Abstract: A conversion control circuit controls plural stackable sub-converters which are coupled in parallel to generate an output power to a load, the conversion control circuit includes: a current sharing terminal, wherein a current sharing signal is configured to be connected to the current sharing terminals, in parallel, of the plurality of the conversion control circuits; and a current sharing circuit, configured to generate or receive the current sharing signal which is generated according to an output current of the output power; wherein the conversion control circuit adjusts the power stage circuit according to the current sharing signal for current sharing among the plural stackable sub-converters.

Abstract: Disclosed in a movement direction determination system comprising a first detection region, a second detection region and a processing circuit. The first detection region and the second detection region respectively comprises an optical sensor. The processing circuit determines a movement direction of an object according to the optical data generated by the first detection region and the second detection region. The present invention also discloses a movement direction determination system using a single detection region. The present invention also discloses an object volume computation system which can compute an object volume according to sensed optical data.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of generating positron emission tomography (PET) images from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. In some aspects, the methods can be used for subjects having a condition corresponding to a biomarker of interest, such as a biomarker associated with a brain disorder.

Abstract: A switched capacitor converter for converting a first voltage into a second voltage and vice versa, includes: a plurality of switches which includes at least four switches, with a first switch included, which is coupled between the first voltage and an inductor switching node; an inductor coupled between the inductor switching node and the second voltage; a flying capacitor coupled to the plurality of switches and configured as a capacitive voltage divider; a current sense circuit for detecting an inductor current and sampling the inductor current during the first switch's turn-on state to generate a sensed current signal; an error amplifier for comparing the sensed current signal with a reference current signal to generate a first amplified signal; and a PWM generator for comparing the first amplified signal with a ramp signal for generating switching control signals to control a first switch current flowing to or from the first voltage.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) region and a logic region, an inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layer on the substrate, a MTJ in the IMD layer on the MTJ region, a first metal interconnection in the IMD layer on the logic region, and protrusions adjacent to two sides of the first metal interconnection. Preferably, the MTJ further includes a bottom electrode, a fixed layer, a barrier layer, a free layer, and a top electrode.

Abstract: Non-planar I/O and logic semiconductor devices having different workfunctions on common substrates and methods of fabricating non-planar I/O and logic semiconductor devices having different workfunctions on common substrates are described. For example, a semiconductor structure includes a first semiconductor device disposed above a substrate. The first semiconductor device has a conductivity type and includes a gate electrode having a first workfunction. The semiconductor structure also includes a second semiconductor device disposed above the substrate. The second semiconductor device has the conductivity type and includes a gate electrode having a second, different, workfunction.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for systematic elimination of background DNA in a DNA mixture sample. Often, the DNA of interest is in a heavy background of DNAs from other tissues. For example, a majority of DNA in plasma cell-free DNA originates from white blood cells. The present disclosure exploits genome-wide background DNA methylation to systematically eliminate DNA from white blood cells and normal tissue(s), therefore enriching non-background DNA for diagnostics, for example, the diagnostics of cancer and infectious diseases. The methods and systems may comprise the selection of targeted regions to generate one or more hybrid capture panels, digest nucleic acid molecules of specific methylation status with one or more restriction enzymes, retrieve the remaining DNA using the hybrid capture panel, sequence the captured DNA, analyze the sequencing data of the captured DNA, and diagnose diseases.

Abstract: A gate driver circuit including seven transistors and two capacitors is provided. A first end of a third transistor is coupled to a first pulse signal, a second end of the third transistor outputs a gate signal, and a control end of the third transistor is coupled to a first end of a second transistor. A first end of a fourth transistor is coupled to the second end of the third transistor, a second end of the fourth transistor is coupled to a first voltage, and a control end of the fourth transistor is coupled to a control end of the second transistor. A first end of a fifth transistor is coupled to a second voltage, a second end of the fifth transistor is coupled to the control end of the fourth transistor, and a control end of the fifth transistor is coupled to a second pulse signal.

Abstract: A diffusion barrier layer is included in a piezoelectric device that includes a plurality of piezoelectric layers. The diffusion barrier layer may be included to trap and/or block lead (Pb) and/or lead oxide (PbOx) from diffusing toward a first piezoelectric layer that occurs during a sol-gel process that used to form a second piezoelectric layer after the first piezoelectric layer formed. Blocking and/or trapping the diffusion of lead (Pb) and/or lead oxide (PbOx) using the diffusion barrier layer may reduce the likelihood of and/or prevent delamination in the piezoelectric device.

Abstract: A wellness tracking device includes a plurality of electrodes to receive biometric data from a user. The electrodes may receive an input from the user and transmit information, such as electrical data related to the heart or skin conductance, in order to measurement one or more physical properties. The electrodes may be arranged within the form factor provided by the wellness tracking device and also electrically isolated to provide independent data acquisition for the electrodes. Arrangement of the electrodes may be particularly selected to provide an ergonomic arrangement to enable the user to comfortably provide input data.

Abstract: A luminous keyboard includes a light guide holder base including a light-transmitting base seat, a light guide seat with a light guide plate and a circuit board mounted in the light guide plate and provided with a plurality of light-emitting elements surrounding the periphery and a processor electrically connected to a computer host, a keyboard assembly located on the light guide seat, and a light guide shell covers the light guide holder base and providing an accommodating opening for exposing the key module of the keyboard assembly. The light guide seat of the light guide holder base is positioned on protruding fixing portions of the bottom panel of the base seat, so that the light guide seat is a distance away from the bottom panel, thereby making the light-emitting lights on the light guide seat are in a light-emitting state suspended on the bottom panel.

Abstract: A luminous keyboard includes a light guide holder base including a light-transmitting base seat, a light guide seat with a light guide plate and a circuit board mounted in the light guide plate and provided with a plurality of light-emitting elements surrounding the periphery and a processor electrically connected to a computer host, a keyboard assembly located on the light guide seat, and a light guide shell covers the light guide holder base and providing an accommodating opening for exposing the key module of the keyboard assembly. The light guide seat of the light guide holder base is positioned on protruding fixing portions of the bottom panel of the base seat, so that the light guide seat is a distance away from the bottom panel, thereby making the light-emitting lights on the light guide seat are in a light-emitting state suspended on the bottom panel.

Abstract: Disclosed in a movement direction determination system comprising a first detection region, a second detection region and a processing circuit. The first detection region and the second detection region respectively comprises an optical sensor. The processing circuit determines a movement direction of an object according to the optical data generated by the first detection region and the second detection region. The present invention also discloses a movement direction determination system using a single detection region. The present invention also discloses an object volume computation system which can compute an object volume according to sensed optical data. The disclosed movement direction determination system can be used for various applications and the object volume computation system can assist product confirmation.

Abstract: A switched capacitor voltage converter circuit for converting a first voltage to a second voltage includes: an output capacitor; a switched capacitor converter; and a control circuit. The switched capacitor converter includes: a switch circuit including fourth switches; an inductor coupled between the switch circuit and the output capacitor; and a flying capacitor coupled to the switch circuit, wherein the flying capacitor and the output capacitor constitute a voltage divider. The control circuit generates a PWM signal according to the second voltage and generates switch signals according to the PWM signal to control the switch circuit, so as to convert the first voltage to the second voltage. The control circuit decides whether the switched capacitor converter operates in a boundary conduction mode, a discontinuous conduction mode or a continuous conduction mode according to an output current or an output current related signal.

Abstract: A multi-phase switching converter, includes: plural sub-switching converters; and a control circuit. Plural switching signals operate a capacitor of one of the plural sub-switching converters and a capacitor of another one of the plural sub-switching converters, to conduct a switched capacitor switching on a first voltage, thus switching an inductor switching node in each sub-switching converter between a divided voltage of the first voltage and a reference potential and to thereby execute a power conversion between the first voltage and a second voltage. When the inductors of each of the plural sub-switching converters are coupled with one another in a non-electromagnetic fashion, the multi-phase switching converters operate in a non-resonant mode. When the inductors of at least two of the plural sub-switching converters are electromagnetically coupled with one another, the multi-phase switching converters operate in a resonant mode or in the non-resonant mode.

Abstract: A multi-phase switching converter includes: first and second sub-switching converters; switching signals operating first and second capacitors of the first and second sub-switching converters to respectively perform a switched capacitor switching on a first voltage between plural electrical connection states, to respectively switch a first and second switching nodes between a first and second divided voltages of the first voltage obtained from the switched capacitor switching and a first and second reference voltage potentials thereby performing the power conversion between a first and second power nodes. Each of a first and second switch circuits of the first and second sub-switching converters has corresponding plural first and second switches and corresponding first and second subsidiary switch.

Abstract: This disclosure is a method of using plasma enhanced process to do periodic maintenance. The method includes performing a first atomic layer deposition on a substrate on a carrier disk to form a thin film on the substrate, and determining that an insulating film deposited on an edge of a surface of the carrier disk has a thickness greater than a pre-determined value. A second atomic layer deposition is performed on the carrier disk without the substrate placed thereon, to from a conductive film on the insulating film of the carrier disk, so that the carrier disk has conductive properties. Then the substrate is placed on the carrier disk, and the first atomic layer deposition is performed on the substrate on the carrier disk. Through the method, the cycle of cleaning and maintaining the carrier disk is greatly extended to improve the rate of equipment usage.

Abstract: Non-planar I/O and logic semiconductor devices having different workfunctions on common substrates and methods of fabricating non-planar I/O and logic semiconductor devices having different workfunctions on common substrates are described. For example, a semiconductor structure includes a first semiconductor device disposed above a substrate. The first semiconductor device has a conductivity type and includes a gate electrode having a first workfunction. The semiconductor structure also includes a second semiconductor device disposed above the substrate. The second semiconductor device has the conductivity type and includes a gate electrode having a second, different, workfunction.

Abstract: A beverage preparation equipment includes a weighing unit, a mixing unit, a supply module, and a control unit. The weighing unit is configured to allow the cup to be placed thereon and to measure a weight of an object placed thereon. The mixing unit is configured to stir content contained therein and to output the content to the cup. The supply module is configured to supply an ingredient to the mixing unit. The control unit is configured to control the supply module to supply a predetermined volume of the ingredient to the mixing unit based on a command related to preparation of a beverage, control the mixing unit to stir the ingredient inputted thereto into the beverage and then output the beverage to the cup, and control the mixing unit to stop outputting the beverage based on the weight of the object and a predetermined weight indicated by the command.

Abstract: A switched capacitor voltage converter circuit includes: a switched capacitor converter and a control circuit; wherein the control circuit adjusts operation frequencies and/or duty ratios of operation signals which control switches of the switched capacitor converter, so as to adjust a ratio of a first voltage to a second voltage to a predetermined ratio. When the control circuit decreases the duty ratios of the operation signals, if a part of the switches of the switched capacitor converter are turned ON, an inductor current flowing toward the second voltage is in a first state; if the inductor current continues to flow via a current freewheeling path, the inductor current flowing toward the second voltage becomes in a second state. A corresponding inductor is thereby switched between the first state and the second state to perform inductive power conversion.