Abstract: In some implementations, one or more semiconductor processing tools may form a metal cap on a metal gate. The one or more semiconductor processing tools may form one or more dielectric layers on the metal cap. The one or more semiconductor processing tools may form a recess to the metal cap within the one or more dielectric layers. The one or more semiconductor processing tools may perform a bottom-up deposition of metal material on the metal cap to form a metal plug within the recess and directly on the metal cap.

Abstract: A wireless device control circuit with modularized internal circuit architecture and associated wireless communications device are provided. The wireless device control circuit may include a first digital processing circuit and a second digital processing circuit. The first digital processing circuit is arranged to perform first digital processing corresponding to a first predetermined radio frequency band for the wireless communications device, the first digital processing including common processing and a first additional processing. The second digital processing circuit is arranged to perform second digital processing corresponding to a second predetermined radio frequency band for the wireless communications device, the second digital processing including the common processing and a second additional processing.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first diode, a second diode, a clamp circuit and a third diode. The first diode is coupled between an input/output (I/O) pad and a first voltage terminal. The second diode is coupled with the first diode, the I/O pad and a second voltage terminal. The clamp circuit is coupled between the first voltage terminal and the second voltage terminal. The second diode and the clamp circuit are configured to direct a first part of an electrostatic discharge (ESD) current flowing between the I/O pad and the first voltage terminal. The third diode, coupled to the first voltage terminal, and the second diode include a first semiconductor structure configured to direct a second part of the ESD current flowing between the I/O pad and the first voltage terminal.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) circuit includes a first ESD detection circuit, a first discharging circuit and a first ESD assist circuit. The first ESD detection circuit is coupled between a first node having a first voltage and a second node having a second voltage. The first discharging circuit includes a first transistor. The first transistor has a first gate, a first drain, a first source and a first body terminal. The first gate is coupled to the first ESD detection circuit by a third node. The first drain is coupled to the first node. The first source and the first body terminal are coupled together at the second node. The first ESD assist circuit is coupled between the second and third node, and configured to clamp a third voltage of the third node at the second voltage during an ESD event at the first or second node.

Abstract: In some implementations, one or more semiconductor processing tools may form a metal cap on a metal gate. The one or more semiconductor processing tools may form one or more dielectric layers on the metal cap. The one or more semiconductor processing tools may form a recess to the metal cap within the one or more dielectric layers. The one or more semiconductor processing tools may perform a bottom-up deposition of metal material on the metal cap to form a metal plug within the recess and directly on the metal cap.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a semiconductor device is provided, including a first doped region of a first conductivity type configured as a first terminal of a first diode, a second doped region of a second conductivity type configured as a second terminal of the first diode, wherein the first and second doped regions are coupled to a first voltage terminal; a first well of the first conductivity type surrounding the first and second doped regions in a layout view; a third doped region of the first conductivity type configured as a first terminal, coupled to an input/output pad, of a second diode; and a second well of the second conductivity type surrounding the third doped region in the layout view. The second and third doped regions, the first well, and the second well are configured as a first electrostatic discharge path between the I/O pad and the first voltage terminal.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device includes manufacturing doped zones in a first semiconductor material over a substrate. The method further includes forming an isolation structure between adjacent doped zones of the first semiconductor material. The method further includes manufacturing lines extending in a first direction over the doped zones of the first semiconductor material, wherein each of the lines has a line width measured along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The method further includes trimming the lines into line segments having ends over the isolation structure. The method further includes etching a transistor gate electrode over the substrate, wherein transistor gate electrode has a gate electrode width measured along the second direction, and wherein the line width is substantially similar to the gate electrode width.

Abstract: An ESD power clamp device includes an ESD detection circuit; a controlling circuit coupled with the ESD detection circuit; a field effect transistor (FET) coupled with the controlling circuit, and an impedance element coupled with the FET. The FET includes a drain terminal coupled with a first supply node; a gate terminal coupled with the controlling circuit; a source terminal coupled with a second supply node via the impedance element; and a bulk terminal coupled with second supply node.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) circuit includes an ESD detection circuit, a clamp circuit and an ESD assist circuit. The ESD detection circuit is coupled between a first and a second node. The first node has a first voltage. The second node has a second voltage. The clamp circuit includes a first transistor having a first gate, a first drain, a first source and a first body terminal. The first gate is coupled to at least the ESD detection circuit by a third node. The first drain is coupled to the second node. The first source and the first body terminal are coupled together at the first node. The ESD assist circuit is coupled between the first node and the third node, and is configured to clamp a third voltage of the third node at the first voltage during an ESD event at the first node or the second node.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first doped zone and a second doped zone in a first semiconductor material, the first doped zone being separated from the second doped zone; an isolation structure between the first doped zone and the second doped zone; and a first line segment over a top surface of the first doped zone, where the ends of the first line segment and the ends of the second line are over the isolation structure. The first line segment and the second line segment have a first width; and a dielectric material is between the first line segment and the second line segment and over the isolation structure. The first width is substantially similar to a width of a gate electrode in the semiconductor device.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided herein for enhancing robustness of a bipolar electrostatic discharge (ESD) device. The robustness of a bipolar ESD device includes providing an emitter region and a collector region adjacent to the emitter region. An isolation structure is provided between the emitter region and the collector region. A ballasting characteristic at the isolation structure is modified by inserting at least one partition structure therein. Each partition structure extends substantially abreast at least one of the emitter and the collector regions.

Abstract: A method for determining an initial rotor position of a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) includes: generating a plurality of transient currents by applying a plurality of voltages to each phase stator winding of a three phase stator winding of the PMSM; generating three phase current differences according to the plurality of transient currents; determining a first zone in which the initial rotor position of the PMSM is located according to the three phase current differences, wherein angles between 0-360 degrees are divided into a plurality of zones, and the first zone is selected from the plurality of zones; calculating three line current differences according to the three phase current differences; and determining the initial rotor position of the PMSM according to the first zone and the three line current differences.

Abstract: A method for increasing a resolution by N bits performed by a processing circuit of a motor driving system, where N is a positive integer, and the method includes: performing a conversion upon an analog command, to generate a command count value; performing a first N-bit right-shifting operation upon the command count value, to generate an initial output value; performing a logical operation upon the command count value, to generate a low bit value; generating an overflow value according to the low bit value; and determining a final output value according to the initial output value and the overflow value.

Abstract: A device is disclosed herein. The device includes a bias generator, an ESD driver, and a logic circuit. The bias generator includes a first transistor. The ESD driver includes a second transistor and a third transistor coupled to each other in series. The logic circuit is configured to generate a logic control signal. When the first transistor is turned on by a detection signal, the first transistor is turned off.

Abstract: A control circuit arranged to detect an initial rotor position of a brushless DC motor includes: a voltage integrator circuit, arranged to perform integration upon an input voltage, to generate a plurality of integrated voltages; a PWM generating circuit, arranged to generate and output a plurality of PWM signals to the brushless DC motor through a drive circuit, and stop outputting a PWM signal that is any of the plurality of PWM signals to the brushless DC motor according to an integrated voltage corresponding to the PWM signal; a current receiving circuit, arranged to receive a plurality of feedback currents from the brushless DC motor; a comparison circuit, arranged to perform comparison upon the plurality of feedback currents, to generate a comparison result; and a decision circuit, arranged to detect the initial rotor position according to the comparison result.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided herein for enhancing robustness of a bipolar electrostatic discharge (ESD) device. The robustness of a bipolar ESD device includes providing an emitter region and a collector region adjacent to the emitter region. An isolation structure is provided between the emitter region and the collector region. A ballasting characteristic at the isolation structure is modified by inserting at least one partition structure therein. Each partition structure extends substantially abreast at least one of the emitter and the collector regions.

Abstract: A device is disclosed herein. The device includes a bias generator, an ESD driver, and a logic circuit. The bias generator includes a first transistor. The ESD driver includes a second transistor and a third transistor coupled to each other in series. The logic circuit is configured to generate a logic control signal. A first terminal of the first transistor is configured to receive a reference voltage signal, a control terminal of the first transistor is configured to receive a detection signal in response to an ESD event being detected, a second terminal of the first transistor is coupled to a control terminal of the third transistor, and a control terminal of the second transistor is configured to receive the logic control signal.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit is coupled between first and second power supply buses. The ESD protection circuit includes a detection circuit; a pull-up circuit, coupled to the detection circuit, comprising at least a first n-type transistor; a pull-down circuit, coupled to the pull-up circuit, comprising at least a second n-type transistor; and a bypass circuit, coupled to the pull-up and pull-down circuits, wherein the detection circuit is configured to detect whether an ESD event is present on either the first or the second bus so as to cause the pull-up and pull-down circuits to selectively enable the bypass circuit for providing a discharging path between the first and second power supply buses.

Abstract: A method for determining an initial rotor position of a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) includes: generating a plurality of transient currents by applying a plurality of voltages to each phase stator winding of a three phase stator winding of the PMSM; generating three phase current differences according to the plurality of transient currents; determining a first zone in which the initial rotor position of the PMSM is located according to the three phase current differences, wherein angles between 0-360 degrees are divided into a plurality of zones, and the first zone is selected from the plurality of zones; calculating three line current differences according to the three phase current differences; and determining the initial rotor position of the PMSM according to the first zone and the three line current differences.

Abstract: An ESD power clamp device includes an ESD detection circuit; a controlling circuit coupled with the ESD detection circuit; a field effect transistor (FET) coupled with the controlling circuit, and an impedance element coupled with the FET. The FET includes a drain terminal coupled with a first supply node; a gate terminal coupled with the controlling circuit; a source terminal coupled with a second supply node via the impedance element; and a bulk terminal coupled with second supply node.