Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method includes: forming a transistor region in a substrate; forming a gate dielectric layer over the transistor region; forming a diffusion-blocking layer over the gate dielectric layer; forming a first portion of a work function layer over the diffusion-blocking layer; forming a second portion of the work function layer over the first portion of the work function layer; forming a plurality of barrier elements on or under a top surface of the second portion of the work function layer; and forming a gate electrode over the work function layer, wherein the plurality of barrier elements block oxygen from diffusing into the work function layer during the formation of the gate electrode.

Abstract: Techniques for machine learning based coded size estimation in rate control of video encoding are described. An encoder in accordance with various embodiments uses one or more machine learning approaches to facilitate the rate control of video encoding. When training one or more neural network models, the relationship between the coded size and unit characteristics (e.g., picture pixels and/or picture features) is learned from past encoding. The encoder then uses the trained model(s) to estimate the coded size through model inference with improved accuracy. In some embodiments, the trained model(s) are integrated into the encoder for direct model inference. The direct model inference reduces the overhead of referencing application programming interfaces (APIs) provided by a separate machine learning platform, thus making the rate control methods and systems described herein useful in real time video encoding.

Abstract: A method of deblocking an input signal is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) calculating a plurality of transform coefficients corresponding to each of a plurality of blocks in the input signal at baseband, (B) calculating a plurality of quantization parameters based on the transform coefficients, at least one of the quantization parameters corresponding to each respective one of the blocks and (C) generating an output signal by deblocking the input signal based on the quantization parameters.

Abstract: A cutter assembly has a blade holder, a blade, a slider and a screw-locking device. The blade is moveably mounted in the blade holder and has a moving direction. The blade holder has a bottom and multiple engaging segments disposed on the bottom along the moving direction of the blade. The slider is mounted slidably on the blade holder and connected to the blade. The screw-locking device is mounted on the slider and has a locking bolt and a locking sleeve screwed with each other. The locking bolt has an end selectively engaging at least one of the engaging segments.

Abstract: A cutter assembly has a blade holder, a slider, an automatic locking device, a screw locking device and a blade. The blade holder has a guiding channel defined in the blade holder and having two inner edges. Multiple engaging teeth are arranged in a line along at least one of the inner edges. The slider is mounted slidably on the blade holder relative to the guiding channel. The automatic locking device is mounted on the slider and has a resilient member selectively engaging at least one of the engaging teeth. The screw locking device is mounted on the slider and has a relative travel distance between the screw locking device and the slider. The blade is mounted slidably in the blade holder and connected to the slider.

Abstract: A cutter assembly has a blade holder, a blade, a slider and a screw-locking device. The blade is moveably mounted in the blade holder and has a moving direction. The blade holder has a bottom and multiple engaging segments disposed on the bottom along the moving direction of the blade. The slider is mounted slidably on the blade holder and connected to the blade. The screw-locking device is mounted on the slider and has a locking bolt and a locking sleeve screwed with each other. The locking bolt has an end selectively engaging at least one of the engaging segments.

Abstract: A cutter assembly has a blade holder, a slider, an automatic locking device, a screw locking device and a blade. The blade holder has a guiding channel defined in the blade holder and having two inner edges. Multiple engaging teeth are arranged in a line along at least one of the inner edges. The slider is mounted slidably on the blade holder relative to the guiding channel. The automatic locking device is mounted on the slider and has a resilient member selectively engaging at least one of the engaging teeth. The screw locking device is mounted on the slider and has a relative travel distance between the screw locking device and the slider. The blade is mounted slidably in the blade holder and connected to the slider.

Abstract: A method of deblocking an input signal is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) calculating a plurality of transform coefficients corresponding to each of a plurality of blocks in the input signal at baseband, (B) calculating a plurality of quantization parameters based on the transform coefficients, at least one of the quantization parameters corresponding to each respective one of the blocks and (C) generating an output signal by deblocking the input signal based on the quantization parameters.

Abstract: A method of deblocking an input signal is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) calculating a plurality of transform coefficients corresponding to each of a plurality of blocks in the input signal at baseband, (B) calculating a plurality of quantization parameters based on the transform coefficients, at least one of the quantization parameters corresponding to each respective one of the blocks and (C) generating an output signal by deblocking the input signal based on the quantization parameters.

Abstract: Examples of apparatuses and methods for performing a joint RD optimization operation are described herein. A method may include successively encoding a macroblock using a plurality of coding modes. The method may further include determining a corresponding rate-distortion cost to encode the macroblock based on a corresponding coding mode of the plurality of coding modes. The method may further include determining a corresponding estimated rate-distortion cost to encode one or more macroblocks affected by encoding the macroblock using the corresponding coding mode. The method may further include selecting a coding mode of the plurality of coding modes having a lowest corresponding joint rate-distortion cost. The corresponding total rate-distortion cost comprises the corresponding rate-distortion cost to encode the macroblock and the corresponding estimated rate-distortion cost to encode the one or more of the affected macroblocks.

Abstract: A method of deblocking an input signal is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) calculating a plurality of transform coefficients corresponding to each of a plurality of blocks in the input signal at baseband, (B) calculating a plurality of quantization parameters based on the transform coefficients, at least one of the quantization parameters corresponding to each respective one of the blocks and (C) generating an output signal by deblocking the input signal based on the quantization parameters.

Abstract: A method of compressed picture reconstruction using a plurality of post-processed reference pictures. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating a first of a plurality of reconstructed pictures by decoding a first of a plurality of compressed pictures using at least one of a plurality of non-post-processed reference pictures buffered in a reference memory, wherein the compressed pictures are received in an input bitstream, (B) generating a first of a plurality of processed pictures by artifact processing the first reconstructed picture to remove artifacts, (C) buffering in the reference memory both (i) the first reconstructed picture as one of the non-post-processed reference pictures and (ii) the first processed picture as one of the post-processed reference pictures and (D) generating a second of the reconstructed pictures by decoding a second of the compressed pictures using at least one of the post-processed reference pictures buffered in the reference memory.

Abstract: A method of deblocking an input signal is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) calculating a plurality of transform coefficients corresponding to each of a plurality of blocks in the input signal at baseband, (B) calculating a plurality of quantization parameters based on the transform coefficients, at least one of the quantization parameters corresponding to each respective one of the blocks and (C) generating an output signal by deblocking the input signal based on the quantization parameters.

Abstract: A method for reduced memory and bandwidth motion adaptive video deinterlacing is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating a frame by deinterlacing a current field in a first of a plurality of modes, (B) generating the frame by deinterlacing using both of the current field and an opposite-parity field in a second of the modes and (C) generating the frame be deinterlacing using all of the current field, the opposite-parity field and another field in a third of the modes, wherein the method uses at least two of the modes.

Abstract: A method for motion adaptive video deinterlacing is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) in a first plurality among a plurality of modes, generating a frame by deinterlacing a current field using a plurality of memory bandwidth configurations and (B) in a second plurality among the modes, generating the frame by deinterlacing the current field using a plurality of linestore configurations.

Abstract: A method of compressed picture reconstruction using a plurality of post-processed reference pictures. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating a first of a plurality of reconstructed pictures by decoding a first of a plurality of compressed pictures using at least one of a plurality of non-post-processed reference pictures buffered in a reference memory, wherein the compressed pictures are received in an input bitstream, (B) generating a first of a plurality of processed pictures by artifact processing the first reconstructed picture to remove artifacts, (C) buffering in the reference memory both (i) the first reconstructed picture as one of the non-post-processed reference pictures and (ii) the first processed picture as one of the post-processed reference pictures and (D) generating a second of the reconstructed pictures by decoding a second of the compressed pictures using at least one of the post-processed reference pictures buffered in the reference memory.

Abstract: A method for motion adaptive video deinterlacing is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) in a first plurality among a plurality of modes, generating a frame by deinterlacing a current field using a plurality of memory bandwidth configurations and (B) in a second plurality among the modes, generating the frame by deinterlacing the current field using a plurality of linestore configurations.

Abstract: A method for reduced memory and bandwidth motion adaptive video deinterlacing is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating a frame by deinterlacing a current field in a first of a plurality of modes, (B) generating the frame by deinterlacing using both of the current field and an opposite-parity field in a second of the modes and (C) generating the frame be deinterlacing using all of the current field, the opposite-parity field and another field in a third of the modes, wherein the method uses at least two of the modes.