A method includes generating a layout diagram of a cell of an integrated circuit (IC), and storing the generated layout diagram on a non-transitory computer-readable medium. In the generating the layout diagram of the cell, a first active region is arranged inside a boundary of the cell. The first active region extends along a first direction. At least one gate region is arranged inside the boundary. The at least one gate region extends across the first active region along a second direction transverse to the first direction. A first conductive region is arranged to overlap the first active region and a first edge of the boundary. The first conductive region is configured to form an electrical connection to the first active region.

A method of designing an integrated circuit device includes receiving an initial design of an integrated circuit, including a selection and location of a functional group of integrated circuit components, a power grid with multiple layers of conductive lines for supplying power to the components, and vias of one or more initial sizes interconnecting the conductive lines of different layers. The method further includes determining, based on a predetermined criterion such as the existence of unoccupied space for a functional unit, that a via modification can be made. The method further includes substituting the one or more of the via with a modified via of a larger cross-sectional area or a plurality of vias having a larger total cross-sectional area than the initial via. The method further includes confirming that the modified design complies with a predetermined set of design rules.

A method includes identifying at least a first mask or a second mask, fabricating, by the first mask, a first conductive line, fabricating, by the second mask, a second conductive line, and fabricating, by the first mask, a third conductive line if a dimension of the first conductive line is larger than a corresponding dimension of the second conductive line, or fabricating, by the second mask, the third conductive line if the dimension of the first conductive line is less than the corresponding dimension of the second conductive line A first circuit element is coupled to a second circuit element by at least the third conductive line, and the first circuit element is separated from the second circuit element by a predetermined distance.

Disclosed is a semiconductor device including a substrate with first and second regions adjacent to each other in a first direction, and first to third gate electrodes extending from the first region toward the second region. Each of the first and second regions includes a PMOSFET region and an NMOSFET region. The first to third gate electrodes extend in the first direction and are sequentially arranged in a second direction different from the first direction. The first and third gate electrodes are supplied with a first signal. The second gate electrode is supplied with a second signal that is an inverted signal of the first signal. The first gate electrode includes a first gate of the first region and a first gate of the second region. The first gates are aligned and connected with each other in the first direction.

An integrated circuit includes a set of gates, a first, second and third conductive structure, and a first, second and third via. The set of gates includes a first, second and third gate. The first, second and third conductive structure extend in the first direction and are located on a second level. The first via couples the first conductive structure and the first gate. The second via couples the second conductive structure and the second gate. The third via couples the third conductive structure and the third gate. The first, second and third via are in a right angle configuration. The first and second gate are separated from each other by a first pitch. The first and third gate are separated from each other by a removed gate portion. The first and second conductive structure are separated from each other in the first direction.

An integrated circuit includes a first cell arranged in a first row extending in a first horizontal direction, a second cell arranged in a second row adjacent to the first row, and a third cell continuously arranged in the first row and the second row. The first cell and the second cell comprise respective portions of a first power line extending in the first horizontal direction, and the third cell includes a second power line electrically connected to the first power line and extending in the first horizontal direction in the first row.

One aspect of this description relates to an integrated circuit. In some aspects, the integrated circuit includes a first pattern metal layer, a second pattern metal layer disposed over the first pattern metal layer, wherein the second pattern metal layer includes a second plurality of metal tracks extending in a first direction, and a third pattern metal layer disposed between the first pattern metal layer and the second pattern metal layer, the third pattern metal layer including a first metal track segment and a second metal track segment shifted in a second direction from the first metal track segment, wherein the second plurality of metal tracks, and at least a portion of each of the first metal track segment and the second metal track segment are within a double cell height in the second direction.

An integrated circuit device includes a first device and a second device. The first device is disposed within a first circuit region, the first device including a plurality of first semiconductor strips extending longitudinally in a first direction. Adjacent ones of the plurality of first semiconductor strips are spaced apart from each other in a second direction, which is generally perpendicular to the first direction. The second device is disposed within a second circuit region, the second circuit region being adjacent to the first circuit region in the first direction. The second device includes a second semiconductor strip extending longitudinally in the first direction. A projection of a longitudinal axis of the second semiconductor strip along the first direction lies in a space separating the adjacent ones of the plurality of first semiconductor strips.

A cell layout implemented in an integrated circuit (IC) includes a first plurality of independent power posts in a first metal layer. Each independent power post of the plurality of independent power posts provides a power connection to one device of a plurality of devices within the cell layout. A source or drain of each device of the plurality of devices is connected to one independent power post of the plurality of independent power posts. The IC further includes a plurality of independent power straps in a second metal layer that is different from the first metal layer. Each independent power strap of the plurality of independent power straps spans across and connects to multiple independent power posts of the first plurality of independent power posts.

A semiconductor device includes a first logic gate defined within a first unit cell footprint on a semiconductor substrate. The first logic gate includes a first field effect transistor including a first gate electrode and a first source/drain region, and a second field effect transistor including a second gate electrode and a second source/drain region. A first wiring pattern is provided, which extends in a first direction across a portion of the first unit cell footprint. The first wiring pattern is electrically connected to at least one of the first gate electrode and the second source/drain region, and has: (i) a first terminal end within a perimeter of the first unit cell footprint, and (ii) a second terminal end, which extends outside the perimeter of the first unit cell footprint but is not electrically connected to any current carrying region of any semiconductor device that is located outside the perimeter of the first unit cell footprint.