Abstract: A method according to the present disclosure includes receiving a workpiece that includes a gate structure, a first gate spacer feature, a second gate spacer feature, a gate-top dielectric feature over the gate structure, the first gate spacer feature and the second gate spacer feature, a first source/drain feature over a first source/drain region, a second source/drain feature over a second source/drain region, a first dielectric layer over the first source/drain feature, and a second dielectric layer over the second source/drain feature. The method further includes replacing a top portion of the first dielectric layer with a first hard mask layer, forming a second hard mask layer over the first hard mask layer while the second dielectric layer is exposed, etching the second dielectric layer to form a source/drain contact opening and to expose the second source/drain feature, and forming a source/drain contact over the second source/drain feature.

Abstract: The application disclose a digital serializer/deserializer circuit and a data eye monitoring method thereof. A received analog signal is converted to first digital samples at a first sample rate. The first digital samples are equalized to generate a first equalized signal. A symbol decision signal is generated from the first equalized signal. The received analog signal is converted to second digital samples at a second sample rate. Difference between the first digital samples and the second digital samples is determined, and the first equalized signal and the determined difference are combined to generate a signal processing output. A data eye error rate is determined according to the symbol decision signal and the signal processing output.

Abstract: Disclosed are an edge tool configuration method and an electronic device. The edge tool configuration method includes: detecting a placement status of the electronic device through a sensor; reading configuration information of the edge tool according to the placement status, wherein the configuration information includes initial configuration information of the edge tool in a plurality of default placement statuses; placing the edge tool at an edge position in a display interface of a display according to the configuration information in the placement status.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing an activated carbon, which includes impregnating a carbonaceous material with carbonated water; and exposing the carbonaceous material to microwave radiation to produce the activated carbon.

Abstract: A communication receiver includes a first signal processing circuit and a second signal processing circuit. The first signal processing circuit includes a first feedforward equalizer and a decision circuit. The first feedforward equalizer processes a received signal to generate a first equalized signal. The decision circuit performs hard decision upon the first equalized signal to generate a first symbol decision signal. The second signal processing circuit includes a second feedforward equalizer, a decision feedforward equalizer, and a first decision feedback equalizer. The second feedforward equalizer processes the first equalized signal to generate a second equalized signal. The decision feedforward equalizer processes the first symbol decision signal to generate a third equalized signal. The first decision feedback equalizer generates a second symbol decision signal according to the second equalized signal and the third equalized signal.

Abstract: A circuit of a resonant power converter comprising: a high-side switch and a low-side switch, coupled to form a half-bridge switching circuit which is configured to switch a transformer for generating an output voltage; a high-side drive circuit, generating a high-side drive signal coupled to drive the high-side switch in response to a high-side control signal; a bias voltage, coupled to a bootstrap diode and a bootstrap capacitor providing a power source from the bootstrap capacitor for the high-side drive circuit; wherein the high-side drive circuit generates the high-side drive signal with a fast slew rate to turn on the high-side switch when the high-side switch is to be turned on with soft-switching; the high-side drive circuit generates the high-side drive signal with a slow slew rate to turn on the high-side switch when the high-side switch is to be turned on without soft-switching.

Abstract: An optical system affixed to an electronic apparatus is provided, including a first optical module, a second optical module, and a third optical module. The first optical module is configured to adjust the moving direction of a first light from a first moving direction to a second moving direction, wherein the first moving direction is not parallel to the second moving direction. The second optical module is configured to receive the first light moving in the second moving direction. The first light reaches the third optical module via the first optical module and the second optical module in sequence. The third optical module includes a first photoelectric converter configured to transform the first light into a first image signal.

Abstract: A switching control circuit for use in controlling a resonant flyback power converter generates a first driving signal and a second driving signal. The first driving signal is configured to turn on the first transistor to generate a first current to magnetize a transformer and charge a resonant capacitor. The transformer and charge a resonant capacitor are connected in series. The second driving signal is configured to turn on the second transistor to generate a second current to discharge the resonant capacitor. During a power-on period of the resonant flyback power converter, the second driving signal includes a plurality of short-pulses configured to turn on the second transistor for discharging the resonant capacitor. A pulse-width of the short-pulses of the second driving signal is short to an extent that the second current does not exceed a current limit threshold.

Abstract: A resonant flyback power converter includes: a first and a second transistors which form a half-bridge circuit for switching a transformer and a resonant capacitor to generate an output voltage; a current-sense device for sensing a switching current of the half-bridge circuit to generate a current-sense signal; and a switching control circuit generating a first and a second driving signals for controlling the first and the second transistors. The turn-on of the first driving signal controls the half-bridge circuit to generate a positive current to magnetize the transformer and charge the resonant capacitor. The turn-on of the second driving signal controls the half-bridge circuit to generate a negative current to discharge the resonant capacitor. The switching control circuit turns off the first transistor when the positive current exceeds a positive-over-current threshold, and/or, turns off the second transistor when the negative current exceeds a negative-over-current threshold.