CMOS gate array with vertical transistors

A monotonic dynamic-static pseudo-NMOS logic circuit, comprising:

• a dynamic logic circuit having a number of logic inputs, a clock input, and an output, wherein the number of logic inputs are coupled to a number of gates of free standing vertical n-channel transistors, and the clock input is coupled to a gate of a free standing vertical p-channel transistor coupled between a power supply and the output for precharging the output of the dynamic logic circuit during a precharge stage;
• a static logic circuit, having a number of logic inputs, a clock bar input, and an output, wherein the number of logic inputs are coupled to a number of gates of free standing vertical n-channel transistors, the clock bar input is coupled to a gate of a free standing vertical n-channel transistor coupled between a low voltage supply and the output for precharging the output of the static logic circuit during a precharge stage;
• and
• wherein one of the number of inputs for the static logic circuit is coupled to the output of the dynamic logic circuit.

A CMOS gate array, comprising:

• a dynamic logic circuit having a number of logic inputs, a clock input, and an output, wherein the number of logic inputs are coupled to a number of gates of free standing vertical n-channel transistors, and the clock input is coupled to a gate of a free standing vertical p-channel transistor for precharging the output;
• a static logic circuit, having a number of logic inputs, a clock bar input, and an output, wherein the number of logic inputs are coupled to a number of gates of free standing vertical n-channel transistors, the clock bar input is coupled to a gate of a free standing vertical n-channel transistor for precharging the output, and wherein one of the number of inputs for the static logic circuit is coupled to the output of the dynamic logic circuit;
• and
• wherein each of the free standing vertical transistors includes:
• a vertically stacked body region and first and second source/drain regions formed within a pillar of semiconductor material extending outwardly from a working surface of a substrate, the pillar having an upper surface and a number of sides;
• and
• a gate associated with a side of the pillar and located below the upper surface of the pillar.

A CMOS gate array, comprising:

• a number of dynamic logic circuits, each dynamic logic circuit including a number of logic inputs, a clock input, and an output, wherein the number of logic inputs are coupled to a number of gates of free standing vertical n-channel transistors, and the clock input is coupled to a gate of a free standing vertical p-channel transistor for precharging the output;
• a number of static logic circuits, each static logic circuit including a number of logic inputs, a clock bar input, and an output, wherein the number of logic inputs are coupled to a number of gates of free standing vertical n-channel transistors, the clock bar input is coupled to a gate of a free standing vertical n-channel transistor for precharging the output;
• and
• wherein number of dynamic logic circuits and the number of static logic circuits are cascaded such that the output of one dynamic logic circuit is coupled to one of the number of logic inputs for a subsequent static logic circuit, and the output of one of the static logic circuits is coupled to the one of the number of logic inputs for a subsequent dynamic logic circuit.

A CMOS gate array, comprising:

• a number of dynamic logic circuits, each dynamic logic circuit including a number of logic inputs, a clock input, and an output, wherein the number of logic inputs are coupled to a number of gates of free standing vertical n-channel transistors, and the clock input is coupled to a gate of a free standing vertical p-channel transistor for precharging the output high;
• a number of static logic circuits, each static logic circuit including a number of logic inputs, a clock bar input, and an output, wherein the number of logic inputs are coupled to a number of gates of free standing vertical n-channel transistors, the clock bar input is coupled to a gate of a free standing vertical n-channel transistor for precharging the output low;
• and
• wherein number of dynamic logic circuits and the number of static logic circuits are cascaded such that the output of one dynamic logic circuit is coupled to one of the number of logic inputs for a subsequent static logic circuit, and the output of one of the static logic circuits is coupled to the one of the number of logic inputs for a subsequent dynamic logic circuit.

A CMOS gate array, comprising:

• a number of dynamic logic circuits, each dynamic logic circuit including a number of logic inputs, a clock input, and an output, wherein the number of logic inputs are coupled to a number of gates of free standing vertical n-channel transistors, and the clock input is coupled to a gate of a free standing vertical p-channel transistor coupled between a power supply and the output for precharging the output high during a precharge stage prior to an arrival of a number of input signals on the number of logic inputs of the dynamic logic circuit;
• a number of static logic circuits, each static logic circuit including a number of logic inputs, a clock bar input, and an output, wherein the number of logic inputs are coupled to a number of gates of free standing vertical n-channel transistors, the clock bar input is coupled to a gate of a free standing vertical n-channel transistor coupled between a low voltage supply and the output of the static logic circuit for precharging the output low during a precharge stage prior to an arrival of a number of input signals on the number of logic inputs of the static logic circuit;
• wherein number of dynamic logic circuits and the number of static logic circuits are cascaded such that the output of one dynamic logic circuit is coupled to one of the number of logic inputs for a subsequent static logic circuit, and the output of one of the static logic circuits is coupled to the one of the number of logic inputs for a subsequent dynamic logic circuit;
• and
• wherein each of the free standing vertical transistors includes:
• a vertically stacked body region and first and second source/drain regions formed within a pillar of semiconductor material extending outwardly from a working surface of a substrate, the pillar having an upper surface and a number of sides;
• and
• a gate associated with a side of the pillar and located below the upper surface of the pillar.

A method for performing logic functions, comprising:

• coupling a dynamic logic circuit to a static logic circuit, each having a number of logic inputs and an output, wherein the number of logic inputs are coupled to a number of gates of free standing vertical n-channel transistors, wherein the dynamic logic circuit further includes a clock input and the static logic circuit includes a clock bar input, and wherein one of the number of inputs for the static logic circuit is coupled to the output of the dynamic logic circuit;
• precharging the output of the dynamic logic circuit during a precharge stage by providing a low clock signal to the clock input, the clock input being coupled to a gate of a free standing vertical p-channel transistor coupled between a power supply and the output;
• and
• precharging the output of the static logic circuit during the precharge stage by providing a high clock signal to the clock bar input, the clock bar input being coupled to a gate of a free standing vertical n-channel transistor coupled between a low voltage supply and the output.

A method for operating a CMOS gate array, comprising:

• coupling a static logic circuit to a dynamic logic circuit, each having a number of logic inputs and an output, wherein the number of logic inputs are coupled to a number of gates of free standing vertical n-channel transistors, wherein the static logic circuit further includes a clock bar input and the dynamic logic circuit includes a clock input, and wherein one of the number of inputs for the dynamic logic circuit is coupled to the output of the static logic circuit;
• precharging the output of the static logic circuit during a precharge stage prior to an arrival of a number of input signals on the number of logic inputs of the static logic circuit by providing a high clock signal to the clock bar input, the clock bar input being coupled to a gate of a free standing vertical n-channel transistor coupled between a low voltage supply and the output;
• and
• precharging the output of the dynamic logic circuit during the precharge stage prior to an arrival of a number of input signals on the number of logic inputs of the dynamic logic circuit by providing a low clock signal to the clock input, the clock input being coupled to a gate of a free standing vertical p-channel transistor coupled between a power supply and the output.

A method for forming a logic circuit, comprising:

• coupling a dynamic logic circuit to a static logic circuit, each having a number of logic inputs and an output, wherein the number of logic inputs are coupled to a number of gates of free standing vertical n-channel transistors, wherein the dynamic logic circuit further includes a clock input and the static logic circuit includes a clock bar input, and wherein one of the number of inputs for the static logic circuit is coupled to the output of the dynamic logic circuit;
• coupling the clock input to a gate of a free standing vertical p-channel transistor coupled between a power supply and the output of the dynamic logic circuit for precharging the output during a precharge stage;
• and
• coupling the clock bar input to a gate of a free standing vertical n-channel transistor coupled between a low voltage supply and the output of the static logic circuit for precharging the output during a precharge stage.

A method of forming a CMOS gate array, comprising:

• cascading a number of dynamic logic circuits and a number of static logic circuits, each circuit having a number of logic inputs and an output, wherein the number of logic inputs in each circuit are coupled to a number of gates of free standing vertical n-channel transistors, wherein each dynamic logic circuit further includes a clock input and each static logic circuit includes a clock bar input;
• coupling the clock input in each dynamic logic circuit to a gate of a free standing vertical p-channel transistor coupled between a power supply and the output of the dynamic logic circuit for precharging the output during a precharge stage prior to the arrival of a number of input signals to the number of logic inputs;
• coupling the clock bar input in each static logic circuit to a gate of a free standing vertical n-channel transistor coupled between a low voltage supply and the output of the static logic circuit for precharging the output during the precharge stage prior to the arrival of a number of input signals to the number of logic inputs;
• wherein cascading the number of dynamic logic circuits and the number of static logic circuits includes cascading the circuits such that the output of one dynamic logic circuit is coupled to one of the number of logic inputs for a subsequent static logic circuit, and the output of one of the static logic circuits is coupled to the one of the number of logic inputs for a subsequent dynamic logic circuit;
• and
• wherein forming each of the free standing vertical transistors includes:
• forming a vertically stacked body region and first and second source/drain regions formed within a pillar of semiconductor material extending outwardly from a working surface of a substrate, the pillar having an upper surface and a number of sides;
• and
• forming a gate associated with a side of the pillar and located below the upper surface of the pillar.