Semiconductor Power Rail Layout for Stable Multi-Voltage SoCs
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Semiconductor integrated circuits and electronic devices face issues with voltage drops, leading to improper operation and errors due to unstable power supply, which affects the degree of integration and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor integrated circuit design with separate regions for transistors driven by different voltages, connected by power rails and conductors to maintain stable voltage levels, ensuring that power rails transmitting the same voltage are electrically connected to prevent voltage drops and enhance integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If power rails are extended across the entire semiconductor substrate to provide voltages to different regions, then the degree of integration is improved, but voltage drops occur causing unstable power supply
Solution Approach 1:
The semiconductor substrate is divided into multiple regions (first region and second region), each with its own local power rails. The first power rail provides first voltage to the first region, the second power rail provides second voltage to the first region, the third power rail provides first voltage to the second region, and the fourth power rail provides third voltage to the second region. This segmentation prevents voltage drops by limiting the length of power rail extensions while maintaining high integration through direct connections between regions.
2Reliability
If separate power rails are used for different voltage levels in different regions, then voltage stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first power rail and third power rail are directly connected, and the second power rail and fourth power rail are directly connected, merging the power supply networks for different regions. This reduces device complexity by consolidating power rail configurations while maintaining voltage stability through the direct connections that prevent voltage drops.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution stabilizes voltage supply across regions, preventing voltage drops and improving the integration and performance of semiconductor integrated circuits and electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
a first conductor electrically and directly connecting the first power rail with the third power rail
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor integrated circuit, a system on chip and an electronic element are provided. The semiconductor integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate having a first region, and a second region, a first power rail extending in a first direction on the first region and connected to an impurity region of a first transistor to provide a first voltage, a second power rail extending in the first direction on the first region and connected to the first transistor to provide a second voltage, a third power rail extending in the first direction on the second region and connected to an impurity region of a second transistor to provide the first voltage, a fourth power rail extending in the first direction on the second region and connected to the second transistor to provide a third voltage, and a first conductor connecting the first power rail with the third power rail.