Abstract: Processes to form differently-pitched gate structures are provided. An example method includes providing a workpiece having a substrate and semiconductor fins spaced apart from one another by an isolation feature, depositing a gate material layer over the workpiece, forming a patterned hard mask over the gate material layer, the patterned hard mask including differently-pitched elongated features, performing a first etch process using the patterned hard mask as an etch mask through the gate material layer to form a trench, performing a second etch process using the patterned hard mask as an etch mask to extend the trench to a top surface of the isolation feature, and performing a third etch process using the patterned hard mask to extend the trench into the isolation feature. The first etch process includes use of carbon tetrafluoride and is free of use of oxygen gas.

Abstract: A device includes a plurality of fin structures that each protrude vertically upwards out of a substrate and each extend in a first direction in a top view. A gate structure is disposed over the fin structures. The gate structure extends in a second direction in the top view. The second direction is different from the first direction. The fin structures have a fin pitch equal to a sum of: a dimension of one of the fin structures in the second direction and a distance between an adjacent pair of the fin structures in the second direction. An end segment of the gate structure extends beyond an edge of a closest one of the fin structures in the second direction. The end segment has a tapered profile in the top view or is at least 4 times as long as the fin pitch in the second direction.

Abstract: An alignment structure for a semiconductor device and a method of forming same are provided. A method includes forming an isolation region over a substrate and forming an alignment structure over the isolation region. Forming the alignment structure includes forming a sacrificial gate electrode layer over the substrate and the isolation region. The sacrificial gate electrode layer is patterned to form a plurality of first sacrificial gates over the isolation region. At least one of the plurality of first sacrificial gates is reshaped. The at least one of the plurality of first sacrificial gates is disposed at an edge of the alignment structure in a plan view. A sidewall of the at least one of the plurality of first sacrificial gates comprises a notch at an interface between the at least one of the plurality of first sacrificial gates and the isolation region.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a heavy network flow detection method for a software-defined networking (SDN) switch. The method includes: receiving a network packet through a network interface; analyzing the network packet to obtain routing information of the network packet; performing a plurality of hash calculations for the routing information to generate a plurality of index values, and updating a plurality of counting values in a plurality of hash tables according to the index values; obtaining a flow-amount evaluation value corresponding to the routing information according to the counting values; and identifying that the network packet belongs to a heavy network flow if the flow-amount evaluation value is larger than a threshold value.

Abstract: A mobile navigation system includes positioning devices and a positioning datasheet generating unit. The positioning devices are installed in multiple areas and transmit wireless signals containing positioning device serial numbers. The positioning datasheet generating unit provides an electronic region map and a positioning datasheet to a mobile device. The positioning datasheet includes location information of the areas, the associated positioning device serial numbers, and navigation routes between any two of the areas. The mobile device searches the positioning datasheet to obtain the location information of a current area of itself with the positioning device serial number in the wireless signal received from the positioning device. The mobile device displays the current area on the electronic region map. Upon receiving a destination area, the mobile device searches the positioning datasheet to find a navigation route between the current area and the destination area and displays the navigation route.

Abstract: A dynamic tag generating apparatus and a dynamic tag generating method thereof are provided. The dynamic tag generating apparatus is disposed in a display apparatus, and the display apparatus is connected to a server. The dynamic tag generating apparatus receives tag update information from the server through the display apparatus, and updates a tag content of the display apparatus according to the tag update information. The dynamic tag generating apparatus provides the tag content to a tag analyzing apparatus so that the tag analyzing apparatus analyzes the tag content.

Abstract: A dynamic tag generating apparatus and a dynamic tag generating method thereof are provided. The dynamic tag generating apparatus is disposed in a display apparatus, and the display apparatus is connected to a server. The dynamic tag generating apparatus receives tag update information from the server through the display apparatus, and updates a tag content of the display apparatus according to the tag update information. The dynamic tag generating apparatus provides the tag content to a tag analyzing apparatus so that the tag analyzing apparatus analyzes the tag content.

Abstract: The invention discloses a device and a method for controlling the layer jumping of a pickup head, and the device includes a speed detector, a target speedometer, a first adder, a compensator, a gap balance signal calculator, and a second adder; wherein the speed detector receives a combined reflective light signal from a preamplifier to output a layer jumping speed signal; the target speedometer outputs a target layer jumping speed signal; the first adder adds the layer jumping speed signal and the target layer jumping speed signal and outputs the sum; the compensator receives and compensates the output from the first adder; the gap balance calculator receives a focus control signal to output a gap balance signal; the second adder adds a kickout/brake signal, the gap balance signal and the output of the compensator and outputs a control signal to a driver for controlling a pickup head.

Abstract: A compensator circuit comprises a phase-lead compensator for receiving an error signal generated by an optical storage device and generating a phase-lead error signal, a band-pass filter connected in parallel with the lead compensator for magnifying a rotating frequency error signal and generating a filtered signal, and an adder for synthesizing the phase-lead error signal and the filtered signal so as to reduce a steady-state error of the error signal. The compensator circuit does not comprise any phase-lag compensator.