Integrated circuit base transistor structure and associated programmable cell library

The present invention relates generally to integrated circuits and integrated circuit design processes, and more particularly to a base transistor structure that may be used to implement programmable cells in integrated circuits. A base transistor structure and associated programmable cell library compatible with standard cell computer-aided design (CAD) tools are disclosed. In an illustrative embodiment of the invention, the base transistor structure is symmetric about one or more axes, and extends only a single grid of a standard cell CAD tool in width. The base transistor structure is advantageously configured in a manner that permits the utilization of gate isolation to separate active transistors in adjacent base transistor structures. The base transistor structure can be used to implement a programmable cell technology that is fully compatible with standard cell CAD tools.