Abstract: A device includes a pair of gate spacers on a substrate, and a gate structure on the substrate and between the gate spacers. The gate structure includes an interfacial layer, a metal oxide layer, a nitride-containing layer, a tungsten-containing layer, and a metal compound layer. The interfacial layer is over the substrate. The metal oxide layer is over the interfacial layer. The nitride-containing layer is over the metal oxide layer. The tungsten-containing layer is over the nitride-containing layer. The metal compound layer is over the tungsten-containing layer. The metal compound layer has a different material than a material of the tungsten-containing layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a dielectric layer disposed over the substrate, and an interconnect structure extending through the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer includes a low-k dielectric material which includes silicon carbonitride having a carbon content ranging from about 30 atomic % to about 45 atomic %. The semiconductor device further includes a thermal dissipation feature extending through the dielectric layer and disposed to be spaced apart from the interconnect structure.

Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) testing system includes two gear groups, a pair of transmission belts and a driver. The pair of transmission belts geared onto and driven by the two gear groups is parallel and respectively perpendicular to the PCB transmission guideway so as to define a PCB accommodation space therebetween. Each transmission belt includes a plurality of projections. The two gear groups are rotated synchronously and inversely. During operation, the projections on the pair of transmission belts, facing the PCB accommodation space, move down, the projections move away from each other and to the bottom of the corresponding transmission belts, and a PCB supported by the pair of projections drops onto the PCB transmission guideway.

Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) testing system includes two gear groups, a pair of transmission belts and a driver. The pair of transmission belts geared onto and driven by the two gear groups is parallel and respectively perpendicular to the PCB transmission guideway so as to define a PCB accommodation space therebetween. Each transmission belt includes a plurality of projections. The two gear groups are rotated synchronously and inversely. During operation, the projections on the pair of transmission belts, facing the PCB accommodation space, move down, the projections move away from each other and to the bottom of the corresponding transmission belts, and a PCB supported by the pair of projections drops onto the PCB transmission guideway.

Abstract: A voice recording and playback apparatus includes a memory unit having addressable memory regions, a voice input unit for converting a user voice input into an electrical signal, and a processor for storing the electrical signal from the voice input unit as a voice message in the memory unit. A recording address generator, which includes a recording address decoder and a plurality of recording switches for connecting a respective input of the recording address decoder to a voltage source, provides a corresponding recording address to the processor to enable the latter to store the voice message in a corresponding one of the memory regions of the memory unit when one of the recording switches is closed.