The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Oct. 03, 1995

Filed:

Aug. 31, 1992
Applicant:
Inventors:

David A Gray, Santa Clara County, CA (US);

Thomas S Wong, Santa Clara County, CA (US);

Assignee:

Synergy Semiconductor Corporation, Santa Clara, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01L / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
437 50 ; 437 51 ; 437250 ;
Abstract

A high density ASIC cell provides customization solely at the polysilicon #2, insulator #3 levels. High density is achieved by permitting a metal #1 trace to traverse an underlying transistor, without requiring space between adjacent transistors to facilitate traversing interconnects. Oversized collector and emitter traces at the polysilicon #1 level make downward contact with the collector and base regions of the underlying transistor, and provide redundant upward contact with collector and emitter polysilicon #2 traces. Contact between the transistor base and a base polysilicon #2 trace is also made. The polysilicon #2 emitter, base and collector traces provide a replicated, unvarying pattern that preferably defines a 3.times.3 matrix of potential contact points for overlying metal #1 traces to contact the underlying transistor's emitter, base and collector. A metal #1 trace can traverse this 3.times.3 matrix simply by not providing openings in the insulating #3 layer beneath the traverse. If a metal #1 trace is to contact a region of the underlying transistor, an opening is made in the insulation #3 layer over the necessary contact in the 3.times.3 matrix at the polysilicon #2 level. Thus, customization of the ASIC is made at the metal #1 level, and at the insulation #3 level by determining which metal #1 traces will contact what regions of the underlying transistor.


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