Patent US5444276A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5444276A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Semiconductor integrated circuit macro cells with wide lines
Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corp
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Filing: 1993-12-14
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Granted: 1995-08-22
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Expires: 2013-12-14
Abstract
Abstract In order to lay out a driver circuit having high drivability without increasing a semiconductor chip area, a macro cell (22) such as a clock driver having a large fan-out is arranged under a feeder line (20). It is possible to feed the macro cell (22) from the feeder line (20), which is a second layer aluminum wire, in a short distance. An input signal line (23) and an output signal line (24) which are connected to input and output pins of the macro cell (22) are provided in positions not to be in contact with the feeder line (20). Since the macro cell (22) is arranged in a portion of an internal region which is located under the feeder line (20), it is possible to suppress increase of the layout area as well as electromigration caused by feeding to the macro cell (22).
Inventors
- 👤 Miho Yokota
- 👤 Masatomi Okabe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:37
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10D; H10D84/00; H10D84/90; H10D84/998
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device comprising: a plurality of transistors being regularly arranged on a semiconductor substrate; at least a set of first and second source lines being provided in a first wiring layer for supplying said plurality of transistors with voltages for driving said transistors, said at least a set of first and second source lines arranged along a line of a gate array of the semiconductor integrated circuit device; third and fourth source lines, arranged in parallel, along different lines, along side of each other, being larger in width than said first and second source lines, being arranged in a second wiring layer which is different from said first wiring layer, in alignment with each other to intersect with said first and second source lines in a grade separation manner, said third and fourth source lines arranged in a line across a plurality of cell columns of the semiconductor integrated circuit device, and the third and fourth source lines intersect each cell column in three-dimensional space but are separated from the cell columns; and at least one macro cell utilizing those of said transistors being located under at least one of a region being held between said third and fourth source lines, and both of said third and fourth source lines.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
213 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device comprising: a plurality of transistors being regularly arranged on a semiconductor substrate; at least a set of first and second source lines being provided in a first wiring layer for supplying said plurality of transistors with voltages for driving said transistors, said at least a set of first and second source lines arranged along a line of a gate array of the semiconductor integrated circuit device; third and fourth source lines, arranged in parallel, along different lines, along side of each other, being larger in width than said first and second source lines, being arranged in a second wiring layer which is different from said first wiring layer, in alignment with each other to intersect with said first and second source lines in a grade separation manner, said third and fourth source lines arranged in a line across a plurality of cell columns of the semiconductor integrated circuit device, and the third and fourth source lines intersect each cell column in three-dimensional space but are separated from the cell columns; and at least one macro cell utilizing those of said transistors being located under at least one of a region being held between said third and fourth source lines, and both of said third and fourth source lines.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plurality of transistors include MOS transistors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device in accordance with claim 2, wherein said plurality of transistors being regularly arranged on said semiconductor substrate include gate array.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device in accordance with claim 3, wherein said first and second source lines include first and second source lines being provided along a line of said transistors being arranged in the line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an output signal line being provided in a portion of said second wiring layer between said third and fourth source lines for transmitting an output signal of said at least one macro cell.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device in accordance with claim 5, wherein said output signal line includes a clock signal line for distributing clock signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device in accordance with claim 6, further comprising an input signal line being provided in a portion of said second wiring layer between said third and fourth source lines for transmitting an input signal to said at least one macro cell.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device in accordance with claim 7, wherein said input signal line includes a clock signal line for distributing clock signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device in accordance with claim 5, wherein said at least one macro cell includes a driver circuit being provided at least on a substantially central portion in relation to the overall lengths of said third and fourth source lines.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said driver circuit includes a main driver circuit for distributing a clock signal to another macro cell being formed through said transistors on said semiconductor substrate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device in accordance with claim 10, wherein said driver circuit comprises a plurality of inverter circuits each being formed by a single P-channel MOS transistor and a single N-channel MOS transistor being connected in series between said first and second source lines, said inverter circuits being connected in parallel with each other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said driver circuit includes a predriver circuit and said macro cell includes two main driver circuits being provided in portions being separated from both ends of said third and fourth source lines by distances being about quarter the overall lengths of said third and fourth source lines respectively.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device in accordance with claim 12, further comprising an output signal line being provided in a portion of said second wiring layer between said third and fourth source lines for transmitting an output signal from said predriver circuit to said two main driver circuits.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
61 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device in accordance with claim 13, wherein each of said two main driver circuits comprises a plurality of inverter circuits each being formed by a single P-channel MOS transistor and a single N-channel MOS transistor being connected in series between said first and second source lines respectively, said inverter circuits being connected in parallel with each other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device in accordance with claim 14, wherein said predriver circuit comprises a plurality of inverter circuits each being formed by a single P-channel MOS transistor and a single N-channel MOS transistor being connected in series between said first and second source lines respectively, said inverter circuits being connected in parallel with each other.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising other source lines, said third and fourth source lines feed said macro cell independently of said other source lines.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
75 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device in accordance with claim 16, further comprising: an internal region being located on said semiconductor substrate including said plurality of transistors, a buffer area being provided on said semiconductor substrate around said internal region, and fifth and sixth source lines being connected to said third and fourth lines being provided on said buffer area to enclose said internal region for supplying source voltages to said third and fourth source lines.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device in accordance with claim 17, wherein said at least one macro cell includes a macro cell serving as a main driver circuit for distributing a clock signal to another macro cell being formed through said transistors provided on said semiconductor substrate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
80 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one macro cell includes a plurality of macro cells each comprising a main driver circuit utilizing said transistors being located on a portion under said third and fourth source lines or under a region being held between said third and fourth source lines, said main driver circuits of said plurality of macro cells having inputs being connected in common, and outputs also being connected in common.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device in accordance with claim 19, further comprising an output signal line being provided in a portion of said second wiring layer between said third and fourth source lines for transmitting output signals of said main driver circuits of said plurality of macro cells.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device in accordance with claim 20, further comprising an input signal line being provided in a portion of said second wiring layer between said third and fourth source lines for transmitting input signals in said main driver circuits of said plurality of macro cells.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
59 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device in accordance with claim 20, wherein each said main driver circuit comprises a plurality of inverter circuits each being formed by a single P-channel MOS transistor and a single N-channel MOS transistor being connected in series between said first and second source lines respectively, said inverter circuits being connected in parallel with each other.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-08-21 | 1999-02-20 | 1999-08-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-08-21 | 2003-02-20 | 2003-08-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-08-21 | 2007-02-20 | 2007-08-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |