Qualcomm Incorporated

Tracey Della Rova

Anthony Correale, Jr

Benjamin Bowers

William Goodall, Iii

David Paul Hoff

Jason Philip Martzloff

Benjamin John Bowers

Anthony Correale

Disclosed systems and methods pertain to finfet based integrated circuits designed with logic cell architectures which support multiple diffusion regions for n-type and p-type diffusions. Different diffusion regions of each logic cell can have different widths or fin counts. Abutting two logic cells is enabled based on like fin counts for corresponding p-diffusion regions and n-diffusion regions of the two logic cells. Diffusion fills are used at common edges between the two logic cells for extending lengths of diffusion, based on the like fin counts. The logic cell architectures support via redundancy and the ability to selectively control threshold voltages of different logic cells with implant tailoring. Half-row height cells can be interleaved with standard full-row height cells.

Standard cell architecture for diffusion based on fin count

Systems and methods relate to cell placement methodologies for improving length of diffusion of transistors. For example, a first transistor with a first diffusion node which is bounded by a first diffusion cut is identified in a transistor level layout. The first diffusion cut is replaced with a first floating gate, and a first filler cell with a first filler diffusion region is added to extend a length of diffusion of the first diffusion node. Increasing the length of diffusion leads to improving drive strength and performance of the first transistor.

Mitigating length-of-diffusion effect for logic cells and placement thereof

The hybrid dynamic-static encoder described herein may combine dynamic and static structural and logical design features that strategically partition dynamic nets and logic to substantially eliminate redundancy and thereby provide area, power, and leakage savings relative to a fully dynamic encoder with an equivalent logic delay. For example, the hybrid dynamic-static encoder may include identical top and bottom halves, which may be combined to produce final encoded index, hit, and multi-hit outputs. Each encoder half may use a dynamic net for each index bit with rows that match a search key dotted. If a row has been dotted to indicate that the row matches the search key, the dynamic nets associated therewith may be evaluated to reflect the index associated with the row. Accordingly, the hybrid dynamic-static encoder may have a reduced set of smaller dynamic nets that leverage redundant pull-down structures across the index, hit, and multi-hit dynamic nets.

Hybrid dynamic-static encoder with optional hit and/or multi-hit detection

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Wake Forest, NC, United States of America

Tracey Della Rova