Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated circuit (IC) that includes a high-k metal gate (HKMG) non-volatile memory (NVM) device and that provides small scale and high performance, and a method of formation. In some embodiments, the integrated circuit includes a logic region having a logic device disposed over a substrate and including a first metal gate electrode disposed over a first high-k gate dielectric layer and an embedded memory region disposed adjacent to the logic region. The embedded memory region has a non-volatile memory (NVM) device including a second metal gate electrode disposed over the high-k gate dielectric layer. By having HKMG structures in both the logic region and the memory region, IC performance is improved and further scaling becomes possible in emerging technology nodes.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated circuit (IC) that includes a high-k metal gate (HKMG) non-volatile memory (NVM) device and that provides small scale and high performance, and a method of formation. In some embodiments, the integrated circuit includes a memory region having a select transistor and a control transistor laterally spaced apart over a substrate. A select gate electrode and a control gate electrode are disposed over a high-k gate dielectric layer and a memory gate oxide. A logic region is disposed adjacent to the memory region and has a logic device including a metal gate electrode disposed over the high-k gate dielectric layer and a logic gate oxide. The select gate electrode and the control gate electrode can be polysilicon electrodes.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated circuit (IC) that includes a high-k metal gate (HKMG) non-volatile memory (NVM) device and that provides small scale and high performance, and a method of formation. In some embodiments, the integrated circuit includes a logic region having a logic device disposed over a substrate and including a first metal gate electrode disposed over a first high-k gate dielectric layer and an embedded memory region disposed adjacent to the logic region. The embedded memory region has a non-volatile memory (NVM) device including a second metal gate electrode disposed over the high-k gate dielectric layer. By having HKMG structures in both the logic region and the memory region, IC performance is improved and further scaling becomes possible in emerging technology nodes.

Abstract: A printing correction method and a 3D printing device are provided, and the printing correction method is adapted to the 3D printing device having a printing platform. The printing correction method is as follows. An electric field is provided to the printing platform. A detection probe is extended towards a position of the printing platform along a first axial direction to enter the electric field, where the position is defined as an initial position. The detection probe is moved from the initial position along a moving path on the printing platform, and when the detection probe is moved along the moving path, an electric field variation is detected to determine a tilt variation of the printing platform relative to the first axial direction. It is determined whether to correct the printing platform according to the tilt variation of the printing platform.

Abstract: An optical navigation device includes a light source, an image sensor, a navigation unit and a lift detection unit. The light source is configured to illuminate a work surface. The image sensor receives reflected light from the work surface to output an image frame. The navigation unit is configured to filter the image frame and output a filtered image frame. The lift detection unit is configured to calculate a maximum difference of intensities between two adjacent pixels in the image frame, calculate a pixel number of pixels of interest in the filtered image frame, and identify a lift event by comparing the maximum difference with a difference threshold and/or comparing the pixel number with an operating threshold.

Abstract: An optical navigation method includes: detecting inertia of an image of a feature point; and determining an effective sensing region of an image sensing array according to the detected inertia for reducing power consumption. Besides, an optical navigation apparatus includes a detecting circuit and a determining unit. The detecting circuit is arranged for detecting a moving inertia of a feature point. The determining circuit is coupled to the detecting circuit, and arranged for determining an effective sensing region of an image sensing array according to the detected moving inertia for reducing power consumption.

Abstract: An optical navigating apparatus, which comprises: a light source, for illuminating a surface to generate an image; an image sensor, for catching pictures of the image; and a controller, for computing a first estimating speed of the optical navigating apparatus according to a first picture of the pictures and a second picture after the first picture. The controller controls at least one of parameters as following according to the first estimating speed: a non-illuminating frequency that the light source does not illuminate pictures after the second picture; a non-catching frequency that the image sensor does not catch pictures after the second picture; a computing frequency that the controller computes pictures after the second picture, which are caught by the image sensor; and a searching range for pictures after the second picture.

Abstract: A method of testing an image sensor having a plurality of sensing units includes: utilizing the image sensor to generate a plurality of sensing results respectively corresponding to a plurality of captured images, wherein each sensing result includes a plurality of sensing values respectively generated by the sensing units; and generating a testing result which indicates a performance of the image sensor according to changing of the sensing results.

Abstract: An optical navigation apparatus, an optical navigation method, and a non-transitory computer readable medium thereof are provided. The optical navigation apparatus includes a light source unit, an image sensing unit, and a processing unit. The processing unit is electrically connected to the light source unit and the image sensing unit. The light source unit provides a beam of light. The image sensing unit captures a first image at a first time instant when the light is projected onto a reflection surface. The processing unit calculates an image quality index of the first image and determines a matching block size between the first image and a second image according to the image quality index.

Abstract: A computer readable recording media, having at least one program code recorded thereon, an image adjusting method can be performed when the program code is read and executed. The image adjusting method comprises: catching a current image; computing at least one kind of brightness information of the current image; respectively setting corresponding threshold values to different kinds of the brightness information; and determining if a contrast enhancing operation should be performed to the current image to generate an adjusted image according to a number that the brightness information is over the threshold value.

Abstract: An optical distance determination device includes a first image sensor, an auxiliary image sensor, and a distance measuring module. The first image sensor is for capturing a first image comprising image information of an object. The auxiliary image sensor is for capturing an auxiliary image comprising image information of the object, and a physical distance between the first image sensor and the auxiliary image sensor. The distance measuring module is for calculating pixel distance of an image formation position of the object in the first image and the auxiliary image for calculating an approximate distance between the object and the first image sensor according to the pixel distance, the physical distance, and focal lengths of the first image sensor and the auxiliary image sensor.

Abstract: An optical navigation apparatus, an optical navigation method, and a non-transitory computer readable medium thereof are provided. The optical navigation apparatus includes a light source unit, an image sensing unit, and a processing unit. The processing unit is electrically connected to the light source unit and the image sensing unit. The light source unit provides a beam of light. The image sensing unit captures a first image at a first time instant when the light is projected onto a reflection surface. The processing unit calculates an image quality index of the first image and determines a matching block size between the first image and a second image according to the image quality index.

Abstract: A computer readable recording media, having at least one program code recorded thereon, an image adjusting method can be performed when the program code is read and executed. The image adjusting method comprises: catching a current image; computing at least one kind of brightness information of the current image; respectively setting corresponding threshold values to different kinds of the brightness information; and determining if a contrast enhancing operation should be performed to the current image to generate an adjusted image according to a number that the brightness information is over the threshold value.

Abstract: An optical navigation device includes a light source, an image sensor, a navigation unit and a lift detection unit. The light source is configured to illuminate a work surface. The image sensor receives reflected light from the work surface to output an image frame. The navigation unit is configured to filter the image frame and output a filtered image frame. The lift detection unit is configured to calculate a maximum difference of intensities between two adjacent pixels in the image frame, calculate a pixel number of pixels of interest in the filtered image frame, and identify a lift event by comparing the maximum difference with a difference threshold and/or comparing the pixel number with an operating threshold.

Abstract: A method of testing an image sensor having a plurality of sensing units includes: utilizing the image sensor to generate a plurality of sensing results respectively corresponding to a plurality of captured images, wherein each sensing result includes a plurality of sensing values respectively generated by the sensing units; and generating a testing result which indicates a performance of the image sensor according to changing of the sensing results.

Abstract: An optical navigating apparatus, which comprises: a light source, for illuminating a surface to generate an image; an image sensor, for catching pictures of the image; and a controller, for computing a first estimating speed of the optical navigating apparatus according to a first picture of the pictures and a second picture after the first picture. The controller controls at least one of parameters as following according to the first estimating speed: a non-illuminating frequency that the light source does not illuminate pictures after the second picture; a non-catching frequency that the image sensor does not catch pictures after the second picture; a computing frequency that the controller computes pictures after the second picture, which are caught by the image sensor; and a searching range for pictures after the second picture.

Abstract: An optical navigation method includes: detecting inertia of an image of a feature point; and determining an effective sensing region of an image sensing array according to the detected inertia for reducing power consumption. Besides, an optical navigation apparatus includes a detecting circuit and a determining unit. The detecting circuit is arranged for detecting a moving inertia of a feature point. The determining circuit is coupled to the detecting circuit, and arranged for determining an effective sensing region of an image sensing array according to the detected moving inertia for reducing power consumption.

Abstract: An optical distance determination device includes a first image sensor, an auxiliary image sensor, and a distance measuring module. The first image sensor is for capturing a first image comprising image information of an object. The auxiliary image sensor is for capturing an auxiliary image comprising image information of the object, and a physical distance between the first image sensor and the auxiliary image sensor. The distance measuring module is for calculating pixel distance of an image formation position of the object in the first image and the auxiliary image for calculating an approximate distance between the object and the first image sensor according to the pixel distance, the physical distance, and focal lengths of the first image sensor and the auxiliary image sensor.

Abstract: With this technology, we build a nano-material which is structured as a tree with the branches and leaves being tentacles. When the temperature is between 150° C. and 180° C., those tentacles will shape themselves into nanometer holes to catch ion. The chemical equation: uv+CO2+?nM+2H2+4e???C+2H2O+?nM+4e??. Those two chemical equations have one common subject, that's they both take high energy light particles to break the electron bond between carbon and oxygen, thus, the invertor can reduce the greenhouse gases (CO2) in the atmosphere or recycle carbon from industrial emissions.

Abstract: A method to control a cooling water system based on the rate of consumption of fluorescent polymer is described and claimed. The method includes providing a cooling water system and a water treatment product including at least one fluorescent polymer and a fluorescent tracer. Measuring the fluorescence of the fluorescent polymer and calculating its rate of consumption provides a way of determining whether to adjust one or more operating parameters in the cooling water system.