Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a channel stack, source/drain contacts, and a gate electrode. The channel stack is over the substrate and includes a 2D channel layer and a barrier layer. An energy band gap of the barrier layer is greater than an energy band gap of the 2D channel layer. The source/drain contacts are in contact with the channel stack. The gate electrode is above the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller includes a processor, a first memory and a cache controller. The first memory includes at least a working space. The cache controller is coupled to the first memory, and is arranged for managing the working space of the first memory, and dynamically loading at least one object from a second memory to the working space of the first memory in an object-oriented manner.

Abstract: The present invention provides a microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller includes a processor, a first memory and a cache controller. The first memory includes at least a working space. The cache controller is coupled to the first memory, and is arranged for managing the working space of the first memory, and dynamically loading at least one object from a second memory to the working space of the first memory in an object-oriented manner.

Abstract: The present invention provides a microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller includes a processor, a first memory and a cache controller. The first memory includes at least a working space. The cache controller is coupled to the first memory, and is arranged for managing the working space of the first memory, and dynamically loading at least one object from a second memory to the working space of the first memory in an object-oriented manner.

Abstract: A portable device is provided. The portable device includes: a display; a controller, a processor, a housing, and a touch rim. The controller and the processor are installed inside the housing. The touch rim is configured to detect a gesture performed on the touch rim to generate at least one touch detection signal. The controller is configured to receive at least one detection signal from the touch rim, and to transmit the touch detection signal to the processor. The processor analyzes the touch detection signal to determine the gesture performed on the touch rim, and performs an operation associated with the gesture.

Abstract: A microcontroller includes a processor, a memory, a working space management unit and a memory monitor. The memory has at least a working space, wherein the working space includes a plurality of blocks . The working space management unit is implemented by software, and is arranged for managing the working space of the first memory. The memory monitor is implemented by hardware circuit, and is arranged for monitoring the blocks, and recording monitoring results corresponding to the blocks of the first memory, wherein the recorded monitoring results comprise information about whether data of the blocks is modified or not.

Abstract: A microcontroller includes a processor, a memory, a working space management unit and a memory monitor. The memory has at least a working space, wherein the working space includes a plurality of blocks. The working space management unit is implemented by software, and is arranged for managing the working space of the first memory. The memory monitor is implemented by hardware circuit, and is arranged for monitoring the blocks, and recording monitoring results corresponding to the blocks of the first memory, wherein the recorded monitoring results comprise information about whether data of the blocks is modified or not.

Abstract: A controller and a memory-access method for use in the controller are provided. The controller includes a sensor-processing system, and the sensor-processing system includes a memory, and a buffer, wherein the controller is coupled to an external memory and a sensor. The method includes the steps of: gathering the sensor data from the sensor and writing the gathered sensor data into the memory; writing information associated with the sensor data into the buffer; determining whether a fill level of the buffer has reached a predetermined threshold; and retrieving the sensor data from the memory and writing the retrieved sensor data to the external memory according to the information associated with the stored sensor data in the buffer when it is determined that the fill level has reached the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A dynamic data distribution method in a private network and an associated electronic device are provided. The private network includes: a first pairing connection between a first electronic device, a second electronic device, and a second pairing connection between the first electronic device and a third electronic device. The method includes the steps of: receiving sensor data from the second electronic device by the first electronic device; notifying the second electronic device to build a third pairing connection with the third electronic device according to a determination result between the first electronic device and the third electronic device; and terminating the first pairing connection and retrieving the sensor data from the second electronic device through the third electronic device by the first electronic device when the third pairing connection has been built.

Abstract: A method for accessing a network in an electronic system and associated portable device are provided. The portable device includes; a transceiver, supporting a plurality of predetermined communication protocols; and a processor, configured to connect the portable device to a connectivity service device in an electronic system via the transceiver when the portable device enters a coverage region of the connectivity service device. The connectivity service device retrieves service information from a plurality of electronic devices that are connected to the connectivity service device, to build a service list. The processor retrieves the service list from the connectivity service device, and determines a service from the service list to be used for communicating with the plurality of the electronic devices.

Abstract: A method for controlling a plurality of network interfaces of an electronic device includes: providing at least one table comprising information associated with a plurality of routing costs, wherein the routing costs correspond to at least paths between each of the network interfaces of the electronic device and the other electronic devices; and referring to the at least one table to select a specific network interface to transmit/receive data, and to disable at least one of the unused network interfaces.

Abstract: An electronic device and associated method is provided. The electronic device includes: a plurality of subsystems including hardware resources; a battery coupled to the plurality of subsystems; and a processing unit, configured to allocate a virtual battery from the battery for each subsystem, wherein each virtual battery has a defined power budget from the battery.

Abstract: A mobile communication device and associated method are provided. The device includes a positioning unit, configured to provide position information of the mobile communication device, and a processing unit, configured to detect an approach to a first geofence according to a plurality of contexts associated with the mobile communication device, turn off the positioning unit when not detecting the approach to the first geofence, and turn on the positioning unit when detecting the approach to the first geofence. The contexts include at least one cellular context and at least one personal context or multimedia context, and the processing unit is further configured to prioritize at least one of the cellular context and the personal context or the multimedia context over the other contexts, for detecting the approach to the first geofence.

Abstract: An electronic device including a touch sensor and a processing unit is provided. The touch sensor is disposed on or under a display, and generates touch data for a touch detected thereon or therenear when the electronic device is locked with the display in a sleep state. The processing unit determines whether the touch data matches a predetermined signature according to the touch data, and wakes the display from the sleep state and unlocks the electronic device when the touch data matches the predetermined gesture.

Abstract: A sensor hub coupled to one or more sensors and an application processor of a communications apparatus includes a sensing module and a micro-processor. The sensing module receives raw data from the sensors. The raw data is generated by the sensors when sensing one or more events. The micro-processor constructs an adaptive model according to a plurality of parameters and identifies user activity according to the raw data based on the adaptive model. The sensor hub is an always-on sub-system for assisting the application processor to identify user activity according to the raw data. The micro-processor further receives updated parameters and updates the adaptive model according to the updated parameters.

Abstract: A portable device and associated computer-implemented method are provided. The method includes the steps of: utilizing an ambient light sensor of the portable device to detect ambient light around the portable device to generate a first sensing signal; determining whether the first sensing signal is smaller than a first threshold; when it is determined that the first sensing signal is smaller than the first threshold, controlling a display panel of the portable device to enter a low-power mode; determining whether the first sensing signal is larger than a second threshold when the display panel has entered the low-power mode; and when it is determined that the first sensing signal is larger than the second threshold and the display panel has entered the low-power mode, controlling the display panel to enter a normal display mode from the low-power mode.

Abstract: A low-power memory access method and associated apparatus are provided. The apparatus includes a memory controller and a processing unit. The memory controller is coupled to a first memory and a second memory, and includes: a memory management circuit, for allocating physical memory addresses of the first memory and the second memory and controlling access of the first memory and the second memory; and a direct-memory-access (DMA) controller. The processing unit is for accessing the first memory and the second memory via the memory controller. When the apparatus is in an active mode, the memory management circuit copies a portion of data stored in the second memory to the first memory for use by the processing unit, and records dirty data information when the portion of data in the first memory differs from that in the second memory.

Abstract: A low-power wearable controller and associated control method are provided. The wearable controller includes: a processing unit; a memory unit; a peripheral interface unit including a plurality of peripheral interfaces; and a control module, coupled to the processing unit, the memory unit and the peripheral interface unit, wherein the control module is enabled when the wearable controller is operated in a first operation mode, and the control module is disabled when the wearable controller is operated in a second operation mode.

Abstract: A mobile communication device and associated method are provided. The device includes a positioning unit, configured to provide position information of the mobile communication device, and a processing unit, configured to detect an approach to a first geofence according to a plurality of contexts associated with the mobile communication device, turn off the positioning unit when not detecting the approach to the first geofence, and turn on the positioning unit when detecting the approach to the first geofence. The contexts include at least one cellular context and at least one personal context or multimedia context, and the processing unit is further configured to prioritize at least one of the cellular context and the personal context or the multimedia context over the other contexts, for detecting the approach to the first geofence.

Abstract: A power-saving method and associated electronic device are provided. The electronic device is connected with a first external electronic device and a second external electronic device, and a first sensor and a second sensor are deployed on the first external electronic device and the second electronic device, respectively. The electronic device includes: a third sensor, and a processor, wherein the first, second, and third sensors have the same type. The processor gathers information from the first pedometer sensor, the second pedometer sensor, the first external electronic device, and the second external electronic device, and determines whether to turn off at least one of the first, second, and third pedometer sensors according to the information gathered.