Patent · US Expired

Concentric metal density power routing

US6476497B1 · kind B1 · utility

12Cited by
4References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 26, 2001
Grant dateNov 5, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 13, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L2924/0002
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for concentric metal density power distribution is disclosed that reduces metal density and increases available area for routing clock and signal traces. A method of concentric metal density power distribution includes the steps of partitioning an area of standard cells in an integrated circuit chip into a plurality of power regions, forming a power boundary around each of the plurality of power regions, and forming a plurality of concentric straps in a metal layer of the integrated circuit chip wherein each of the plurality of concentric straps has a strap width that varies from a maximum strap width at a periphery of each of the plurality of power regions to a minimum strap width toward a center of each of the plurality of power regions.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.