Abstract: A semiconductor includes a substrate. A gate structure is disposed on the substrate. A liner oxide contacts a side of the gate structure. A silicon oxide spacer contacts the liner oxide. An end of the silicon oxide spacer forms a kink profile. A silicon nitride spacer contacts the silicon oxide spacer and a tail of the silicon nitride spacer covers part of the kink profile. A stressor covers the silicon nitride spacer and the substrate.

Abstract: An LED driving apparatus, a microcontroller, and a control method for an LED module are provided. The LED driving apparatus includes a power supply module, a switch module, and a control module. The power supply module is configured to supply power to the LED module, in which the power supply module determines whether to trigger an overcurrent protection based on whether an output current exceeds a threshold current. The control module is configured to receive an overcurrent detection signal to control a conduction state of the switch module, so as to affect the current amount of the LED module. When the overcurrent detection signal indicates the output current exceeds the threshold current, the control module outputs a first control signal based on the overcurrent detection signal to control the switch module, to prevent the overcurrent protection from being triggered.

Abstract: An antenna assembly includes a patch antenna, a metal layer, and a feed-in signal layer. The metal layer is disposed on a side of the patch antenna and includes a first slot and a second slot. The feed-in signal layer is disposed on a side of the metal layer opposite the second antenna and includes a transmitting port, a receiving port, a hybrid coupler, and two microstrips. The transmitting port and the receiving port are connected to the hybrid coupler, and the two microstrips are extended in the direction away from the hybrid coupler. Projections of two ends of the two microstrips onto the metal layer are overlapped with the first slot and the second slot. An antenna array is also mentioned.

Abstract: A SAR ADC includes: a sample-hold (S/H) circuit sampling an input voltage to generate a S/H output signal; a DAC generating a DAC output signal; a comparator comparing the DAC output signal with the S/H output signal to generate a comparison output signal; a SAR combinational digital circuit group; a multiplexer circuit; and a plurality of registers for registering the comparison output signal as register output signals and outputting as an output signal of the SAR ADC. The SAR combinational digital circuit group generates a plurality of first and second SAR output signals based on the register output signals. The multiplexer circuit is controlled by on the register output signals to select among the first and the second SAR output signals as a plurality of multiplexer output signals for sending to the DAC. A capacitor coupling relationship of the DAC is controlled by the multiplexer output signals.

Abstract: A medical device is provided. The medical device includes a shaft motor, a parallel manipulator, a receiving yoke, a runner and a transmission yoke. The shaft motor is configured to generate a mechanical force for manipulating a surgical tool. The parallel manipulator includes an end platform used to support the surgical tool, a base platform used to support the shaft motor and a plurality of limbs coupled between the end platform and the base platform. The limbs are configured to control movement of the end platform. The receiving yoke is coupled to the surgical tool. The runner is slidingly engaged to the shaft motor and configured to receive the mechanical force. The transmission yoke is coupled to the runner and the receiving yoke, and the transmission yoke is configured to transfer the mechanical force to the receiving yoke.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a fin-shaped structure on the substrate, a shallow trench isolation (STI) around the fin-shaped structure, a single diffusion break (SDB) structure in the fin-shaped structure for dividing the fin-shaped structure into a first portion and a second portion; a first gate structure on the fin-shaped structure, a second gate structure on the STI, and a third gate structure on the SDB structure. Preferably, a width of the third gate structure is greater than a width of the second gate structure and each of the first gate structure, the second gate structure, and the third gate structure includes a U-shaped high-k dielectric layer, a U-shaped work function metal layer, and a low-resistance metal layer.

Abstract: A solar cell module includes a first substrate, a second substrate, at least one cell unit, a first packaging film, a second packaging film, a first protective layer, a second protective layer, and a plurality of support members. The first substrate and the second substrate are disposed opposite to each other. The cell unit is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first packaging film is disposed between the cell unit and the first substrate. The second packaging film is disposed between the cell unit and the second substrate. The first protective layer is disposed between the cell unit and the first packaging film. The second protective layer is disposed between the cell unit and the second packaging film. The support members are respectively disposed between the first packaging film and the second packaging film and surround at least two opposite sides of the cell unit.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for improved reconfigurable optical sensing are provided. For instance, an example optical sensing apparatus can include a photodetector array including a plurality of photodetectors. The optical sensing apparatus can include circuitry or one or more processing devices configured to receive one or more electrical signals representing an optical signal received by a first subset of the plurality of photodetectors; determine, based on the one or more electrical signals, a region of interest in the photodetector array for optical measurements; and deactivate, based on the region of interest, a second subset of the plurality of photodetectors of the photodetector array.

Abstract: An embodiment is a device including a first die and a substrate including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The device also includes an active device on the first surface of the substrate. The device also includes a first interconnect structure on the first surface of the substrate. The device also includes a through substrate via extending through the first interconnect structure and the substrate to the second surface of the substrate, the through substrate via being electrically coupled to metallization patterns in the first interconnect structure. The device also includes one or more material-filled trench structures extending from the second surface of the substrate into the substrate, the one or more material-filled trench structures being electrically isolated from the through substrate via.

Abstract: A computer-assisted needle insertion method is provided. The computer-assisted needle insertion method includes the following steps. A first machine learning model and a second machine learning model are obtained. A computed tomography image and a needle insertion path are obtained, a suggested needle insertion path is generated according to the first machine learning model, the computed tomography image, and the needle insertion path, and the needle is instructed to approach a needle insertion point on a skin of a target. The needle insertion point is located on the suggested needle insertion path. A breath signal of the target is obtained, and whether a future breath state of the target is normal is estimated according to the second machine learning model and the breath signal. A suggested needle insertion period is output according to the breath signal in response to determining that the future breath state is normal.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate has a top surface and includes a semiconductor element. Moreover, the semiconductor substrate has a fin structure formed thereon. The method also includes recessing the fin structure to form source/drain trenches, forming a first dielectric layer over the recessed fin structure in the source/drain trenches, implanting a dopant element into a portion of the fin structure beneath a bottom surface of the source/drain trenches to form an amorphous semiconductor layer, forming a second dielectric layer over the recessed fin structure in the source/drain trenches, annealing the semiconductor substrate, and removing the first and second dielectric layers. After the annealing and the removing steps, the method further includes further recessing the recessed fin structure to provide a top surface. Additionally, the method includes forming an epitaxial layer from and on the top surface.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes: forming a fin extending from a substrate; forming a first gate mask over the fin, the first gate mask having a first width; forming a second gate mask over the fin, the second gate mask having a second width, the second width being greater than the first width; depositing a first filling layer over the first gate mask and the second gate mask; depositing a second filling layer over the first filling layer; planarizing the second filling layer with a chemical mechanical polish (CMP) process, the CMP process being performed until the first filling layer is exposed; and planarizing the first filling layer and remaining portions of the second filling layer with an etch-back process, the etch-back process etching materials of the first filling layer, the second filling layer, the first gate mask, and the second gate mask at the same rate.

Abstract: An antenna comprises a first radiation part, a second radiation part, a feed part, and a ground part. The first radiation part comprises a first radiator. The second radiation part comprises a second radiator. A first side of the feed part bends upward to form the first radiator, which is a part of the first radiation part. A second side of the feed part bends upward to form the second radiator, which is a part of the second radiation part. The first side is arranged relative to the second side. A height difference between the first radiator and the second radiator in the first direction is within a preset range. The first direction is perpendicular to a plane where the feed part is located. A vehicle is also provided.

Abstract: A semiconductor package includes semiconductor bridge, first and second multilayered structures, first encapsulant, and a pair of semiconductor dies. Semiconductor dies of the pair include semiconductor substrate and conductive pads disposed at front surface of semiconductor substrate. Semiconductor bridge electrically interconnects the pair of semiconductor dies. First multilayered structure is disposed on rear surface of one semiconductor die. Second multilayered structure is disposed on rear surface of the other semiconductor die. First encapsulant laterally wraps first multilayered structure, second multilayered structure and the pair of semiconductor dies. Each one of first multilayered structure and second multilayered structure includes a top metal layer, a bottom metal layer, and an intermetallic layer. Each one of first multilayered structure and second multilayered structure has surface coplanar with surface of first encapsulant.

Abstract: A photonic assembly includes a composite die. The composite die includes: a photonic integrated circuits (PIC) die including waveguides and photonic devices therein; an electronic integrated circuits (EIC) die including semiconductor devices therein; and an embedded optical connector die contacting a top surface of the PIC die and laterally spaced from the EIC die.

Abstract: The invention introduces an apparatus for detecting errors during data encryption. The apparatus includes a key generation circuitry and a key-error detection circuitry. The key generation circuitry is arranged operably to realize a key expansion operation for generating multiple round keys based on a root key in an encryption algorithm, where the encryption algorithm encodes plaintext or an intermediate encryption result with one round key in a corresponding round. The error detection circuitry is arranged operably to: calculate redundant data corresponding to each round key; and output an error signal to a processing unit when finding that any round key does not match corresponding redundant data at a check point during the key expansion operation.

Abstract: A method includes forming a device die including forming integrated circuits on a semiconductor substrate; and forming a thermally conductive pillar extending into the semiconductor substrate. A cooling medium is attached over and contacting the semiconductor substrate to form a package, wherein the cooling medium is thermally coupled to the thermally conductive pillar.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) device has a memory region in which a plurality of memory cells is implemented. Each of the memory cells has a first dimension in a first horizontal direction. The IC device includes an edge region bordering the memory cell region in the first horizontal direction. The edge region has a second dimension in the first horizontal direction. The second dimension is less than or equal to about 4 times the first dimension. The IC device is formed by revising a first IC layout to generate a second IC layout. The second IC layout is generated by shrinking a dimension of the edge region in the first horizontal direction.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, the method includes bonding a first die and a second die to a first side of a wafer, wherein after bonding the first die and the second die to the first side of the wafer, a gap is disposed between the first die and the second die, wherein a first portion of the gap has a first width that is larger than a second width of a second portion of the gap, depositing a third dielectric layer on top surfaces and sidewalls of the first die and the second die, as well as on a bottom surface within the gap, forming a molding material over the third dielectric layer to fill the gap, and performing a planarization process to expose top surfaces of the first die and the second die.

Abstract: Source/drain silicide that improves performance and methods for fabricating such are disclosed herein. An exemplary device includes a first channel layer disposed over a substrate, a second channel layer disposed over the first channel layer, and a gate stack that surrounds the first channel layer and the second channel layer. A source/drain feature disposed adjacent the first channel layer, second channel layer, and gate stack. The source/drain feature is disposed over first facets of the first channel layer and second facets of the second channel layer. The first facets and the second facets have a (111) crystallographic orientation. An inner spacer disposed between the gate stack and the source/drain feature and between the first channel layer and the second channel layer. A silicide feature is disposed over the source/drain feature where the silicide feature extends into the source/drain feature towards the substrate to a depth of the first channel layer.