Abstract: In one example, this disclosure describes a method including determining, at a central controller of an air mattress system, whether a user is present on a mattress of the air mattress system, initiating a timer in response to determining that the user is present on the mattress, enabling a light control feature of the air mattress system upon determining that the user is present on the mattress after expiration of the timer, and after enabling the light control feature, transmitting, from the central controller, at least one instruction to turn on at least one light of the air mattress system in response to determining that the user is no longer present on the mattress.

Abstract: Integrated circuit devices and method of forming them. The devices include a dielectric barrier layer formed over a copper-containing metal interconnect structure. The dielectric barrier layer inhibits electro-migration of Cu. The dielectric barrier layer includes a metal-containing layer that forms an interface with the interconnect structure. Incorporating metal within the interfacial layer improves adhesion of the dielectric barrier layer to copper lines and the like and provides superior electro-migration resistance over the operating lifetime of the devices.

Abstract: An electric apparatus is adapted to be electrically coupled to a target platform. The electric apparatus includes a first printed circuit including a first surface parallel to a first plane and a second surface parallel to a second plane perpendicular to the first plane. The first surface has a first area and the second surface has a second area smaller than the first area. A multitude of conductive traces are formed in a layer of the first printed circuit parallel to the first plane. First and second contact regions respectively overlay first and second portions of the second surface. The first and second contact regions are electrically connected to first and second ones of the multitude of conductive traces respectively. The first printed circuit is coupled to the target platform at the first and second contact regions when the first printed circuit is electrically coupled to the target platform.

Abstract: A method for repairing a phase-defect region in a patterned mask for extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) is disclosed. A patterned mask for EUVL is received. The patterned mask includes an absorptive region having an absorption layer over a defect-repairing-enhancement (DRE) layer, a reflective region having the DRE layer without the absorption layer on top of it, a defect and a phase-defect region resulting from the defect and intruding the reflective region. A location and a shape of the phase-defect region is determined. A portion or portions of the DRE layer in the reflective region is removed according to the location and the shape of the phase-defect region to compensate the effect of the phase-defect region.

Abstract: A detection device for a CT system comprises a low-energy detector assembly; and a high-energy detector assembly disposed under the low-energy detector assembly. The high-energy detector assembly comprises: a plurality of rows of high-energy detectors arranged at predetermined intervals. With the detection device, detectors and data acquisition units are greatly reduced. A high-resolution three-dimensional CT image is acquired while high-accuracy hazardous article alarm is achieved. The cost of manufacture of the system is greatly decreased while high system performance is ensured.

Abstract: A plurality of macro and micro alignment marks may be formed on a wafer. The macro alignment marks may be formed in pairs at opposite edges of the wafer. The micro alignment marks may be formed to align to streets on the wafer along a first and second direction. A molding compound may be formed on the wafer. The macro alignment marks may be exposed from the molding compound. A pair of the micro alignment marks may be exposed from the molding compound at opposite ends of the streets along the first and the second direction. The wafer may be aligned to a dicing tool using pairs of the macro alignment marks. The dicing tool may be aligned to the streets using pairs of the micro alignment marks. The wafer may be diced using successive pairs of micro alignment marks along the first and second direction.

Abstract: A stacked integrated circuit (IC) device and a method are disclosed. The stacked IC device includes a first semiconductor element. The first substrate includes a dielectric block in the first substrate; and a plurality of first conductive features formed in first inter-metal dielectric layers over the first substrate. The stacked IC device also includes a second semiconductor element bonded on the first semiconductor element. The second semiconductor element includes a second substrate and a plurality of second conductive features formed in second inter-metal dielectric layers over the second substrate. The stacked IC device also includes a conductive deep-interconnection-plug coupled between the first conductive features and the second conductive features. The conductive deep-interconnection-plug is isolated by dielectric block, the first inter-metal-dielectric layers and the second inter-metal-dielectric layers.

Abstract: Techniques for reducing noise and power consumption in a loop filter for a phase-locked loop (PLL) are described herein. In one embodiment, a loop filter for a PLL comprises a first proportional capacitor, a second proportional capacitor, an active device, and a plurality of switches. The plurality of switches are configured to alternately couple the first proportional capacitor and the second proportional capacitor to a first charge pump, to alternately couple noise from the active device to the first proportional capacitor and the second proportional capacitor, and to alternately couple the first proportional capacitor and the second proportional capacitor into a feedback circuit, wherein the feedback circuit produces an output voltage of the loop filter.

Abstract: A method of writing a memory cell includes, during a write cycle, causing a voltage level at a power terminal of the memory cell to change from a supply voltage level toward a first voltage level. The voltage level at the power terminal of the memory cell is maintained at the first voltage level for a first predetermined duration. The voltage level at the power terminal of the memory cell is maintained at a second voltage level for a second predetermined duration, where the second voltage level is between the first voltage level and the supply voltage level. During the write cycle, the voltage level at the power terminal of the memory cell is caused to change from the first voltage level toward the supply voltage level.

Abstract: A method of exposing a wafer substrate includes receiving an integrated circuit (IC) design layout defining a pattern; determining a temperature profile of a mask based on the IC design layout, the pattern being formed on the mask; calculating a pre-corrected overlay shift for the mask based on the calculated temperature profile; and exposing a resist layer coated on a substrate using the mask with overlay compensation based on the pre-corrected overlay shift.

Abstract: A magnetic stack includes a substrate and a magnetic recording layer disposed over the substrate. The magnetic recording layer comprises magnetic crystalline grains and a segregant disposed between grain boundaries of the crystalline grains. One or both of the magnetic crystalline grains and the segregant are doped with a rare earth or transition metal dopant in an amount that provides the magnetic recording layer with a magnetic damping value, ?, between about 0.1 to about 1.

Abstract: In a method for managing a facility that is to receive resources from a first resource supply, a supply of resources available from the first resource supply is predicted for a predetermined period of time. In addition, a demand for resources in the facility during the predetermined period of time is predicted. A capacity schedule for the facility is planned to meet a predefined operational goal, in which the plan of the capacity schedule uses as inputs, the predicted supply of resources available from the first resource supply and the predicted demand for resources in the facility during the predetermined period of time. Moreover, a determination as to whether the planned capacity schedule meets the predefined operational goal is made.

Abstract: A system and method of providing tunable generation of advertisements are disclosed. In some embodiments, a target advertisement goal for a website is received. The target advertisement goal comprises a first goal for a first type of advertisement and a second goal for a second type of advertisement. Advertisements to display on the website are determined based on the target advertisement goal. The advertisements are caused to be displayed on the website. In some embodiments, the first type of advertisement is an advertisement for merchandise offered for sale on the website, and the second type of advertisement is an advertisement for merchandise offered for sale on a different website.

Abstract: A method for broadcasting TV show as used in a smart TV. The smart TV comprises a body, a facial image capturing unit and a storage unit. The storage unit stores facial images of registered users and a mapping relationship between a number of favorite TV show lists and a number of accounts. The method comprises following steps. Capturing the facial images in front of the facial image capturing unit, identifying whether the captured facial images contain one or more facial images of registered users of the smart TV and identify the number of the registered users contained in the captured facial images. In addition, controlling the smart TV to enter a broadcasting mode according to the identified users. Importing TV shows associated with the broadcasting mode of the smart TV and the favorite TV show lists. A smart TV is also provided by the present disclosure.

Abstract: Described here are a system and method for producing a statistical noise map that indicates the noise present in data acquired with an x-ray imaging system, such as an x-ray computed tomography system, an x-ray tomosynthesis system, a C-arm x-ray imaging system, and so on. In general, an image is reconstructed from the acquired data using, for example, any standard filtered back projection (“FBP”) image reconstruction algorithm. This image is used as a base line to estimate a noise standard distribution map. The raw projection data represents a typical measurement among many repeated measurements under the same experimental conditions; therefore, the measured projection data can be used to numerically generate an ensemble of many (e.g., twenty or more) noisy projection data sets. These noisy projection data sets are then used to reconstruct noisy images and from these noisy images and the original image, the statistical noise map can be computed.

Abstract: A vaso-occlusive device delivery assembly includes a pusher assembly having a proximal end, a distal end, and a pusher lumen extending therebetween; a vaso-occlusive device; and a tubular member mechanically connecting the pusher assembly to the vaso-occlusive device, the tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, a tube lumen extending therebetween, and a detach zone, wherein the proximal end of the tubular member extends into the pusher assembly lumen at the distal end of the pusher assembly. A heat generating member is disposed in the tube lumen, such that, when activated, the heat generating member generates heat that melts or otherwise thermally degrades the tubular member at the detach zone, thereby detaching the vaso-occlusive device from the pusher assembly.

Abstract: Methods for an oxide layer over an epitaxial layer. In an embodiment, a method includes forming an epitaxial layer of semiconductor material over a semiconductor substrate; forming an oxide layer over the epitaxial layer; applying a solution including an oxidizer to the oxide layer; and cleaning the oxide layer with a cleaning solution. In another embodiment, a densification process is applied to an oxide layer including treating with thermal energy, UV energy, or both. In an embodiment for a gate-all-around device, the cleaning process is applied to an oxide layer over an epitaxial portion of a fin. Additional methods are disclosed.

Abstract: Provided is a respiratory filter device having a filter module, a connection curved holder, an adjustable curved holder, and a mask. The filter module has a housing body, and both the connection curved holder and the adjustable curved holder have a respective free end and a respective connection end opposite to each other. The connection ends of the connection curved holder and the adjustable curved holder are connected with the filter module, and the free ends face to each other and form an opening between the free ends. The filter module is connected to the connection curved holder and the adjustable curved holder to define an accommodation space adjacent to the opening. Accordingly, the respiratory filter device can be worn on a user's head or neck directly by the accommodation space, for allowing the user to do other work when wearing the respiratory filter device.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for database search, by grouping data entries based on join conditions between the data entries as set in search conditions; and executing the search based on the grouping of the data entries, and can efficiently and effectively resolve the issues that are common to the existing MapReduce query processing systems, thereby being particularly suitable for big dataset analytics in a large cluster system.

Abstract: A regulator comprises an amplifier, a bias circuit, and a current trimming circuit. The bias circuit is coupled to the amplifier and supplies a first bias current to the amplifier in a first mode of a system including the regulator. The current trimming circuit is coupled to the bias circuit to adjust the first bias current.