Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, the device including gate structures on a substrate; source/drain layers on portions of the substrate that are adjacent the gate structures, respectively; first contact plugs contacting upper surfaces of the source/drain layers, respectively; a second contact plug contacting one of the gate structures, a sidewall of the second contact plug being covered by an insulating spacer; and a third contact plug commonly contacting an upper surface of at least one of the gate structures and at least one of the first contact plugs, at least a portion of a sidewall of the third contact plug not being covered by an insulating spacer.

Abstract: An auto-registration method for scanners. The method includes implanting a serial number into a scanner. When the scanner operates, the serial number is automatically retrieved. If the scanner is linked to a network, the serial number is transmitted to a documentary file inside a registration center through the net. On the other hand, if the scanner is not connected to a network, other data transmission means can be used to carry out the registration. According to the registered information, various post-registration services are executed.

Abstract: A direct forwarding scanning system and method of operation. The direct forwarding system scans an object item on a scanner to produce image data and directly forwards the image data to a remote server computer via a user-end computer. The remote server computer executes an application program for processing incoming data. The user-end computer transmits image data to the remote server computer. The scanner is coupled to the user-end computer. The scanner includes a button for initiating the scanning of an object item and directly forwarding the scanned data to the remote server computer via the user-end computer.

Abstract: A scanning system including a scanner and a local user computer, wherein the scanner is coupled with a remote computer by a networking connection. The scanner scans objects and uploads scanned images to the remote computer directly through the networking connection. The local user computer is coupled with the scanner and the remote computer, wherein the local user computer contains an application for assigning a storage address located in the remote computer, and a driver that instructs the scanner to perform certain operations including scanning and uploading images to the assigned storage location. The remote computer wraps received data, the image files from the scanner, into a data package and saves it as a file to the assigned storage location therein. Besides assigning storage locations for saving image files, the application on the local user computer also provides the scanner with information regarding the location of the remote computer, such as internet addresses, web sites, or network locations.

Abstract: An auto-registration method for scanners. The method includes implanting a serial number into a scanner. When the scanner operates, the serial number is automatically retrieved. If the scanner is linked to a network, the serial number is transmitted to a documentary file inside a registration center through the net. On the other hand, if the scanner is not connected to a network, other data transmission means can be used to carry out the registration. According to the registered information, various post-registration services are executed.