Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming mutually parallel three-dimensional (3D) conductive channels coated with a conformal sacrificial layer, the 3D conductive channels coated with the conformal sacrificial layer being formed on a semiconductor substrate; depositing a dielectric material to fill spaces between the 3D conductive channels coated with the conformal sacrificial layer, wherein a portion or all of the deposited dielectric material is doped with boron, lithium, or beryllium; performing chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) to remove a top portion of the deposited dielectric material and to expose tops of the 3D conductive channels; and after the CMP, removing the conformal sacrificial layer coating the 3D conductive channels by etching to form 3D dielectric features spaced apart from the 3D conductive channels and comprising the deposited dielectric material.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a CMOS image sensor having a multiple deep trench isolation (MDTI) structure, and an associated method of formation. In some embodiments, the image sensor comprises a boundary deep trench isolation (BDTI) structure disposed at boundary regions of a pixel region surrounding a photodiode. The BDTI structure has a ring shape from a top view and two columns surrounding the photodiode with the first depth from a cross-sectional view. A multiple deep trench isolation (MDTI) structure is disposed at inner regions of the pixel region overlying the photodiode, the MDTI structure extending from the back-side of the substrate to a second depth within the substrate smaller than the first depth. The MDTI structure has three columns with the second depth between the two columns of the BDTI structure from the cross-sectional view. The MDTI structure is a continuous integral unit having a ring shape.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus of for video coding using sub-block based affine mode are disclosed. In one method, if affine fallback is used or the control-point motion vectors are the same, the sub-block based affine mode is disabled in order to reduce computational complexity. According to another method for video coding using a coding tool belonging to a coding tool group comprising Prediction Refinement with Optical Flow (PROF) and Bi-Directional Optical Flow (BDOF), predictor refinement is derived for pixels of a target subblock of the current block, where a step to derive the predictor refinement comprises to derive gradients for the pixels of the target subblock of the current block and to right-shift the first gradients by a common shift.

Abstract: Encoding methods and apparatuses include receiving input video data of a current block in a current picture and applying a Cross-Component Adaptive Loop Filter (CCALF) processing on the current block based on cross-component filter coefficients to refine chroma components of the current block according to luma sample values. The method further includes signaling two Adaptive Loop Filter (ALF) signal flags and two CCALF signal flags in an Adaptation Parameter Set (APS) with an APS parameter type equal to ALF or parsing two ALF signal flags and two CCALF signal flags from an APS with an APS parameter type equal to ALF, signaling or parsing one or more Picture Header (PH) CCALF syntax elements or Slice Header (SH) CCALF syntax elements, wherein both ALF and CCALF signaling are present either in a PH or SH, and encoding or decoding the current block in the current picture.

Abstract: In some examples, a device can include a first antenna having a first wireless connection with a first computing device, a second antenna having a second wireless connection with a second computing device, and a controller to determine a signal strength of the first wireless connection and a signal strength of the second wireless connection, designate, in response to the signal strength of the first wireless connection being greater than a threshold signal strength, the first wireless connection as an active connection and the second wireless connection as a standby connection, and cause the peripheral device to communicate with the first computing device via the active connection of the first antenna while maintaining the second wireless connection to the second computing device via the second antenna, where the second wireless connection remains as the standby connection.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a semiconductor device with a fill structure. The semiconductor structure includes first and second fin structures on a substrate, an isolation region on the substrate and between the first and second fin structures, a first gate structure disposed on the first fin structure and the isolation region, a second gate structure disposed on the second fin structure and the isolation region, and the fill structure on the isolation region and between the first and second gate structures. The fill structure includes a dielectric structure between the first and second gate structures and an air gap enclosed by the dielectric structure. The air gap is below top surfaces of the first and second fin structures.

Abstract: Video processing methods and apparatuses for coding a current block comprise receiving input data of a current block, partitioning the current block into multiple sub-blocks, deriving sub-block MVs for the current block according to a sub-block motion compensation coding tool, constraining the sub-block MVs to form constrained sub-block MVs, and encoding or decoding the current block using the constrained sub-block MVs, and applying motion compensation to the current block using the constrained sub-block MVs to encode or decode the current block. The sub-block MVs may be constrained according to a size, width, or height of the current block or a sub-block, an inter prediction direction of one of control point MVs of the current block, the current block, or current sub-block, the control point MVs, or a combination of the above.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a device having a semiconductor substrate including a frontside and a backside. On the frontside of the semiconductor substrate are a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region. A gate electrode is arranged on the frontside of the semiconductor substrate and includes a horizontal portion, a first vertical portion, and a second vertical portion. The horizontal portion is arranged over the frontside of the semiconductor substrate and between the first and second source/drain regions. The first vertical portion extends from the frontside towards the backside of the semiconductor substrate and contacts the horizontal portion of the gate electrode structure. The second vertical portion extends from the frontside towards the backside of the semiconductor substrate, contacts the horizontal portion of the gate electrode structure, and is separated from the first vertical portion by a channel region of the substrate.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes an array of word lines, and an array of memory cells configured to receive selection signals from the array of word lines. Each memory cell in the array of memory cells is connected to one or more data lines in a set of data lines. The integrated circuit also includes a read-write driver which is connected to the set of data lines and is configured to receive a flip-refresh control signal. The read-write driver has a catch circuit configured to store a first bit value related to a stored bit value in a selected memory cell. The read-write driver is configured to store into the selected memory cell a second bit value which is a bit inversion of the stored bit value.

Abstract: A transistor device includes a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region spaced apart from each other; a channel layer electrically connected to the first and second source/drain regions; a gate insulator layer; a gate electrode isolated from the channel layer by the gate insulator layer; and a UV-attenuating layer disposed on the channel layer to protect the channel layer from characteristic degradation caused by UV light.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for video coding are disclosed. According to one method, First ALF (Adaptive Loop Filter) processing is applied to the reconstructed chroma samples for a target reconstructed chroma sample to generate a first filtered chroma sample. Second ALF processing is applied to the related reconstructed luma samples to generate a second filtered chroma sample for the target reconstructed chroma sample, where positions of the related reconstructed luma samples selected for the second ALF processing are determined according to the target chroma format. According to another method, the luma ALF and the cross-component ALF have the same filter coefficient precision.

Abstract: A layout of a semiconductor memory device includes a substrate and a ternary content addressable memory (TCAM). The TCAM is disposed on the substrate and includes a plurality of TCAM bit cells, where at least two of the TCAM bit cells are mirror-symmetrical along an axis of symmetry, and each of the TCAM bit cells includes two storage units electrically connected to two word lines respectively, and a logic circuit electrically connected to the storage units. The logic circuit includes two first reading transistors, and two second reading transistors, where each of the second reading transistors includes a gate and source and drain regions, the source and drain regions of the second reading transistors are electrically connected to two matching lines and the first reading transistors, respectively, where the word lines are disposed parallel to and between the matching lines.

Abstract: A memory integrated circuit is provided. The memory integrated circuit includes a first memory array, a second memory array and a driving circuit. The first and second memory arrays are laterally spaced apart, and respectively include: memory cells, each including an access transistor and a storage capacitor coupled to the access transistor; bit lines, respectively coupled to a row of the memory cells; and word lines, respectively coupled to a column of the memory cells. The driving circuit is disposed below the first and second memory arrays, and includes sense amplifiers. Each of the bit lines in the first memory array and one of the bit lines in the second memory array are routed to input lines of one of the sense amplifiers.

Abstract: A substrate processing chamber for performing an epitaxial deposition process is provided. The chamber includes a substrate support having an upper surface, a reflector disposed above the substrate support. The reflector includes a body comprising an upper opening having a first diameter, a bottom opening having a second diameter less than the first diameter, and a flange protruding radially from an outer circumference of the body around the upper opening, wherein the flange comprises a plurality of holes.

Abstract: A plurality of vertical stacks may be formed over a substrate. Each of the vertical stacks includes, from bottom to top, a bottom electrode, a dielectric pillar, and a top electrode. A continuous active layer may be formed over the plurality of vertical stacks. A gate dielectric layer may be formed over the continuous active layer. The continuous active layer and the gate dielectric layer may be patterned into a plurality of active layers and a plurality of gate dielectrics. Each of the plurality of active layers laterally surrounds a respective one of the vertical stacks that are arranged along a first horizontal direction, and each of the plurality of gate dielectrics laterally surrounds a respective one of the active layers. Gate electrodes may be formed over the plurality of gate dielectrics.

Abstract: A plurality of vertical stacks may be formed over a substrate. Each of the vertical stacks includes, from bottom to top, a bottom electrode, a dielectric pillar, and a top electrode. A continuous active layer may be formed over the plurality of vertical stacks. A gate dielectric layer may be formed over the continuous active layer. The continuous active layer and the gate dielectric layer may be patterned into a plurality of active layers and a plurality of gate dielectrics. Each of the plurality of active layers laterally surrounds a respective one of the vertical stacks that are arranged along a first horizontal direction, and each of the plurality of gate dielectrics laterally surrounds a respective one of the active layers. Gate electrodes may be formed over the plurality of gate dielectrics.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes vertical stacks located over a substrate, wherein each of the vertical stacks includes from bottom to top, a bottom electrode, a dielectric pillar structure including a lateral opening therethrough, and a top electrode; layer stacks located over the vertical stacks, wherein each of the layer stacks includes an active layer and an outer gate dielectric and laterally surrounds a respective one of the vertical stacks; inner gate electrodes passing through a respective subset of the lateral openings in a respective row of vertical stacks that are arranged along a first horizontal direction; and outer gate electrodes laterally extending along the first horizontal direction and laterally surrounding a respective row of layer stacks.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate and a transistor structure disposed on the substrate. The transistor structure includes a channel region and a source/drain electrode disposed on the channel region. The channel region includes a lower channel portion and a plurality of upper channel portions protruding from the lower channel portion into the source/drain electrode to form an uneven interface between the channel region and the source/drain electrode.

Abstract: Video encoding methods and apparatuses for Sum of Absolute Transformed Difference (SATD) computation by folded Hadamard transform circuits include splitting a current block into SATD blocks, receiving input data associated with a first block of a first SATD block in a first cycle and receiving input data associated with a second block of the first SATD block in a second cycle, and performing calculations for the first block by shared Hadamard transform circuits in the first cycle and performing calculations for the second block by the shared Hadamard transform circuits in the second cycle. Each shared Hadamard transform circuit is a first part of each folded Hadamard transform circuit. The video encoding methods and apparatuses further perform calculations for the entire SATD block by a final part of each folded Hadamard transform circuit to generate a final SATD result of the first SATD block for encoding.

Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor device and method of forming the same. The semiconductor device includes active components and a first barrier pattern. The active components are on a substrate. Each of the active components includes base insulation patterns on the substrate, gate electrodes on the substrate and spaced apart from each other with the base insulation patterns interposed therebetween, a gate dielectric layer on the gate electrodes and the base insulation patterns, a channel pattern on the gate dielectric layer, source electrodes on the channel pattern and spaced apart from each other, a drain electrode on the channel pattern and between the source electrodes, and second insulation patterns between the source electrodes and the drain electrode. The first barrier pattern disposed on the gate dielectric layer surrounds the channel patterns, the source electrodes, the drain electrodes, and the second insulation patterns of each of the active components.