Integrated circuit with guard ring

An integrated circuit comprising:

• an inductor above a substrate;
• a first metal layer above the substrate;
• a second metal layer above the first metal layer;
• and
• a guard ring enclosing the inductor, the guard ring comprising:
• a first set of metal lines in the first metal layer and extending in a first direction;
• a second set of metal lines in the second metal layer and extending in a second direction different from the first direction;
• and
• a staggered line comprising:
• a third set of metal lines in the first metal layer and extending in the first direction;
• a fourth set of metal lines in the second metal layer, extending in the second direction and being coupled to the third set of metal lines;
• and
• a first set of vias coupling the third set of metal lines with the fourth set of metal lines;
• wherein
• the first set of metal lines, the second set of metal lines, and the staggered line are connected and enclose the inductor, and
• all metal lines in the first metal layer that are part of the guard ring extend in the first direction.

A guard ring comprising:

• a staggered line comprising a connected set of a plurality of first conductive line segments and a plurality of second conductive line segments, wherein
• the plurality of first conductive line segments in the connected set are in a first metal layer over a substrate and extend in a first direction, all first conductive line segments in the first metal layer extend in the first direction, and
• the plurality of second conductive line segments in the connected set are in a second metal layer different from the first metal layer, and the plurality of second conductive line segments extend in a second direction different from the first direction;
• a first set of vias coupling the plurality of first conductive line segments with the plurality of second conductive line segments;
• and
• a set of metal lines in the second metal layer, wherein all metal lines in the second metal layer extend in the second direction, and at least one metal line of the set of metal lines is coupled to the staggered line.