IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,581,713
Granted Patent B2
US 12,581,713 · App. 17/886,805 · Granted Mar 17, 2026

Via alternate net spacing

Inventors: Thomas Hua-Min Williams (Irvine, CA); Luis Chen (Chula Vista, CA); Bed Raj Kandel (San Diego, CA)
Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
H10D64/254H10D64/513
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,581,713
App. No.
17/886,805
Granted
Mar 17, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A chip includes a first net, and a second net, wherein the first net and the second net are formed from a same metal layer, and the second net neighbors the first net. The chip also includes first vias disposed on the first net, and second vias disposed on the second net. A first spacing is greater than a second spacing, the first spacing is between a first one of the first vias and a second one of the first vias, the first one of the first vias and the second one of the first vias are adjacent, and the second spacing is between the first one of the first vias and one of the second vias closest to the first one of the first vias.

Claims (27)

1 . A chip, comprising:

a first net;

a second net, wherein the first net and the second net are formed from a same metal layer, and the second net neighbors the first net;

first vias disposed on the first net;

second vias disposed on the second net;

a third net, wherein the third net is formed from the same metal layer as the first net and the second net, and the third net neighbors the second net; and

third vias disposed on the third net;

wherein a first spacing is greater than a second spacing, the first spacing is between a first one of the first vias and a second one of the first vias, the first one of the first vias and the second one of the first vias are adjacent, and the second spacing is between the first one of the first vias and one of the second vias closest to the first one of the first vias; and

wherein a third spacing is greater than a fourth spacing, the third spacing is between a first one of the third vias and a second one of the third vias, the first one of the third vias and the second one of the third vias are adjacent, and the fourth spacing is between the first one of the third vias and one of the second vias closest to the first one of the third vias.

2 . The chip of claim 1 , wherein the first spacing is greater than 1.1 times a minimum spacing specified by a design rule.

3 . The chip of claim 2 , wherein the second spacing is within a range of the minimum spacing to 1.1 times the minimum spacing.

4 . The chip of claim 1 , wherein the first spacing is greater than 1.3 times a minimum spacing specified by a design rule.

5 . The chip of claim 1 , wherein the first spacing is greater than 1.5 times a minimum spacing specified by a design rule.

6 . The chip of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the first spacing to the second spacing is greater than 1.1.

7 . The chip of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the first spacing to the second spacing is greater than 1.3.

8 . The chip of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the first spacing to the second spacing is greater than 1.5.

9 . The chip of claim 1 , wherein the first net comprises a first contiguous metal line and the second net comprises a second contiguous metal line.

10 . The chip of claim 1 , wherein:

the first net is electrically coupled to a source or a drain of a transistor; and

the second net is electrically coupled to a gate of the transistor.

11 . The chip of claim 1 , wherein:

the first net is electrically coupled to a drain of a transistor;

the second net is electrically coupled to a gate of the transistor; and

the third net is electrically coupled to a source of the transistor.

12 . The chip of claim 1 , wherein the first spacing and the third spacing are each greater than 1.1 times a minimum spacing specified by a design rule.

13 . The chip of claim 1 , wherein the first spacing and the third spacing are each greater than 1.3 times a minimum spacing specified by a design rule.

14 . The chip of claim 1 , wherein the first spacing and the third spacing are each greater than 1.5 times a minimum spacing specified by a design rule.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 6, 2022
From: WILLIAMS, THOMAS HUA-MIN; CHEN, LUIS; KANDEL, BED RAJ
To: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 060997/0083 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240055494A1 · Feb 15, 2024
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