Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method of manufacturing one or more needles of a probe card by refining and processing a conductive body that extends from the probe card to form a respective tip at the end of the respective conductive body. Forming the respective tip of a respective needle includes removing respective portions from the end of the conductive body by flowing an electrolytic fluid between a conductive pattern structure and an end of the respective conductive body. Removing the respective portions with the flow of the electrons may be performed in multiple successive steps to form various needles with various sizes, shapes, and profiles (e.g., cylindrical, rectangular, triangular, trapezoidal, etc.).

Abstract: Semiconductor structure and methods of forming the same are provided. An exemplary method includes receiving a workpiece including a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) and a conductive capping layer disposed on the MTJ, depositing a first dielectric layer over the workpiece, performing a first planarization process to the first dielectric layer, and after the performing of the first planarization process, patterning the first dielectric layer to form an opening exposing a top surface of the conductive capping layer, selectively removing the conductive capping layer. The method also includes depositing an electrode layer to fill the opening and performing a second planarization process to the workpiece such that a top surface of the electrode layer and a top surface of the first dielectric layer are coplanar.

Abstract: A power system having a power saving mechanism includes a voltage regulator, a power input module, and a switching signal generation unit. The voltage regulator performs a regulation operation on a first voltage for generating a second voltage. The power input module includes a transformer, a rectifying unit, a switch, and a switch control unit. The rectifying unit together with the transformer is put in use for converting an input voltage into the first voltage. The switch is employed to control a current flowing through the primary winding of the transformer. The switch control unit generates a control signal for controlling the switch according to a switching signal. The switching signal generation unit is utilized for generating the switching signal to disable the switch control unit during an energy transfer disable interval so as to decrease the first voltage from a first predetermined voltage to a second predetermined voltage.

Abstract: A power system having a power saving mechanism includes a voltage regulator, a power input module, and a switching signal generation unit. The voltage regulator performs a regulation operation on a first voltage for generating a second voltage. The power input module includes a transformer, a rectifying unit, a switch, and a switch control unit. The rectifying unit together with the transformer is put in use for converting an input voltage into the first voltage. The switch is employed to control a current flowing through the primary winding of the transformer. The switch control unit generates a control signal for controlling the switch according to a switching signal. The switching signal generation unit is utilized for generating the switching signal to disable the switch control unit during an energy transfer disable interval so as to decrease the first voltage from a first predetermined voltage to a second predetermined voltage.

Abstract: A low acoustic noise solution for snubber circuits is utilized for relieving spike noise under a low-load mode of a snubber circuit, and for avoiding electromagnetic interference under a high-load mode of said snubber circuit. A power transform device utilizing the low acoustic solution includes a power source node, a switch node, a ground node, a transformer, a third switching unit, a first spike noise snubber circuit, a first switch unit, a second spike noise snubber circuit, and a second switch unit. When the power transform device is under the low-load mode, the first spike noise snubber circuit is used to absorb power discharged from the transformer so that spike noise is relived. When the power transform device is under the high-load mode, both the first and the second spike noise snubber circuits are used to absorb power so that electromagnetic interference is relieved.

Abstract: A monitor and a power circuit thereof. The monitor includes a power circuit and a lamp. The power circuit driving the lamp to emit light includes an AC-to-DC converter, a transformer, a switch, a pulse width modulation (PWM) unit, a DC filter and a Royer circuit. The AC-to-DC converter receives a first AC voltage and generates a first DC voltage. The transformer has a secondary side coil for generating a second AC voltage, and a primary side coil, which has one end for receiving the first DC voltage and the other end coupled to a low potential through the switch. The PWM unit controls the switch to turn on to adjust the second AC voltage. The DC filter filters the second AC voltage into a second DC voltage. The Royer circuit generates a third AC voltage for driving the lamp to emit the light according to the second DC voltage.

Abstract: A monitor and a DC/AC converter thereof are provided. The monitor includes a lamp and a DC/AC converter. The DC/AC converter includes a pulse width modulation (PWM) unit, a DC/DC converting unit and a Royer circuit. The PWM unit is used for outputting a PWM signal whose pulse width is determined by a potential signal. The DC/DC converting unit receives and converts the first DC voltage to a second DC voltage whose potential is determined by the PWM signal. The Royer circuit generates an AC voltage to the lamp according to the second DC voltage. The DC/AC converter determines the potential of the AC voltage according to the potential signal. When the DC/AC converter operates in burst mode, the potential signal is alternated between a high potential and a low potential, such that the AC voltage outputted is in burst mode.

Abstract: A switching power converter for converting an AC power into a DC power. The converter includes a transformer, a charge storage unit, a synchronization signal generator, and a switch element. The transformer includes a primary side coil and a secondary side coil, and the primary side coil generates an induced voltage at the secondary side coil according to AC power. The charge storage unit charges according to the induced voltage and outputs a DC power. The synchronization signal generator generates a synchronization signal according to the induced voltage. The synchronization signal is the first value when the induced voltage is positive and is the second value when the induced voltage is negative. The switch element, serially connected to the secondary side coil and controlled by the synchronization signal, is turned on when the synchronization signal is the first value and is turned off when otherwise.

Abstract: A device for adjusting currents of lamp tubes in a display. The device includes a feedback device, a first switch, a second switch, a main control device, a resonance circuit, a transformer, and a low-frequency switch controller. The low-frequency switch controller turns on the lamp tubes alternately. The feedback device monitors and adjusts the currents of the lamp tubes, thus the brightness of the lamp tubes are all the same.

Abstract: A switching power converter for converting an AC power into a DC power. The converter includes a transformer, a charge storage unit, a synchronization signal generator, and a switch element. The transformer includes a primary side coil and a secondary side coil, and the primary side coil generates an induced voltage at the secondary side coil according to AC power. The charge storage unit charges according to the induced voltage and outputs a DC power. The synchronization signal generator generates a synchronization signal according to the induced voltage. The synchronization signal is the first value when the induced voltage is positive and is the second value when the induced voltage is negative. The switch element, serially connected to the secondary side coil and controlled by the synchronization signal, is turned on when the synchronization signal is the first value and is turned off when otherwise.

Abstract: A device for adjusting currents of lamp tubes in a display. The device includes a feedback device, a first switch, a second switch, a main control device, a resonance circuit, a transformer, and a low-frequency switch controller. The low-frequency switch controller turns on the lamp tubes alternately. The feedback device monitors and adjusts the currents of the lamp tubes, thus the brightness of the lamp tubes are all the same.