Multi-bit structure

An integrated circuit, comprising:

• a first plurality of cell rows with a first row height;
• a second plurality of cell rows with a second row height different from the first row height, wherein the first and second plurality of cell rows extend in a first direction and are interlaced;
• and
• a plurality of bit cells in a multi-bit cell that have M bit cells and are included in the first plurality of cell rows and the second plurality of cell rows, wherein each of the plurality of bit cells comprises an input stage cell in one of the first plurality of cell rows and a data cell in one of the second plurality of cell rows;
• wherein an input stage cell of a first bit cell and an input stage cell of a N-th bit cell are included in the same cell row of the multi-bit cell, and
• the input stage cell of the N-th bit cell and an input stage cell of a (N−1)-th bit cell are included in different cell rows of the multi-bit cell;
• wherein M and N are positive integers, and N is smaller than M.

A method, comprising:

• arranging a plurality of bit cells, having M bit cells in total, in a multi-bit cell in accordance with a guideline, wherein each of plurality of bit cells has a first cell row with a first row height and a second cell row with a second row height different from the first row height;
• wherein an output of a N-th bit cell and an input signal of a (N+1)-th bit cell are coupled together, and M and N are positive integers;
• wherein the guideline indicates that a first bit cell of the plurality of bit cells is arranged in a first row of a plurality of rows and a first column of a plurality of columns in the multi-bit cell, and
• a M-th bit cell of the plurality of bit cells is arranged in a last row of the plurality of rows and a second column of the plurality of columns,
• wherein the plurality of rows extending in a first direction are arranged in a second direction different from the first direction, and the plurality of columns extending in the second direction are arranged in the first direction.