Standard Cell Conductor Layout for Flexible IC Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The miniaturization of integrated circuits poses challenges in design and manufacturing, requiring stricter specifications and affecting reliability, while existing electronic design automation tools struggle to optimize standard cell layout designs effectively.

Innovation Solution

The integration of a conductor that extends in two directions, overlapping with contacts, gates, and conductive lines, providing additional routing resources and improving flexibility, area efficiency, and performance in integrated circuits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of moving object

If standard cell layout designs are miniaturized to reduce device size and power consumption, then device functionality and speed improve, but design and manufacturing specifications become stricter and reliability challenges increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice sizeVSAvoiddesign and manufacturing specifications

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The conductor extends in two directions (first direction and second direction) rather than being confined to a single direction, adding dimensional flexibility to the routing structure. This allows the conductor to overlap with contacts, gates, and conductive lines in multiple orientations, effectively utilizing two-dimensional space within the standard cell layout to achieve better routing flexibility without increasing device footprint

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The conductor serves multiple functions by overlapping with different circuit elements (contacts, gates, and conductive lines) in different directions. This multi-functional conductor structure provides both routing functionality and structural support, while enabling flexible connection paths that adapt to various design requirements within the miniaturized layout

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conductor routing options are increased to improve routing flexibility, then area efficiency and performance improve, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting flexibilityVSAvoidconductor configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conductor is divided into multiple segments or portions, where each portion extends in the first direction and other portions extend in the second direction. This segmentation allows independent optimization of different routing paths while maintaining overall connectivity, reducing the complexity of managing a single complex conductor versus multiple simpler segmented conductors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12494411B2Integrated circuit and method of forming the same

Publication Date: 2025.12.09 TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO LTD

AI summary

An integrated circuit includes a first active region, a first contact, a first gate, a first conductive line, a first conductor and a first via. In some embodiments, the first active region extends in a first direction. In some embodiments, the first contact extends in a second direction, and overlaps at least the first active region. In some embodiments, the first gate extends in the second direction, and overlaps the first active region. In some embodiments, the first conductive line extends in the first direction, and overlaps the first gate. In some embodiments, the first conductor overlaps the first contact, the first gate and the first conductive line, and extends in the first direction and the second direction. In some embodiments, the first via is between the first conductor and the first conductive line, and electrically couples the first conductor and the first conductive line together.