This application claims priority to Taiwanese Application Serial Number 111150011, filed Dec. 26, 2022, which is herein incorporated by reference.
The present application relates to an integrated circuit and a low drop-out linear regulator circuit. More particularly, the present application relates to the integrated circuit and the low drop-out linear regulator circuit that have symmetrical structures.
In some output-level circuits, multiple transistors coupled in parallel are usually applied in a limited area, thus compressing the distance between the conductive lines and causing an increase in parasitic capacitance. The parasitic capacitance causes high frequency voltage noise at the output when transmitting high frequency signals. In addition, in order to maintain a high level of circuit reliability, semiconductor layouts with a large area of conductive lines and metal routing are often used, which increases manufacturing costs.
Some aspects of the present application are to provide an integrated circuit including multiple first conductive segments and multiple second conductive segments that are separated from each other in a first direction; multiple third conductive segments and multiple fourth conductive segments that are separated from each other along the first direction, wherein the first conductive segments and the third conductive segments are arranged between multiple first gates, and the second conductive segments and the fourth conductive segments are arranged between multiple second gates; a first conductive line configured to transmit a drain/source signal and coupled to the first conductive segments and the second conductive segments; and a second conductive line configured to transmit a source/drain signal and coupled to the third conductive segments and the fourth conductive segments, wherein the third conductive segments and the fourth conductive segments are mirrored symmetrically with respect to the second conductive line in a plan view.
Some aspects of the present application are to provide an integrated circuit including multiple active areas, separated from each other in a first direction; a first conductive line having a comb structure and comprising multiple first branch portions, wherein a first branch of the first branch portions is coupled to two of the active areas adjacent to each other by multiple first conductive segments and multiple second conductive segments, wherein the first conductive segments and the second conductive segments are arranged between the two of the active areas; and a second conductive line having a comb configuration and comprising multiple second branch portions, wherein the second branch portions are interleaved with the active areas.
Some aspects of the present application are to provide a low drop-out linear regulator circuit including a first conductive line and a second conductive line; and an output stage circuit comprising multiple first conductive segments and multiple second conductive segments, wherein the first conductive segments and the second conductive segments are mirrored with respect to a first direction and correspond to a source/drain of the output stage circuit; and multiple first active regions arranged in a first active area and multiple second active regions arranged in a second active area, wherein the first active area and the second active area are arranged between the first conductive line and the second conductive line, and the first active regions and the second active regions are coupled to the second conductive line by the first conductive segments and the second conductive segments, separately.
The disclosure can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the embodiment, with reference made to the accompanying drawings as follows:
The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the provided subject matter. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed between the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.
Further, spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The apparatus may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may likewise be interpreted accordingly. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
In the present application, “connected” or “coupled” may refer to “electrically connected” or “electrically coupled.” “Connected” or “coupled” may also refer to operations or actions between two or more elements.
Reference is now made to
A positive input terminal of the operational amplifier 12 receives an input signal Vin, while a negative input of the operational amplifier 12 receives a divided voltage for an output signal Vout through the resistive cells R1 to R2. In some embodiments, the operational amplifier 12 outputs a signal Vc to the output stage circuit 14 to adjust the output signal Vout according to the input signal Vin and the divided voltage of the output signal Vout.
As illustratively shown in
Reference is now made to
Compared with the low drop-out linear regulator circuit 10 of
The configurations of
Reference is made to
As shown in
In some embodiments, the conductive segments 210 and the conductive segments 220 correspond to the drain/source terminal of the N-type transistor TN in the
In the embodiment illustrated in
Specifically, the active areas 110 to 120 extend in the first semiconductor layer in the x direction and are separated from each other in the y direction. The active areas 110 to 120 are arranged between the conductive line 410 and the conductive line 420. As shown in the embodiment of
The conductive segments 210 to the conductive segments 240 are arranged in a second semiconductor layer above the first semiconductor layer along the x direction in a separate arrangement . The conductive segments 210 and the conductive segments 230 are arranged between gates 310 extending along y direction, and the conductive segments 220 and the conductive segments 240 are arranged between gates 320 extending along y direction. In some embodiments, the gates 310 and the gates 320 are arranged in the second semiconductor layer.
The conductive segments 210 and the conductive segments 220 are separated from each other along the y direction and are mirrored with respect to the x direction or the conductive line 420. The conductive segments 210 extend in the y direction from a branch portion 411 of the conductive line 410 towards the active area 120 and are configured to couple multiple active regions 122 of the active area 120 to the conductive line 410, in which the active regions 122 are between the gates 310. On the other hand, the conductive segments 220 extend in the y direction from the branch portion 412 of the conductive line 410 towards the active area 110 and are configured to couple the active regions 112 of the active area to the conductive line 410, in which the active regions 122 are between the gates 320. In some embodiments, the branch portion 413 of the conductive line 410 extends in the y direction and is coupled between the branch portion 411 and the branch portion 412.
Similarly, the conductive segments 230 and the conductive segments 240 are separated from each other along the y direction and are mirrored in the x direction or the conductive line 420. The conductive segments 230 extend from the conductive line 420 in the y direction towards the active area 120 and are configured to couple multiple active regions 121 of the active area 120 to the conductive line 420, in which the active regions 121 are between the gates 310. On the other hand, the conductive segments 240 extend from the conductive line 420 in the y direction towards the active area 110 and are configured to couple multiple active regions 111 of the active area 110 to the conductive line 420, in which the active regions 111 are between the gates 320.
As shown in
In some embodiments, the conductive line 410 is configured to transmit a drain/source signal and the conductive line 420 is configured to transmit a source/drain signal. For example, with reference to both
In some embodiments, the conductive line 410 and the conductive line 420 are arranged in a third semiconductor layer above the second semiconductor layer and receive or transmit signals to other conductive connections in a fourth semiconductor layer above the third semiconductor layer through the through holes 510. For example, the conductive line 410 and the conductive line 420 may be metal-zero (M0) layers and the other conductive connections mentioned above may be metal-one (M1) layers or higher metal conductive connections. In some embodiments, the conductive line 410 and the conductive line 420 are thinner than the other conductive connections in the z-direction, so that the conductive line 410 and the conductive line 420 may be considered as thin metal layers and the other conductive connections may be considered as thick metal layers. In some embodiments, the width W2 of the branch portion 411 and the branch portion 412 of the conductive line 410 and the width W3 of the conductive line 420 need to be greater than the width W4 of the through holes 510 in order for the conductive line 410 and the conductive line 420 to be securely connected to the thick metal layer through the through holes 510.
The configurations of
In general low drop-out linear regulator circuits, multiple transistors coupled in parallel are usually applied as output stage circuits within a limited area, thus compressing the distance between the conductive lines connecting the drain and source terminals of the transistors. It results in an increase in parasitic capacitance. The parasitic capacitance forms a feedforward path to the output, causing high frequency voltage noises at the output when transmitting high frequency signals. In addition, in order to maintain the high reliability of the circuit against high voltages and large currents, a semiconductor layout with a large area of conductive lines and metal winding is necessary, which increases the manufacturing cost.
The layout of the IC provided by this application contains only a single conductive line in the adjacent active area. In other words, the distance between the two conductive lines increases, thus reducing the parasitic capacitance between the conductive lines and reducing the output of high frequency voltage noises through the parasitic capacitance. It improves product performance. At the same time, the symmetrical design proposed in the present application allows for the direct coupling of conductive segments of the same poles of the corresponding transistors with the same conductive line, significantly cutting the area required for the circuit compared to some approaches. For example, in some embodiments, the area of the integrated circuit of the present application is approximately 20% less than in some embodiments, further saving manufacturing costs.
Reference is made to
In some embodiments, the integrated circuit 40 further includes active areas 130 to 140 and conductive segments 250, 260, 270, and 280. The active areas are configured with respect to, for example, the active areas 110 to 120. The conductive segments 250 to 280 are configured with respect to, for example, the conductive segments 210 to 240. In some embodiments, the conductive segments 250 and the conductive segments 280 correspond to the drain/source terminal of the N-type transistor TN in
In addition, compared with the integrated circuit 30 in
In some embodiments, along the x direction, the number (e.g., 3 in
In the embodiment illustrated in
For example, the conductive segments 250 are mirrored symmetrically to the conductive segment 210 with respect to the line segment 102 (and branch portion 411) and are configured to couple the active area 130 to the branch portion 411. In other words, the branch portion 411 is coupled to the active areas 120 to 130 adjacent to each other by the conductive segments 210 and the conductive segments 250 that are configured mirrored symmetrically. In some embodiments, the conductive segments 250 are mirrored symmetrically to the conductive segments 210 with respect to the branch portion 411.
The conductive segments 260 to 270 are arranged between adjacent active areas 130 to 140 and are mirrored symmetrically with respect to the line segment 103 (and the branch portion 421). In some embodiments, the conductive segments 260 and the conductive segments 230 are mirrored symmetrically with respect to the branch portion 411, in which the conductive segments 230 are coupled to the branch portion 422.
In summary, the integrated circuit and the low differential linear regulator circuit of the present application provide a symmetrically arranged integrated circuit layout design. By reducing the number of conductive lines and increasing the distance between the two conductive lines, the parasitic capacitance between the conductive lines is reduced and the output of high frequency voltage noises induced by the parasitic capacitance is reduced, thereby improving product performance and saving manufacturing costs.
Although the present application has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present application without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present application cover modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they fall within the scope of the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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111150011 | Dec 2022 | TW | national |