Abstract: A soft-switching power converter includes a main switch, an energy-releasing switch, and an inductive coupled unit. The main switch is a controllable switch. The energy-releasing switch is coupled to the main switch. The inductive coupled unit is coupled to the main switch and the energy-releasing switch. The inductive coupled unit includes a first inductance, a second inductance coupled to the first inductance, and an auxiliary switch unit. The auxiliary switch unit is coupled to the second inductance to form a closed loop. The main switch and the energy-releasing switch are alternately turned on and turned off. The auxiliary switch unit is controlled to start turning on before the main switch is turned on so as to provide at least one current path.

Abstract: A phase-change memory (PCM) cell is provided to include a first electrode, a second electrode, and a phase-change feature disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The phase-change feature is configured to change its data state based on a write operation performed on the PCM cell. The write operation includes a reset stage and a set stage. In the reset stage, a plurality of reset current pulses are applied to the PCM cell, and the reset current pulses have increasing current amplitudes. In the set stage, a plurality of set current pulses are applied to the PCM cell, and the set current pulses exhibit an increasing trend in current amplitude. The current amplitudes of the set current pulses are smaller than those of the reset current pulses.

Abstract: A transient voltage suppression device includes at least one P-type lightly-doped structure and at least one electrostatic discharge structure. The electrostatic discharge structure includes an N-type lightly-doped well, an N-type well, a first P-type heavily-doped area, and a first N-type heavily-doped area. The N-type lightly-doped well is formed in the P-type lightly-doped structure. The N-type well is formed in the N-type lightly-doped well. The doping concentration of the N-type lightly-doped well is less than that of the N-type well. The first P-type heavily-doped area is formed in the N-type well. The first N-type heavily-doped area is formed in the P-type lightly-doped structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate; a memory array over the substrate, the memory array including first magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs), where the first MTJs are in a first dielectric layer over the substrate; and a resistor circuit over the substrate, the resistor circuit including second MTJs, where the second MTJs are in the first dielectric layer.

Abstract: Described methods and systems for achieving an optical bokeh effect by a camera supporting a computing device, such as a laptop computer. A measurement is performed as to focus spot position of a subject. The depth of field (DOF) of camera lens is determined. An offset as to the focus spot position is calculated such the background of the subject would be blurred to increase the optical bokeh effect. The offset is added to the focus spot position or to be more in focus to decrease optical bokeh in the background, to arrive at a focus spot position that supports the optical bokeh effect. The camera lens is adjusted for the new focus spot position.

Abstract: A lighting device includes a light board and a light dimmer circuit. The light board includes multiple first light emitting elements and second light emitting elements. The first light emitting elements are disposed in a first area of the light board. The second light emitting elements are disposed in a second area of the light board. The light dimmer circuit is configured to drive the second light emitting elements to generate flickering lights from the second area of the light board, and is configured to drive the first light emitting elements to generate non-flickering lights from the first area of the light board.

Abstract: Methods of forming contacts for source/drain regions and a contact plug for a gate stack of a finFET device are disclosed herein. Methods include etching a contact opening through a dielectric layer to expose surfaces of a first source/drain contact and repairing silicon oxide structures along sidewall surfaces of the contact opening and along planar surfaces of the dielectric layer to prevent selective loss defects from occurring during a subsequent selective deposition of conductive fill materials and during subsequent etching of other contact openings. The methods further include performing a selective bottom-up deposition of conductive fill material to form a second source/drain contact. According to some of the methods, once the second source/drain contact has been formed, the contact plug may be formed over the gate stack.

Abstract: A method and a kit for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis are provided. The method includes a step of performing a nested qPCR assay to a specimen. The nested qPCR assay includes a first round of amplification using external primers and a second round of amplification using internal primers and a probe. The external primers have sequences of SEQ ID NOs. 1 and 2, and the internal primers and the probe have sequences of SEQ ID NOs. 3 to 5.

Abstract: A soft-switching power converter includes a main switch, an energy-releasing switch, and an inductive coupled unit. The main switch is a controllable switch. The energy-releasing switch is coupled to the main switch. The inductive coupled unit is coupled to the main switch and the energy-releasing switch. The inductive coupled unit includes a first inductance, a second inductance coupled to the first inductance, and an auxiliary switch unit. The auxiliary switch unit is coupled to the second inductance to form a closed loop. The main switch and the energy-releasing switch are alternately turned on and turned off. The auxiliary switch unit is controlled to start turning on before the main switch is turned on so as to provide at least one current path.

Abstract: A display panel including a circuit board, a plurality of bonding pads, a plurality of light emitting devices, and a plurality of solder patterns is provided. The bonding pads are disposed on the circuit board, and each includes a first metal layer and a second metal layer. The second metal layer is located between the first metal layer and the circuit board. The first metal layer includes an opening overlapping the second metal layer. A material of the first metal layer is different from a material of the second metal layer. The light emitting devices are electrically bonded to the bonding pads. Each of the solder patterns electrically connects one of the light emitting devices and one of the bonding pads. The solder patterns each contact the second metal layer through the opening of the first metal layer of one of the bonding pads to form a eutectic bonding.

Abstract: A display driver circuit for controlling a display panel having a plurality of light-emission diode (LED) strings includes a plurality of current regulators and a control circuit. Each of the plurality of current regulators is configured to control one of the plurality of LED strings. The control circuit, coupled to the plurality of current regulators, is configured to generate a plurality of pulses in a plurality of pulse width modulation (PWM) signals and output each of the plurality of PWM signals to a respective current regulator among the plurality of current regulators. Wherein, the plurality of pulses are scrambled.

Abstract: A fish identification method is provided. The fish identification method includes capturing an image through a processor, wherein the image includes a fish image. The fish identification method includes identifying a plurality of feature points of the fish image through a coordinate detection model and obtaining a plurality of sets of feature-point coordinates. Each of the plurality of sets of feature-point coordinates corresponds to each of the plurality of feature points. The fish identification method further includes calculating a body length or an overall length of the fish image according to the plurality of sets of feature-point coordinates of the image.

Abstract: A circuit test structure includes a chip including a conductive line which traces a perimeter of the chip. The circuit test structure further includes an interposer electrically connected to the chip, wherein the conductive line is over both the chip and the interposer. The circuit test structure further includes a test structure connected to the conductive line. The circuit test structure further includes a testing site, wherein the test structure is configured to electrically connect the testing site to the conductive line.

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 semiconductor structure, comprising a redistribution layer (RDL) including a dielectric layer and a conductive trace within the dielectric layer; a first conductive member disposed over the RDL and electrically connected with the conductive trace; a second conductive member disposed over the RDL and electrically connected with the conductive trace; a first die disposed over the RDL; a second die disposed over the first die, the first conductive member and the second conductive member; and a connector disposed between the second die and the second conductive member to electrically connect the second die with the conductive trace, wherein the first conductive member is electrically isolated from the second die.

Abstract: A package structure includes a thermal dissipation structure, a first encapsulant, a die, a through integrated fan-out via (TIV), a second encapsulant, and a redistribution layer (RDL) structure. The thermal dissipation structure includes a substrate and a first conductive pad disposed over the substrate. The first encapsulant laterally encapsulates the thermal dissipation structure. The die is disposed on the thermal dissipation structure. The TIV lands on the first conductive pad of the thermal dissipation structure and is laterally aside the die. The second encapsulant laterally encapsulates the die and the TIV. The RDL structure is disposed on the die and the second encapsulant.

Abstract: In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a computing device is described. The computing device includes a housing and a light source to illuminate through a window in the housing. The computing device also includes a controller. The controller determines a usage level of a processor of the computing device. The controller also adjusts a characteristic of the light source based on a determined usage level of the processor.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor structure forming a redistribution layer (RDL); forming a conductive pad over the RDL; performing a first electrical test through the conductive pad; bonding a first die over the RDL by a connector; disposing a first underfill material to surround the connector; performing a second electrical test through the conductive pad; disposing a second die over the first die and the conductive pad; and disposing a second underfill material to surround the second die, wherein the conductive pad is at least partially in contact with the second underfill material, and is protruded from the RDL during the first electrical test and the second electrical test.

Abstract: A circuit test structure includes an interposer for electrically connecting to a chip, wherein the interposer includes a conductive line, and the conductive line extends along at least two side of the interposer. The circuit test structure further includes a plurality of electrical connections to the conductive line. The circuit test structure further includes a testing site electrically connected to the conductive line, wherein the testing site is on an opposite surface of the interposer from the plurality of electrical connections.