality of gate lines, an inter-cell isolation region between the first cell and the second cell, the inter-cell isolation region extending in a second lateral direction, a power line including portions overlapping a cell boundary of each of the first cell and the second cell in a vertical direction and a portion overlapping the inter-cell isolation region in the vertical direction, a plurality of dummy gate insulation lines, a bridge insulating pattern in contact with an end portion of each of the plurality of dummy gate insulation lines, and a via power rail passing through the bridge insulating pattern, the via power rail being connected to the power line.