Abstract: An image sensor device is provided. The image sensor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a front surface, a back surface opposite to the front surface, and a light-sensing region close to the front surface. The image sensor device includes an insulating layer covering the back surface and extending into the semiconductor substrate. The protection layer has a first refractive index, and the first refractive index is less than a second refractive index of the semiconductor substrate and greater than a third refractive index of the insulating layer, and the protection layer conformally and continuously covers the back surface and extends into the semiconductor substrate. The image sensor device includes a reflective structure surrounded by insulating layer in the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate, a conductive feature on the substrate, and an electrical connection structure on the conductive feature. The electrical connection includes a first grain made of a first metal material, and a first inhibition layer made of a second metal layer that is different than the first metal material. The first inhibition layer extends vertically along a first side of a grain boundary of the first grain and laterally along a bottom of the grain boundary of the first grain.

Abstract: An optical element driving mechanism is provided and includes a fixed assembly, a movable assembly, a driving assembly and a stopping assembly. The fixed assembly has a main axis. The movable assembly is configured to connect an optical element, and the movable assembly is movable relative to the fixed assembly. The driving assembly is configured to drive the movable assembly to move relative to the fixed assembly. The stopping assembly is configured to limit the movement of the movable assembly relative to the fixed assembly within a range of motion.

Abstract: A device includes a semiconductor substrate and a first gate stack over the semiconductor substrate, the first gate stack being between a first gate spacer and a second gate spacer. The device further includes a second gate stack over the semiconductor substrate between the first gate spacer and the second gate spacer and a dielectric material separating the first gate stack from the second gate stack. The dielectric material is at least partially between the first gate spacer and the second gate spacer, a first width of an upper portion of the dielectric material is greater than a second width of a lower portion of the dielectric material, and a third width of an upper portion of the first gate spacer is less than a fourth width of a lower portion of the first gate spacer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a carrier, an electronic component, an adapter, a first metal wire and a second metal wire. The electronic component is disposed on the carrier. The adapter is disposed on the carrier. The first metal wire connects the electronic component and the adapter. The second metal wire connects the adapter and the carrier.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first semiconductor fin and a second semiconductor fin over a substrate that both extend along a first direction. The method includes forming a dielectric fin extending along the first direction and is disposed between the first and second semiconductor fins. The method includes forming a dummy gate structure extending along a second direction and straddling the first and second semiconductor fins and the dielectric fin. The method includes removing a portion of the dummy gate structure over the dielectric fin to form a trench by performing an etching process that includes a plurality of stages. Each of the plurality of stages includes a combination of anisotropic etching and isotropic etching such that a variation of a distance between respective inner sidewalls of the trench along the second direction is within a threshold.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with dual side source/drain (S/D) contact structures and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The method includes forming a fin structure on a substrate, forming a superlattice structure on the fin structure, forming first and second S/D regions within the superlattice structure, forming a gate structure between the first and second S/D regions, forming first and second contact structures on first surfaces of the first and second S/D regions, and forming a third contact structure, on a second surface of the first S/D region, with a work function metal (WFM) silicide layer and a dual metal liner. The second surface is opposite to the first surface of the first S/D region and the WFM silicide layer has a work function value closer to a conduction band energy than a valence band energy of a material of the first S/D region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is described. An isolation region is disposed on the substrate. A plurality of channels extend through the isolation region from the substrate. The channels including an active channel and an inactive channel. A dummy fin is disposed on the isolation region and between the active channel and the inactive channel. An active gate is disposed over the active channel and the inactive channel, and contacts the isolation region. A dielectric material extends through the active gate and contacts a top of the dummy fin. The inactive channel is a closest inactive channel to the dielectric material. A long axis of the active channel extends in a first direction. A long axis of the active gate extends in a second direction. The active channel extends in a third direction from the substrate. The dielectric material is closer to the inactive channel than to the active channel.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to security mechanisms for electric motors and associated systems. For example, the present technology includes a powertrain assembly having (1) a motor having multiple sets of coils; (2) a drive circuitry electrically coupled to the multiple sets of coils; and (3) a security unit electrically coupled to the drive circuitry and the multiple sets of coils. The security unit is configured to short-circuit at least one set of the multiple sets of coils responsive to a signal from a controller. The signal indicates that the motor is, or has been, turned off.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to hub apparatuses and associated systems. An embodiment of the hub apparatus includes a rotor assembly, a shaft, and a stator assembly. The rotor assembly includes first/second housing components and multiple magnets mounted on one or both of the first and second housing components. The stator assembly includes (1) a coil assembly positioned corresponding to the magnets; (2) a main circuit board fixedly coupled to the coil assembly; and (3) a battery assembly positioned inside the coil assembly and carried by the main circuit board.

Abstract: A moving device which can move autonomously in an environment is provided and includes an image capturing component, a processor, a moving component, and a signal transmitter. The image capturing component captures environmental feature information of the environment during moving process of the moving device. The processor identifies a first location of at least one electronic apparatus in the environment according to the environmental feature information and predetermined feature information corresponding to the at least one electronic apparatus and determines a second location corresponding to the first location according to a remote signal. The moving component causes the moving device to move to the second location. The signal transmitter controlled by the processor. The signal transmitter sends a first signal from the second location to the at least one electronic apparatus to control the operation of the at least one electronic apparatus.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hub apparatus and associated charging systems. In some embodiments, the hub apparatus includes (1) a housing assembly defining an internal space; (2) a shaft positioned to extend through the housing assembly; (3) a stator assembly fixedly coupled to the shaft; (4) a side cover fixedly coupled to the shaft and rotatably coupled to the housing assembly, the side cover having a base portion and a mating portion extending from the base portion; and (5) a pair of first connectors positioned through the mating portion. Each of the first connectors comprising a terminal end and a contact portion. The terminal end is electrically coupled to a battery assembly via a wire bundle fixedly coupled to the side cover. The contact portion is configured to electrically couple to an external power source so as to charge the battery assembly through a wired connection.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to structures and associated systems for connecting a hub apparatus to a wheel. In some embodiments, the hub apparatus includes (1) a housing assembly having an outer radius; and (2) a mounting portion circumferentially provided on at least one side surface of the housing assembly. The mounting portion is formed with a plurality of coupling structures configured to couple the hub apparatus to a wheel rim. The mounting portion defines a first radius smaller than the outer radius.

Abstract: A pen-shaped folding mouse includes a scroll wheel, two supporting shafts, two rod bodies, two buttons, and an optical sensor. The scroll wheel has an axis line. The two supporting shafts are disposed on two opposite sides of the scroll wheel and are parallel to the axis line. The two rod bodies are located on the two opposite sides of the scroll wheel and are movably disposed on the two supporting shafts. The two rod bodies include two outer surfaces and two first end surfaces close to each other. The two buttons are disposed on the two outer surfaces of the two rod bodies. The optical sensor is located on the outer surface of one of the rod bodies.

Abstract: A pen-shaped folding mouse includes a scroll wheel, two supporting shafts, two rod bodies, two buttons, and an optical sensor. The scroll wheel has an axis line. The two supporting shafts are disposed on two opposite sides of the scroll wheel and are parallel to the axis line. The two rod bodies are located on the two opposite sides of the scroll wheel and are movably disposed on the two supporting shafts. The two rod bodies include two outer surfaces and two first end surfaces close to each other. The two buttons are disposed on the two outer surfaces of the two rod bodies. The optical sensor is located on the outer surface of one of the rod bodies.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device with drop protection, comprising a body, a sensor, at least one buffer and at least one driving part. The body has a front surface, a back surface and at least one side. The sensor is disposed in the body and generates a control signal when the handheld electronic device is dropping. The at least one buffer is disposed on the side of the body, which has a front portion and a back portion extending in different directions and is driven to rotate at an angle so that the front portion and the back portion protruding from the front surface and the back surface of the body respectively. The at least one drive part is disposed in the body and connected to the buffer for driving the buffer to rotate at the angle while receiving the control signal.