US 4,295,149 AGranted

Master image chip organization technique or method

AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation

InventorsJohn Balyoz, Chi S. Chang, Barry C. Fox, John A. Palmieri, Majid Ghafghaichi, Teh-Sen Jen, Donald B. Mooney

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Abstract

Disclosed are improved LSI semiconductor design structures termed "Master Image Chip Organization Techniques". Utilizing the technique provides increased density and optimized performance of semiconductor devices, circuits, and part number functions. In accordance with the disclosed Master Image Chip Organization Method the semiconductor chips are optimally structured to facilitate the maximum number of devices and circuits, and to facilitate fabrication of a wide variety of LSI part numbers. Essentially, none of the semiconductor surface is dedicated for signal and power wiring channels. A master image wiring structure is provided which resides over the semiconductor surface and beneath a power surface. In addition, the master image wiring structure provides a means for personalizing power and signal wiring for a multiple power surface structure. The combined master image structure provides a means for optimally allocating semiconductor area for devices, functional units (micro and macro) and signal and power wiring to facilitate improved density and performance.

Claims6

Dependent claims

In an improved planar semiconductor integrated circuit chip structure, said chip structure having:

a surface from which a plurality of regions of different conductivity type extend into the chip to provide a plurality of electrically isolated functional circuits, each of said functional circuits including the required interconnected components to provide the function thereof;
at least one of said functional circuits being a transistor-transistor logic functional circuit, at least one of said functional circuits being an emitter coupled logic functional circuit, and at least one of said functional circuits being a Schottky-Transistor logic functional circuit;
an X pattern of equally spaced parallel conductors overlying and electrically insulated from said chip structure surface, said X pattern of conductors being minimally spaced one from another and selectively connected to at least selected certain ones of said functional circuits;
a Y pattern of equally spaced parallel conductors overlying and electrically insulated from said X pattern of parallel conductors, said Y pattern of conductors being selectively connected to at least selected certain ones of said functional circuits and at least certain conductors of said X pattern of conductors;
said X pattern of conductors and said Y pattern of conductors being orthogonal one to another and thereby geometrically manifesting an X, Y coordinate system;
said integrated circuit chip structure being characterized in that all connections between said X pattern conductors, said Y pattern conductors and said functional circuits exist in space only at X, Y intersections of said X-Y coordinate system geometrically manifested by said X and Y patterns of conductors.

3 more elements

In an improved semiconductor large scale integrated circuit chip fabricated in an automated system in accordance with a part number, said chip including:

a planar surface from which a plurality of regions of different conductivity type extend into said chip to provide a plurality of electrically isolated functional circuits;
each of said functional circuits including the required interconnected components to provide the function thereof;
an X pattern of equally spaced parallel conductors overlying and electrically insulated from said chip planar surface, said X pattern of conductors being minimally spaced one from another and selectively connected to at least selected certain ones of said functional circuits;
a Y pattern of equally spaced parallel conductors overlying and electrically insulated from said X pattern of parallel conductors, said Y pattern of conductors being selectively connected to at least selected certain ones of said functional circuits and at least certain conductors of said X pattern of conductors;
said X pattern of conductors and said Y pattern of conductors being orthogonal one to another and thereby geometrically manifesting an X, Y coordinate system;
said large scale integrated circuit chip being characterized in that all connections between said X pattern of conductors, said Y pattern of conductors, and said functional circuits occur only at points in space corresponding to said X, Y intersections of said X-Y coordinate system geometrically manifested by said X and Y patterns of conductors, whereby fabrication utilizing an automated system in accordance with a part number is greatly enhanced.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.