Uniform-Type Boundary Cells for White Space-Free Standard Cell Abutment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Boundary cells in semiconductor manufacturing introduce white space between standard cell blocks, increasing circuit area and manufacturing costs due to the use of non-functional regions that do not align with the same semiconductor type.
Innovation Solution
Implementing boundary cells with three regions of the same semiconductor type (e.g., p-type or n-type) to ensure seamless abutment of standard cell blocks, reducing white space and satisfying design rule checks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If boundary cells with non-functional regions are used to satisfy design rule constraints at block boundaries, then design rule compliance is achieved, but white space increases and circuit area expands
Solution Approach 1:
The boundary cell is designed with regions of uniform semiconductor type (all n-type or all p-type) to match adjacent standard cells, eliminating the need for non-functional regions and white space while maintaining design rule compliance through seamless abutment
2Manufacturing precision
If boundary cells with non-functional regions are used to satisfy design rule constraints, then design rule compliance is achieved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By using regions of the same semiconductor type throughout the boundary cell, the structure simplifies manufacturing processes and reduces costs associated with creating and managing non-functional regions and white space
3Manufacturing precision
If non-functional regions are used in boundary cells to satisfy design rules, then design rule constraints are met, but white space is introduced between standard cell blocks
Solution Approach 1:
The boundary cell employs uniform semiconductor type regions that can be seamlessly abutted with adjacent standard cells, eliminating white space while satisfying design rule constraints through proper layer configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the non-functional regions from the boundary cell structure, retaining only the functional regions needed for design rule compliance, thereby eliminating unnecessary white space
Data Source
AI summary
Boundary cells are used to abut two standard cell blocks. A standard cell block for an integrated circuit device includes a first standard cell, and a first boundary cell disposed adjacent to the first standard cell and along a boundary of the standard cell block. The first boundary cell includes a first region, a first dummy region, and a first layer extension region. The first region is abutted with the first standard cell and the first dummy region. The first dummy region is abutted with the first layer extension region. The first region and the first dummy region each include one or more non-functional layers. The first region, the first dummy region, and the first layer extension region are of a first semiconductor type.