Abstract: A replaceable tactile paving pad with electronic components is disclosed. The tactile paving pad comprises a base, a plurality of protrusions extending upwards from the base, a duct portion comprising at least one duct provided on a top surface of the base with an opening provided on the top surface facing upwards, the duct portion extends along a whole length of the base, and an electronic component received within the duct. A system is also disclosed, the system comprising at least one pad and a remote device. The remote device comprises a wireless reader, an input device and an output device. The wireless reader communicates with wireless devices in each pad and a backend server and alerts a user with information retrieved from the backend server.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a semiconductor device, such as a strained-channel transistor, includes forming epitaxial regions in a substrate in proximity to a gate electrode in which the surface profile of the epitaxial regions is defined by masking sidewall spacers adjacent the gate electrode. The epitaxial regions are formed by depositing an epitaxial material into cavities selectively etched into the semiconductor substrate on either side of the gate electrode. The masking sidewall spacers limit the thickness of the epitaxial deposited material in proximity of the gate electrode, such that the upper surface of the epitaxial material is substantially the same as the principal surface of the semiconductor substrate. Doped regions are formed in the channel region beneath the gate electrode using an angled ion beam, such that doping profiles of the implanted regions are substantially unaffected by surface irregularities in the epitaxially-deposited material.

Abstract: The electrical performance enhancing effects of inducing strain in semiconductor devices is made substantially uniform across a substrate having a varying population density of device components by selectively spacing apart the strain-inducing structures from the effected regions of the semiconductor devices depending upon the population density of device components. Differing separation distances are obtained by selectively forming sidewall spacers on device components, such as MOS transistor gate electrodes, in which the sidewall spacers have a relatively small width in regions having a relatively high density of device components, and a relatively larger width in regions having a relatively low density of device components. By varying the separation distance of strain-inducing structures from the effected components, uniform electrical performance is obtained in the various components of the devices in an integrated circuit regardless of the component population density.

Abstract: An integrated circuit system that includes: providing a PFET device including a PFET gate and a PFET gate dielectric; forming a source/drain extension from a first epitaxial layer aligned to a first PFET gate sidewall spacer; and forming a source/drain from a second epitaxial layer aligned to a second PFET gate sidewall spacer.

Abstract: The electrical performance enhancing effects of inducing strain in semiconductor devices is made substantially uniform across a substrate having a varying population density of device components by selectively spacing apart the strain-inducing structures from the effected regions of the semiconductor devices depending upon the population density of device components. Differing separation distances are obtained by selectively forming sidewall spacers on device components, such as MOS transistor gate electrodes, in which the sidewall spacers have a relatively small width in regions having a relatively high density of device components, and a relatively larger width in regions having a relatively low density of device components. By varying the separation distance of strain-inducing structures from the effected components, uniform electrical performance is obtained in the various components of the devices in an integrated circuit regardless of the component population density.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a semiconductor device, such as a strained-channel transistor, includes forming epitaxial regions in a substrate in proximity to a gate electrode in which the surface profile of the epitaxial regions is defined by masking sidewall spacers adjacent the gate electrode. The epitaxial regions are formed by depositing an epitaxial material into cavities selectively etched into the semiconductor substrate on either side of the gate electrode. The masking sidewall spacers limit the thickness of the epitaxial deposited material in proximity of the gate electrode, such that the upper surface of the epitaxial material is substantially the same as the principal surface of the semiconductor substrate. Doped regions are formed in the channel region beneath the gate electrode using an angled ion beam, such that doping profiles of the implanted regions are substantially unaffected by surface irregularities in the epitaxially-deposited material.

Abstract: An integrated circuit system that includes: providing a PFET device including a PFET gate and a PFET gate dielectric; forming a source/drain extension from a first epitaxial layer aligned to a first PFET gate sidewall spacer; and forming a source/drain from a second epitaxial layer aligned to a second PFET gate sidewall spacer.