Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Comp. Ltd.

Wei-Min Chan

Yen-Huei Chen

Hung-Jen Liao

Chih-Yu Lin

Kao-Cheng Lin

Hidehiro Fujiwara

Shih-Lien Linus Lu

Chien-Chen Lin

Wei-Cheng Wu

Hau-Tai Shieh

Chien-Yuan Chen

Cheng-Hung Lee

Chun-Jiun Dai

Yen-huei Chen

Circuit devices, such as integrated circuit devices, are constructed with combination circuits that include two or more cascading transistors, and one or more metal layers disposed over the cascading transistors. The cascading transistors include multiple internal nodes (e.g., common source/drain regions). The multiple internal nodes are not connected to a common metal stripe (the same metal stripe) in the one or more metal layers. The absence of the connections between the internal nodes and a common metal stripe reduce or eliminate the load on the internal nodes. The transistors in the cascading transistors are independent of each other.

Reducing internal node loading in combination circuits

A device includes first and second gate electrodes, a word line and a first metal island. The first gate electrode corresponds to transistors of a memory cell. The second gate electrode is separated from the first gate electrode and corresponds to the transistors. The word line is coupled to the memory cell and located between the first and the second gate electrodes. The first metal island is configured to couple a first power supply to the memory cell. A first boundary of the first metal island is located between first and second boundaries of the first gate electrode and is located between first and second boundaries of the word line, and each of the first boundary of the first gate electrode and the first boundary of the word line is located between first and second boundaries of the first metal island.

SRAM cell word line structure with reduced RC effects

A device is disclosed that includes a fin structure disposed below a first metal layer, extending along a column direction, and corresponding to at least one transistor of a memory bit cell, a word line disposed in the first metal layer and extending along a row direction, a first metal island disposed in the first metal layer separated from the word line, and a first connection metal line disposed in a second metal layer above the first metal layer, extending along the column direction, and configured to couple a power supply through the first metal island to the fin structure. In a layout view, the first connection metal line is separated from the fin structure, and the fin structure crosses over the word line and the first metal island. A method is also disclosed herein.

A system includes a net-identifying module and a false path-eliminating module. The net-identifying module is configured to receive first and second electronic lists associated with a circuit unit, to identify a net of the circuit unit based on the first electronic list, and to provide a net information output that includes information associated with the net. The false path-eliminating module is coupled to the net-identifying module and is configured to select, in the second electronic list, a path of the circuit unit that does not traverse through the net and provide a path information output that includes information associated with the path.

Method for eliminating false paths of a circuit unit to be implemented using a system

An electronic device for checking a randomness of an identification key device, a random key checker circuit for an electronic device and a method of checking randomness for an electronic device. An electronic device for checking a randomness of an identification key device includes an identification key generator, configured to generate an identification key. A random key checker circuit, configured to receive the identification key from the identification key generator, calculates a randomness value of the identification key according to the identification key for checking a randomness of the identification key and generates an output of the identification key with high randomness.

Electronic device for checking randomness of identification key device, random key checker circuit, and method of checking randomness of electronic device

A device is disclosed that includes a plurality of first memory cells, a plurality of second memory cells, a power circuit, and a header circuit. The power circuit is configured to provide a first power voltage via a conductive line for the plurality of first memory cells, and to provide a second power voltage, that is independent from the first power voltage, for the plurality of second memory cells. The header circuit is configured to provide, during the write operation, the first voltage smaller than the first power voltage, the second power voltage, or smaller than the first power voltage and the second power voltage, for corresponding memory cells of the plurality of first memory cells via the conductive line and for corresponding memory cells of the plurality of second memory cells. A circuit structure of the power circuit is different from a circuit structure of the header circuit.

Semiconductor memory with respective power voltages for memory cells

A device is disclosed that includes a memory bit cell coupled to a bit line, a word line, a pair of metal islands and a pair of connection metal lines. The word line is electrically coupled to the memory bit cell and is elongated in a first direction. The pair of metal islands are disposed at opposite sides of the word line and are electrically coupled to a power supply. The pair of connection metal lines are elongated in a second direction, and are configured to electrically couple the pair of metal islands to the memory bit cell, respectively. The pair of connection metal lines are separated from the bit line in a layout view. A method of fabricating the device is also provided.

A memory device includes a memory block comprises a plurality of bits, wherein at least a first bit of the plurality of bits presents an initial logic state each time it is powered on; a start-up circuit configured to power on and off the memory block N times, where N is an odd integer greater than 1, and wherein the at least first bit presents an initial state after each respective power cycle of the memory block; and an authentication circuit, coupled to the memory block, and comprising an election engine that is configured to elect an initial state that occurs (N+1)/2 or more times after N power cycles that are performed by the start-up circuit, as a majority initial logic state for the first bit.

SRAM-based authentication circuit

A device is disclosed that includes a plurality of first memory cells, a plurality of second memory cells, a power circuit, and a header circuit. The power circuit is configured to provide the first power voltage for the plurality of first memory cells, and to provide the second power voltage, that is independent from the first power voltage, for the plurality of second memory cells. The header circuit is configured to provide, during the write operation, the first voltage smaller than the first power voltage, the second power voltage, or smaller than the first power voltage and the second power voltage, for corresponding memory cells of the plurality of first memory cells and the plurality of second memory cells.

A memory device includes a memory cell array comprising a plurality of memory cells wherein each of the plurality of memory cells is configured to be in a data state, and a physically unclonable function (PUF) generator. The PUF generator further includes a first sense amplifier, coupled to the plurality of memory cells, wherein while the plurality of memory cells are being accessed, the first sense amplifier is configured to compare accessing speeds of first and second memory cells of the plurality of memory cells, and based on the comparison, provide a first output signal for generating a first PUF signature.

SRAM based authentication circuit

A memory device includes a memory block that includes a plurality of memory bits, wherein each bit is configured to present a first logical state; and an authentication circuit, coupled to the plurality of memory bits, wherein the authentication circuit is configured to access a first bit under either a reduced read margin or a reduced write margin condition to determine a stability of the first bit by detecting whether the first logical state flips to a second logical state, and based on the determined stability of at least the first bit, to generate a physically unclonable function (PUF) signature.

A device is disclosed that includes a memory bit cell, a first word line, a pair of metal islands and a pair of connection metal lines. The first word line is disposed in a first metal layer and is electrically coupled to the memory bit cell. The pair of metal islands are disposed in the first metal layer at opposite sides of the word line and are electrically coupled to a power supply. The pair of connection metal lines are disposed in a second metal layer and are configured to electrically couple the metal islands to the memory bit cell respectively.

Growing community of inventors

Taipei, Taiwan

Wei-Min Chan