Multi-Row Standard Cell Layout for Mixed Track Height IC Rows
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current integrated circuit technologies face limitations in scaling cells based on track height, leading to issues with multi-row standard cells not fitting within conventional grid arrangements, especially when cells have mixed track heights, which restricts design flexibility and increases the risk of design rule violations and performance issues.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a multi-row standard cell structure that allows cell heights to be a sum of different row heights, with shared active regions and asymmetric power rails, enabling cells to be positioned across multiple rows with varying heights, thus overcoming the limitations of conventional grid arrangements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multi-row standard cells are used to combine functionality of individual cells, then design flexibility and functionality are improved, but the cells do not fit within conventional grid arrangements with preselected row heights
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-row standard cell is divided into multiple portions, with each portion fitting into a respective row of different heights. This segmentation allows the cell to be distributed across non-uniform row structures while maintaining functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
An asymmetric shared power rail is introduced that is disposed in an asymmetric manner across a row boundary between cell rows of different heights. This asymmetric structure accommodates the non-uniform row heights and enables the multi-row cell to function across varying row configurations.
2Reliability
If cells with different cell heights are selected from cell libraries to meet performance requirements, then performance and power characteristics are improved, but the cells cannot be placed in adjacent rows with different row heights
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-row standard cell is designed to function across multiple rows with different heights, making it universally applicable to various row configurations. This eliminates the need for separate single-row cells for different heights and enables placement in adjacent rows with different row heights.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional grid arrangements with preselected row heights are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but design rule violations and performance issues occur with mixed track height cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adaptability to the grid arrangement by allowing row heights to vary while maintaining manufacturing simplicity. The multi-row cell structure dynamically adapts to different row height configurations through its segmented portions and asymmetric power rail design.
Data Source
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AI summary
A multi-row standard cell and an integrated circuit (IC) structure using the standard cell are provided. The IC structure includes a plurality of cell rows extending in a first direction. At least two cell rows of the plurality of cell rows have different row heights. The IC structure includes a multi-row standard cell positioned in two or more cell rows having different row heights. At least one active region is shared by portions of the multi-row cell across the at least two cell rows. The IC structure may also include one or more asymmetric shared power rails disposed in an asymmetric manner across a row boundary between the at least two cell rows of different row heights. The multi-row standard cells and IC structures allow placement of multi-row cells for mixed track height arrangements in a manner not limited to multiples of row heights.