Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure with having a source/drain feature with a central cavity, and a source/drain contact feature formed in central cavity of the source/drain region, wherein the source/drain contact feature is nearly wrapped around by the source/drain region. The source/drain contact feature may extend to a lower most of a plurality semiconductor layers.

Abstract: A soft-switching power converter includes a main switch, an energy-releasing switch, and an inductive coupled unit. The main switch is a controllable switch. The energy-releasing switch is coupled to the main switch. The inductive coupled unit is coupled to the main switch and the energy-releasing switch. The inductive coupled unit includes a first inductance, a second inductance coupled to the first inductance, and an auxiliary switch unit. The auxiliary switch unit is coupled to the second inductance to form a closed loop. The main switch and the energy-releasing switch are alternately turned on and turned off. The auxiliary switch unit is controlled to start turning on before the main switch is turned on so as to provide at least one current path.

Abstract: Described methods and systems for achieving an optical bokeh effect by a camera supporting a computing device, such as a laptop computer. A measurement is performed as to focus spot position of a subject. The depth of field (DOF) of camera lens is determined. An offset as to the focus spot position is calculated such the background of the subject would be blurred to increase the optical bokeh effect. The offset is added to the focus spot position or to be more in focus to decrease optical bokeh in the background, to arrive at a focus spot position that supports the optical bokeh effect. The camera lens is adjusted for the new focus spot position.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a first device and a second device disposed adjacent to the first device; a conductive pillar disposed adjacent to the first device or the second device; a molding surrounding the first device, the second device and the conductive pillar; and a redistribution layer (RDL) over the first device, the second device, the molding and the conductive pillar, wherein the RDL electrically connects the first device to the second device and includes an opening penetrating the RDL and exposing a sensing area over the first device.

Abstract: A vacuum battery structural assembly and a vacuum multi-cell battery module composed thereof are provided and include a first repeating unit including a first frame plate and a second frame plate with respect to the first frame plate; and an electrolyte channel defined within the first frame plate and the second frame plate to accommodate a liquid electrolyte, wherein both a surface of the first frame plate and a surface of the second frame plate include a vacuum suction area, the vacuum suction area includes a vacuum aperture and a vacuum channel, wherein the vacuum aperture is formed on at least one surface of the first frame plate and the second frame plate, the vacuum channel is positioned inside the first frame plate and the second frame plate, and is configured to generate a longitudinal pressing suction force and seal the first frame plate and the second frame plate.

Abstract: A soft-switching power converter includes a main switch, an energy-releasing switch, and an inductive coupled unit. The main switch is a controllable switch. The energy-releasing switch is coupled to the main switch. The inductive coupled unit is coupled to the main switch and the energy-releasing switch. The inductive coupled unit includes a first inductance, a second inductance coupled to the first inductance, and an auxiliary switch unit. The auxiliary switch unit is coupled to the second inductance to form a closed loop. The main switch and the energy-releasing switch are alternately turned on and turned off. The auxiliary switch unit is controlled to start turning on before the main switch is turned on so as to provide at least one current path.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a substrate, and an active device and a passive device over the substrate. The active device is disposed in a first region of the substrate, and the passive device is disposed in a second region of the substrate. The semiconductor structure further includes a shielding structure and a passivation layer. The shielding structure includes a barrier layer and a ceiling layer. The barrier layer is on the passive device and the active device, and the ceiling layer is on the barrier layer. The passivation layer is under the barrier layer and covers a top surface of the passive device. An air cavity is defined by sidewalls of the barrier layer, a bottom surface of the ceiling layer, and the substrate.

Abstract: A method and a kit for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis are provided. The method includes a step of performing a nested qPCR assay to a specimen. The nested qPCR assay includes a first round of amplification using external primers and a second round of amplification using internal primers and a probe. The external primers have sequences of SEQ ID NOs. 1 and 2, and the internal primers and the probe have sequences of SEQ ID NOs. 3 to 5.

Abstract: Provided are a circuit apparatus, a manufacturing method thereof, and a circuit system. The circuit apparatus includes a flexible circuit board, a flexible packaging material layer and an electronic device. The flexible circuit board has at least one hollow pattern, wherein the flexible circuit board has an inner region and a peripheral region surrounding the inner region, and has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other. The flexible packaging material layer is disposed in the at least one hollow pattern. The electronic device is disposed on the first surface of the flexible circuit board and electrically connected with the flexible circuit board.

Abstract: Methods of cutting gate structures and fins, and structures formed thereby, are described. In an embodiment, a substrate includes first and second fins and an isolation region. The first and second fins extend longitudinally parallel, with the isolation region disposed therebetween. A gate structure includes a conformal gate dielectric over the first fin and a gate electrode over the conformal gate dielectric. A first insulating fill structure abuts the gate structure and extends vertically from a level of an upper surface of the gate structure to at least a surface of the isolation region. No portion of the conformal gate dielectric extends vertically between the first insulating fill structure and the gate electrode. A second insulating fill structure abuts the first insulating fill structure and an end sidewall of the second fin. The first insulating fill structure is disposed laterally between the gate structure and the second insulating fill structure.

Abstract: A fabrication method is disclosed that includes: forming a first metal layer over first and second semiconductor structures; forming a first patterned photolithographic layer with an opening that exposes a portion of the first metal layer over the first semiconductor structure but not to a boundary between semiconductor structures; removing the exposed portion of the first metal layer; forming a second metal layer over the first and second semiconductor structures; forming a second patterned photolithographic layer with an opening that exposes a portion of the second metal layer over the second semiconductor structure but not to the boundary; removing the exposed portion of the first and second metal layers; wherein a barrier structure is generated between the first and second semiconductor structures that includes remaining portions of the first metal layer and a portion of the second metal layer overlying the remaining portions of the first metal layer.

Abstract: A bracket is provided. The bracket includes a fixing seat and a holding seat. The fixing seat has a first extending direction and includes at least one first contacting end surface, and a first angle is contained between the at least one first contacting end surface and the first extending direction. The holding seat is detachably connected to the fixing seat with a bend angle to form a bend structure, and the holding seat includes at least one second contacting end surface corresponding to the at least one first contacting end surface. The at least one first contacting end surface and the at least one second contacting end surface are located near or at a bend portion of the bend structure.

Abstract: A method for removing a heavy metal from water includes subjecting a microbial solution containing a liquid culture of a urease-producing bacterial strain and a reaction solution containing a manganese compound and urea to a microbial-induced precipitation reaction, so as to obtain biomineralized manganese carbonate (MnCO3) particles, admixing the biomineralized MnCO3 particles with water containing a heavy metal, so that the biomineralized MnCO3 particles adsorb the heavy metal in the water to form a precipitate, and removing the precipitate from the water.

Abstract: An information handling system camera captures visual images of light directed by a lens towards an image sensor. The camera has an active illumination privacy shutter that disables the image sensor from capturing visual images by introducing illumination between the lens and image sensor, such as with a red light emitting diode that is seen as a red dot at the lens when viewed from in front of the camera. In one embodiment, the illumination is directed towards a light diffuser, such as a sheet of acrylic, that extends between the lens and image sensor when the camera is commanded to a privacy mode.

Abstract: An information handling system camera leverages telephoto optics by a moveable mirror interfaced with a first camera having a lens with a narrow field of view to capture portions of a wide field of view of a second camera lens so that the camera has improved visual images captured of participants at various distances from the camera. In one embodiment, visual images captured along first and second axes are interleaved to present a videoconference presentation streamed with visual images of both axes, such as a split screen of different videoconference participants.

Abstract: An information handling system camera captures visual images of light directed by a lens towards an image sensor. The camera has an active illumination privacy shutter that disables the image sensor from capturing visual images by introducing illumination between the lens and image sensor, such as with a red light emitting diode that is seen as a red dot at the lens when viewed from in front of the camera. In one embodiment, the illumination is directed towards a light diffuser, such as a sheet of acrylic, that extends between the lens and image sensor when the camera is commanded to a privacy mode.

Abstract: A bendable support device is provided, which includes a support plate, a slidable plate and a pivot mechanism. The support plate has a first portion and a second portion laterally adjacent to the first portion. The slidable plate is disposed over the first portion of the support plate. The pivot mechanism is pivotally connected between the first portion and the second portion. The slidable plate is configured to move toward the pivot mechanism when an angle between a lower surface of the first portion and a lower surface of the second portion is changed from 180 degrees to less than 180 degrees.

Abstract: An information handling system camera that includes a rapid focus capability for near and far objects by selectively inserting and removing a refractive material between the camera lens and image sensor to effectively adjust the camera focusing distance. When far object focus is desired, a refractive material of predefined properties is inserted to enable an instant focus of the far object to the image sensor. When a near object focus is desired, the refractive material is removed (or replaced with a thinner material) to rapidly achieve focus. In addition, a voice coil motor or other actuator fine tunes the focus when desired. In one alternative embodiment, focus is performed only with the insertion and retraction of the refractive material so that no lens actuator is included in the camera. The refractive material extends the back focal distance between the lens and image sensor relative to the back focal distance without the refractive material.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an image sensor, a lens assembly, a temperature sensor, and a processor. The lens assembly includes a lens whose distance from the image sensor is adjustable from a minimum stroke distance to a maximum stroke distance. The temperature sensor determines a temperature of the imaging device. The processor instantiates auto focus tables that are each correlated to a temperature, receives at temperature from the temperature sensor, selects an auto focus table associated with the temperature, and provides an auto focus for the object based upon the auto focus table. Each auto focus table provides a temperature compensated correlation of a first stroke distance associated with the object at the maximum distance from the imaging device, and a second stroke distance associated with the object at the minimum distance from the imaging device.

Abstract: A keyboard device includes a circuit substrate, a control unit and plural touch key structures. The control unit is installed on the circuit substrate. Each touch key structure includes a base plate, a keycap, a connecting element and a touch-sensitive circuit layer. The base plate is detachably installed on the circuit substrate. The keycap is located over the base plate. The connecting element is arranged between the base plate and the keycap. The keycap is movable upwardly or downwardly relative to the base plate through the connecting element. The touch-sensitive circuit layer is arranged between the base plate and the keycap, and electrically connected with the control unit. After a touch signal is received by the touch-sensitive circuit layer, the touch signal is transmitted to the control unit, and the touch signal is converted into an input signal by the control unit.