Difference between lvt and lvt_mac device in a TSMC65 technology

[Mvitale]

Dear All,
I'm a PhD student who is using the TSMC65N technology to design an ADC pipeline.
I recently finished the design using mosfet MAC and now I should move on to the layout.
But before to start, I would like to now if there are some difference between the
lvt and lvt_mac devices at schematic level and/or layout level in terms of device behavior.

 

[paigers]

Dear All,
I'm a PhD student who is using the TSMC65N technology to design an ADC pipeline.
I recently finished the design using mosfet MAC and now I should move on to the layout.
But before to start, I would like to now if there are some difference between the
lvt and lvt_mac devices at schematic level and/or layout level in terms of device behavior.

For a standard MOSFET-based ADC pipeline design, the difference between LVT and LVT_MAC devices might be negligible at the schematic level. However, for optimal performance, using LVT_MAC devices can be beneficial due to potential layout optimizations for matching and analog behavior.

 

[aliarifat794]

LVT_MAC devices are designed to have lower flicker noise and better overall noise performance, important for analog applications like ADCs. LVT devices are less optimized for noise performance.

 

[paigers]

geometry dash lite​

LVT_MAC devices are designed to have lower flicker noise and better overall noise performance, important for analog applications like ADCs. LVT devices are less optimized for noise performance.

Yes, LVT_MAC devices are the superior choice for applications where low noise is crucial.

 

[Alchemist_]

I'm interested in this too. How specifically do fabricated LVT_MACs change wrt plain LVTs? I ask because in layout view they have exactly the same layers except from an additional LVSDUMMY for MACs.

 

[Mvitale]

I'm interested in this too. How specifically do fabricated LVT_MACs change wrt plain LVTs? I ask because in layout view they have exactly the same layers except from an additional LVSDUMMY for MACs.

I recently contacted IMEC who ensured me that the layout is the same for both lvt and lvt_MAC. That layer is "DUMMY", so I assume it doesn't affect the layout.

 

[Alchemist_]

Ok but other users report that MACs have better noise performance.

geometry dash lite​

Yes, LVT_MAC devices are the superior choice for applications where low noise is crucial.

@paigers Please could you elaborate further?