Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes first forming a metal gate (MG) over a semiconductor layer, a gate spacer on a sidewall of the MG, and a source/drain (S/D) feature disposed in the semiconductor layer and adjacent to the MG, forming an S/D contact (MD) over the S/D feature, forming a first ILD layer over the MG and the MD, and subsequently patterning the first ILD layer to form an opening. The method further includes forming a metal layer in the opening, such that the metal layer contacts both the MG and the MD, removing a top portion of the metal layer to form a trench, filling the trench with a dielectric layer, and subsequently forming a second ILD layer over the dielectric layer.

Abstract: Semiconductor device structures and method for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate and a gate stack formed over the substrate. The semiconductor device structure further includes a source/drain structure formed adjacent to the gate stack and a contact structure vertically overlapping the source/drain structure. In addition, the contact structure has a first sidewall slopes downwardly from its top surface to its bottom surface, and an angle between the first sidewall and a bottom surface of the contact structure is smaller than 89.5°.

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: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure. The structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate stack over a first portion of a top surface of the semiconductor substrate; and a laminated dielectric layer over at least a portion of a top surface of the gate stack. The laminated dielectric layer includes at least a first sublayer and a second sublayer. The first sublayer is formed of a material having a dielectric constant lower than a dielectric constant of a material used to form the second sublayer and the material used to form the second sublayer has an etch selectivity higher than an etch selectivity of the material used to form the first sublayer.

Abstract: A contact stack of a semiconductor device includes a source/drain feature, a silicide layer wrapping around the source/drain feature, a seed metal layer in direct contact with the silicide layer, and a conductor in contact with the seed metal layer. The contact stack excludes a metal nitride layer in direct contact with the silicide layer.

Abstract: A sound reproducing method used in sound reproducing apparatus that includes the steps outlined below is provided. A sound signal is generated with a 3D sound generating process according to listener data and sound data. Pre-recorded sound data is retrieved to further generate a target distance function corresponding to the sound distance. A fixed head-related transfer function corresponding to a fixed distance is retrieved. A target head-related transfer function corresponding to the sound distance is generated by adapting the target distance function to the fixed head-related transfer function. The sound signal is reproduced by multiplying the sound signal by the target head-related transfer function.

Abstract: A method for obtaining Hi-Res audio transfer information is provided. The method is applicable to the electronic device having a processor. In the method, a first audio signal is captured and converted from the time domain into in the frequency domain to generate a first signal spectrum. Then, a regression analysis is performed on an energy distribution of the first signal spectrum to predict an extended energy distribution according to the first signal spectrum, and head-related parameters are used to compensate for the extended energy distribution to generate an extended signal spectrum. Finally, the first signal spectrum and the extended signal spectrum are combined into a second signal spectrum which is converted from the frequency domain into the time domain to generate a second audio signal including Hi-Res audio transfer information.

Abstract: A sound reproducing method used in sound reproducing apparatus that includes the steps outlined below is provided. A sound signal with a three-dimensional (3D) sound generating process is generated according to listener data and sound data. Whether a sound source position is within a target region relative to a listener position within a virtual environment is determined according to the listener data and the sound data. The sound signal is multiplied by an adjusting function to enhance peaks and valleys of the sound signal while maintaining a behavior of the sound signal when the sound source position is within the target region. The sound signal is reproduced.

Abstract: A video content integration system and method for converting an original video to a customized product video based on customer requirements thereof are disclosed. The original video has a first video file. The video content integration system has a video file receiving module, a customer requirement instruction generating module, a metadata information gathering module, a video code compressing module and a content integration module. The video file receiving module receives the original video. The customer requirement instruction generating module generates a requirement instruction based on customer requirements. The metadata information gathering module gathers metadata information related to the original video according to the requirement instruction. The video code compressing module compresses the first video file to a second video file according to the requirement instruction.

Abstract: A streaming video management system is used between a video supply end and a video display end. The video supply end can output a streaming video signal. The streaming video management system includes a management module, a bandwidth detection module and a network delivery selection interface. The management module is used for receiving and managing the streaming video signal. The bandwidth detection module is used to detect a transmission bandwidth of the video display end. The network delivery selection interface has a plurality of content delivery network nodes. According to the transmission bandwidth, the management module is used to transmit the streaming video signal via one of the content delivery network nodes to the video display side by the network delivery selection interface.

Abstract: A sound reproducing method used in sound reproducing apparatus that includes the steps outlined below is provided. A sound signal is generated with a 3D sound generating process according to listener data and sound data. Pre-recorded sound data is retrieved to further generate a target distance function corresponding to the sound distance. A fixed head-related transfer function corresponding to a fixed distance is retrieved. A target head-related transfer function corresponding to the sound distance is generated by adapting the target distance function to the fixed head-related transfer function. The sound signal is reproduced by multiplying the sound signal by the target head-related transfer function.

Abstract: A sound reproducing method used in sound reproducing apparatus that includes the steps outlined below is provided. A sound signal with a three-dimensional (3D) sound generating process is generated according to listener data and sound data. Whether a sound source position is within a target region relative to a listener position within a virtual environment is determined according to the listener data and the sound data. The sound signal is multiplied by an adjusting function to enhance peaks and valleys of the sound signal while maintaining a behavior of the sound signal when the sound source position is within the target region. The sound signal is reproduced.

Abstract: A method for obtaining Hi-Res audio transfer information is provided. The method is applicable to the electronic device having a processor. In the method, a first audio signal is captured and converted from the time domain into in the frequency domain to generate a first signal spectrum. Then, a regression analysis is performed on an energy distribution of the first signal spectrum to predict an extended energy distribution according to the first signal spectrum, and head-related parameters are used to compensate for the extended energy distribution to generate an extended signal spectrum. Finally, the first signal spectrum and the extended signal spectrum are combined into a second signal spectrum which is converted from the frequency domain into the time domain to generate a second audio signal including Hi-Res audio transfer information.

Abstract: An online video and audio broadcasting system and method are disclosed. The online video and audio broadcasting system includes a first verification module, a second verification module, a management module, and a play module. The first and the second verification module is connected to a primary verification system and a backup verification system to correspond to a first set of digital rights and a second set of digital rights, respectively. The management module carries out the verification of the video and audio signal with the first set of digital rights corresponding to the first verification module. If an error occurs, the management module automatically switches to carry out the verification of the video and audio signal with the second set of digital rights corresponding to the second verification module. The play module is used for broadcasting the video and audio signal.

Abstract: A system for modifying an audio signal comprises a computer including a first digital signal processor (DSP). The first DSP includes a first module and a second module. The first module is coupled to the interface to provide a musical instrument with a set of testing input signals and obtain a set of testing output signals from the musical instrument via the interface. The second module is configured to perform functions including: analyzing the set of testing output signals to obtain a set of parameters, constructing an acoustic transducer to model characteristics of the musical instrument based on the set of parameters, and receiving the audio signal to modify the audio signal using the acoustic transducer, wherein the first DSP module obtains the set of parameters at least by identifying occurrences when an output level state determined at least based on the set of testing output signals significantly changes.

Abstract: A method of modeling a characteristic of a non-linear system, comprises feeding testing input signals into the non-linear system to obtain testing output signals corresponding to the testing input signals, wherein the testing input signals include a first testing input signal and the testing output signals include a first testing output signal, identifying occurrences when an output level state in at least one specific frequency band of the first testing output signal significantly changes under the first testing input signal so as to obtain a first profile, and modeling the characteristic based on the first profile.

Abstract: A system for modifying an audio signal comprises a computer including a first digital signal processor (DSP). The first DSP includes a first module and a second module. The first module is coupled to the interface to provide a musical instrument with a set of testing input signals and obtain a set of testing output signals from the musical instrument via the interface. The second module is configured to perform functions including: analyzing the set of testing output signals to obtain a set of parameters, constructing an acoustic transducer to model characteristics of the musical instrument based on the set of parameters, and receiving the audio signal to modify the audio signal using the acoustic transducer, wherein the first DSP module obtains the set of parameters at least by identifying occurrences when an output level state determined at least based on the set of testing output signals significantly changes.

Abstract: A method for pairing users of a wireless mobile communication device and a server thereof includes the following steps: (1) receiving the three-dimensional coordinates of a first wireless mobile communication device; (2) accessing a query database containing a piece of first relationship data and a plurality of pieces of second relationship data; (3) filtering at least one associated with the related attributes of the first relationship data from a plurality of pieces of second relationship data according to the related attributes of the first relationship data; (4) providing the three-dimensional coordinates of each said second wireless mobile communication device according to the filtered second relationship data; and (5) calculating the offset between the three-dimensional coordinates of the first wireless mobile communication device and the three-dimensional coordinates of each said second wireless mobile communication device.

Abstract: A method for pairing users of a wireless mobile communication device and a server thereof includes the following steps: (1) receiving the three-dimensional coordinates of a first wireless mobile communication device; (2) accessing a query database containing a piece of first relationship data and a plurality of pieces of second relationship data; (3) filtering at least one associated with the related attributes of the first relationship data from a plurality of pieces of second relationship data according to the related attributes of the first relationship data; (4) providing the three-dimensional coordinates of each said second wireless mobile communication device according to the filtered second relationship data; and (5) calculating the offset between the three-dimensional coordinates of the first wireless mobile communication device and the three-dimensional coordinates of each said second wireless mobile communication device.

Abstract: A self-locking fastener includes a head, and a solid shaft extending from the head. The shaft includes a threaded portion away from the head. A slot is defined in the threaded portion along the axis of the threaded portion to divide the threaded portion into two parts.