Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate structure including a substrate having multiple structures. Each of the structures includes an active region isolated by trenches in the substrate, an insulating layer on the active region, and a hardmask layer on the insulating layer. The method also includes performing a first ion implantation into a first structure configured to form a first type device, performing a pull-back process on the hardmask layer and on the insulating layer of the first structure to form a receded hardmask layer and a receded insulating layer and expose a corner portion of the active region, and performing a rounding process on the exposed corner portion. The rounded corner portion of the active region has an increased curvature radius that reduces the concentration of the electric field and improves the reliability of the semiconductor device.

Abstract: A dryer for a wall-mounted washing machine is disclosed. The dryer provides a duct passage that is curved in multiple ways, and that has a heater and a fan. Therefore, the dryer may be installed in a wall-mounted washing machine having a relatively small or narrow accommodating space. The dryer may have a relatively high gas flow rate and/or flow velocity. That is, the dryer may implement a function for drying laundry.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate structure including a substrate having multiple structures. Each of the structures includes an active region isolated by trenches in the substrate, an insulating layer on the active region, and a hardmask layer on the insulating layer. The method also includes performing a first ion implantation into a first structure configured to form a first type device, performing a pull-back process on the hardmask layer and on the insulating layer of the first structure to form a receded hardmask layer and a receded insulating layer and expose a corner portion of the active region, and performing a rounding process on the exposed corner portion. The rounded corner portion of the active region has an increased curvature radius that reduces the concentration of the electric field and improves the reliability of the semiconductor device.

Abstract: Memory cells and fabrication methods thereof are provided. An exemplary method includes providing a substrate having a well region; forming a select gate structure, a floating gate structure and a dummy gate structure on a surface of the well region; forming a first lightly doped region, a second lightly doped region and a third lightly doped region in the well region, the first lightly doped region and the second lightly doped region being at two sides of the select gate structure respectively, the second lightly doped region being in between the select gate structure and the floating gate structure, and the third lightly doped region being in between the floating gate structure and the dummy gate structure; and forming bit line region in the first lightly doped region and a source region in the third lightly doped region, the source region being enclosed by the third lightly doped region.

Abstract: A system and method for scheduling read and write operations among a plurality of solid-state storage devices. A computer system comprises client computers and data storage arrays coupled to one another via a network. A data storage array utilizes solid-state drives and Flash memory cells for data storage. A storage controller within a data storage array comprises an I/O scheduler. The data storage controller is configured to receive requests targeted to the data storage medium, said requests including a first type of operation and a second type of operation. The controller is further configured to schedule requests of the first type for immediate processing by said plurality of storage devices, and queue requests of the second type for later processing by the plurality of storage devices. Operations of the first type may correspond to operations with an expected relatively low latency, and operations of the second type may correspond to operations with an expected relatively high latency.

Abstract: A system and method for adaptive RAID geometries. A computer system comprises client computers and data storage arrays coupled to one another via a network. A data storage array utilizes solid-state drives and Flash memory cells for data storage. A storage controller within a data storage array is configured to determine a first RAID layout for use in storing data, and write a first RAID stripe to the device group according to the first RAID layout. In response to detecting a first condition, the controller is configured to determine a second RAID layout which is different from the first RAID layout, and write a second RAID stripe to the device group according to the second layout, whereby the device group concurrently stores data according to both the first RAID layout and the second RAID layout.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively scheduling read and write operations among a plurality of solid-state storage devices. A computer system comprises client computers and data storage arrays coupled to one another via a network. A data storage array utilizes solid-state drives and Flash memory cells for data storage. A storage controller within a data storage array comprises an I/O scheduler. The characteristics of corresponding storage devices are used to schedule I/O requests to the storage devices in order to maintain relatively consistent response times at predicted times. Should a device exhibit an unscheduled behavior which may be indicative of the device being in an unknown state, the scheduler may schedule one or more reactive operations on the device configured to cause the device to enter a known state.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively scheduling read and write operations among a plurality of solid-state storage devices. A computer system comprises client computers and data storage arrays coupled to one another via a network. A data storage array utilizes solid-state drives and Flash memory cells for data storage. A storage controller within a data storage array comprises an I/O scheduler. The characteristics of corresponding storage devices are used to schedule I/O requests to the storage devices in order to maintain relatively consistent response times at predicted times. In order to reduce a likelihood of unscheduled behaviors of the storage devices, the storage controller is configured to schedule proactive operations on the storage devices that will reduce a number of occurrences of unscheduled behaviors.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively scheduling read and write operations among a plurality of solid-state storage devices. A computer system comprises client computers and data storage arrays coupled to one another via a network. A data storage array utilizes solid-state drives and Flash memory cells for data storage. A storage controller within a data storage array comprises an I/O scheduler. The storage controller is configured to receive a read request targeted to the data storage medium, and identify at least a first storage device of the plurality of storage devices which contains data targeted by the read request. In response to either detecting or predicting the first storage device will exhibit variable performance, the controller is configured to generate a reconstruct read request configured to obtain the data from one or more devices of the plurality of storage devices other than the first storage device.

Abstract: A system and method for scheduling read and write operations among a plurality of solid-state storage devices. A computer system comprises client computers and data storage arrays coupled to one another via a network. A data storage array utilizes solid-state drives and Flash memory cells for data storage. A storage controller within a data storage array comprises an I/O scheduler. The data storage controller is configured to receive requests targeted to the data storage medium, said requests including a first type of operation and a second type of operation. The controller is further configured to schedule requests of the first type for immediate processing by said plurality of storage devices, and queue requests of the second type for later processing by the plurality of storage devices. Operations of the first type may correspond to operations with an expected relatively low latency, and operations of the second type may correspond to operations with an expected relatively high latency.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamic RAID geometries. A computer system comprises client computers and data storage arrays coupled to one another via a network. A data storage array utilizes solid-state drives and Flash memory cells for data storage. A storage controller within a data storage array is configured to configure a first subset of the storage devices for use in a first RAID layout, the first RAID layout including a first set of redundant data. The controller further configures a second subset of the storage devices for use in a second RAID layout, the second RAID layout including a second set of redundant data. Additionally, when writing a stripe, the controller may select from any of the plurality of storage devices for one or more of the first RAID layout, the second RAID layout, and storage of redundant data by the additional logical device.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively scheduling read and write operations among a plurality of solid-state storage devices. A computer system comprises client computers and data storage arrays coupled to one another via a network. A data storage array utilizes solid-state drives and Flash memory cells for data storage. A storage controller within a data storage array comprises an I/O scheduler. The characteristics of corresponding storage devices are used to schedule I/O requests to the storage devices in order to maintain relatively consistent response times at predicted times. Should a device exhibit an unscheduled behavior which may be indicative of the device being in an unknown state, the scheduler may schedule one or more reactive operations on the device configured to cause the device to enter a known state.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively scheduling read and write operations among a plurality of solid-state storage devices. A computer system comprises client computers and data storage arrays coupled to one another via a network. A data storage array utilizes solid-state drives and Flash memory cells for data storage. A storage controller within a data storage array comprises an I/O scheduler. The characteristics of corresponding storage devices are used to schedule I/O requests to the storage devices in order to maintain relatively consistent response times at predicted times. In order to reduce a likelihood of unscheduled behaviors of the storage devices, the storage controller is configured to schedule proactive operations on the storage devices that will reduce a number of occurrences of unscheduled behaviors.

Abstract: A connecting device for a washing machine or other apparatuses that connect to a water conduit includes a main body configured to connect to a water supply hose, having a passage through which water passes; a sealing unit in the main body, configured to contact the water conduit; a fixing unit in the main body, fixed to or in contact with an outer surface of the water conduit; and a tightening unit that screws onto the main body, configured to press and/or fix the fixing unit to the water conduit when the tightening unit is tightened. There is no need for a separate tool, because the connecting device is easily and conveniently connected by hand tightening the tightening unit.

Abstract: A method for detecting a phishing website includes extracting a domain name from a target URL of a web page under investigation, and querying PageRank and/or Alexa ranking of the domain name; extracting a title character string from the title of the web page and matching the character string to phishing sensitive words; using the title of web page as a keyword to search on a search engine; querying whether Target URL and the web page in the search result with a same title as the web page under investigation have the same domain name server NS and server IP address to determine whether the website is a phishing website. The disclosed method utilizes common features of phishing websites and public resources on the Internet, and overcomes the difficulty in collecting phishing website samples, and is well adapted to detecting phishing aimed at new target websites.

Abstract: A system and method for offset protection data in a RAID array. A computer system comprises client computers and data storage arrays coupled to one another via a network. A data storage array utilizes solid-state drives and Flash memory cells for data storage. A storage controller within a data storage array is configured to store user data in a first page of a first storage device of the plurality of storage devices; generate intra-device protection data corresponding to the user data, and store the intra-device protection data at a first offset within the first page. The controller is further configured to generate inter-device protection data corresponding to the first page, and store the inter-device protection data at a second offset within a second page in a second storage device of the plurality of storage devices, wherein the first offset is different from the second offset.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamic RAID geometries. A computer system comprises client computers and data storage arrays coupled to one another via a network. A data storage array utilizes solid-state drives and Flash memory cells for data storage. A storage controller within a data storage array is configured to configure a first subset of the storage devices for use in a first RAID layout, the first RAID layout including a first set of redundant data. The controller further configures a second subset of the storage devices for use in a second RAID layout, the second RAID layout including a second set of redundant data. Additionally, the controller configure an additional device not included in either the first subset or the second subset to store redundant data for both the first RAID layout and the second RAID layout.

Abstract: A method is provided for evaluating a protected plant having a protection mechanism. A population of immature insects (i.e., larvae or nymphs) belonging to an insect species having a plurality of instars is first exposed to the protected plant such that the protected plant is at least contacted thereby. The insect exposure extends for a selected time period corresponding to a sublethal exposure of the insect population to the protected plant. The exposure of the insect population to the protected plant is then halted following the selected time period and insects collected. A physical characteristic of at least some collected insects is measured. The measured physical characteristics are then statistically analyzed so as to determine an efficacy of the protection mechanism of the protected plant with respect to the insect population. Associated methods are also provided.