Abstract: A memory device is provided. The memory device includes a stacked structure, a tubular element, a conductive pillar and memory cells. The tubular element includes a dummy channel layer and penetrates the stacked structure. The conductive pillar is enclosed by the tubular element and extending beyond a bottom surface of the dummy channel layer. The memory cells are in the stacked structure and electrically connected to the conductive pillar.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for calculating heart rate are disclosed herein. The apparatus can include a processor configured to calculate heart rate information. The processor includes a heart rate calculator including a memory configured to store a PPG signal and a calculation element coupled to the memory and configured to calculate a heart rate value and generate at least one quality checking factor according to the PPG signal. The processor also includes a checking element configured to determine a validity indicator according to the at least one quality checking factor, a memory control element coupled to the memory and configured to access the memory to transmit the PPG signal, and a multiplexer configured to output the PPG signal accessed by the memory control element or the heart rate value calculated by the calculation element according to the validity indicator.

Abstract: A power system including a first battery pack, a second battery pack, and a power management circuit is disclosed. The first battery pack has a first end and a second end, and has a first battery capacity. The second battery pack has a third end and a fourth end. The third end is coupled to the second end of the first battery pack and provides a low battery voltage. The fourth end is grounded, the second battery pack has a second battery capacity, and the second battery capacity is greater than the first battery capacity. The power management circuit is coupled to the second battery pack to receive the low battery voltage, and provides a component operating voltage to an electronic components based on the low battery voltage.

Abstract: An optical detector module can be used to implement proximity sensing function by detecting ambient light outside of the optical detector module in accordance with a first detection threshold. An optical detector module can be further used to implement other active functions such as material detection (e.g., skin) or depth-sensing by emitting one or more optical signals (e.g., light pulses at a specific wavelength) and detecting the reflected optical signals relative to a second and/or third detection threshold. The disclosure provides technical solutions for actively monitoring detection threshold(s) of an optical detector module to achieve better power management. In some embodiments, such solutions are useful for photodetectors having a wide sensing bandwidth, such as a photodetector formed in germanium or a photodetector comprising an absorption region comprising germanium.

Abstract: Some implementations described herein provide techniques and apparatuses for a stacked semiconductor die package. The stacked semiconductor die package may include an upper semiconductor die package above a lower semiconductor die package. The stacked semiconductor die package includes one or more rows of pad structures located within a footprint of a semiconductor die of the lower semiconductor die package. The one or more rows of pad structures may be used to mount the upper semiconductor die package above the lower semiconductor die package. Relative to another stacked semiconductor die package including a row of dummy connection structures adjacent to the semiconductor die that may be used to mount the upper semiconductor die package, a size of the stacked semiconductor die package may be reduced.

Abstract: A memory device includes a first stack structure including first gate layers and first insulating layers alternately stacked with each other. A first channel pillar extends through the first stack structure. A second stack structure is located on the first stack structure and includes second gate layers and second insulating layers alternately stacked with each other. A second channel pillar extends through the second stack structure and is separated from the first channel pillar. A first conductive pillar and a second conductive pillar are located in and electrically connecting with the first channel pillar and the second channel pillar. A charge storage structure is located between the first gate layers and the first channel pillar, and between the second gate layers and the second channel pillar. The memory device may be applied to a 3D AND flash memory.

Abstract: A fan includes a hub and a plurality of fan blades. The hub has an axle center. The fan blades are disposed around the hub. Each of the fan blades has a bent portion, and the bent portions of the fan blades are extended along a surrounding direction surrounding the axle center. The hub is welded with the bent portion of each of the fan blades along the surrounding direction. As a result, the number of fan blades is maximized, the strength is simultaneously ensured to be enough, and the advantages of effectively enhancing the fan characteristics are achieved.

Abstract: An ORing FET control circuit and method are provided. The circuit includes an ORing FET, a comparator, first, second and third resistors, a first capacitor, a diode and a driving unit. The positive and negative input terminals of the comparator are electrically connected to the input and output voltages. The first resistor, the second resistor, the first capacitor, and the third resistor are electrically connected in series between a reference voltage and a ground terminal sequentially. The reference voltage is lower than a voltage at the positive input terminal. When the input voltage is lower than the output voltage, if a voltage across the ORing FET is larger than a threshold, the comparator outputs a driving signal at low level, and correspondingly the driving unit turns off the ORing FET. The threshold depends on resistances of the first and second resistors.

Abstract: A totem-pole PFC circuit and a control method thereof are provided. The circuit includes an AC power source, first and second bridge arms and a controller. The first bridge arm includes first and second switches electrically connected in series with a connection node electrically connected to a first terminal of the AC power source. The second bridge arm includes third and fourth switches electrically connected in series with a connection node electrically connected to a second terminal of the AC power source. When a potential at the first terminal is higher than a potential at the second terminal, the controller turns off the fourth switch if the L-phase voltage is lower than a first threshold voltage. When the potential at the first terminal is lower than the potential at the second terminal, the controller turns off the third switch if the L-phase voltage is higher than a second threshold voltage.

Abstract: An optical system includes a sensing assembly and a processing circuit. The sensing assembly is configured to sense light and output a sensing signal accordingly. The processing circuit is configured to analyze the sensing signal. The processing circuit is configured to output a main judgment signal to an external circuit according to the sensing signal.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a drift region, a dielectric film, and an anti-type doping layer. The drift region has a first type conductivity. The anti-type doping layer is located between the drift region and the dielectric film, and has a second type conductivity opposite to the first type conductivity so as to change a current path of a current in the drift region, to thereby prevent the current from being influenced by the dielectric film. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device and a method for reducing an influence of a dielectric film are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for multi-application optical sensing are provided. For example, an optical sensing apparatus can include a photodetector array, a first circuitry, and a second circuitry. The photodetector array includes a plurality of photodetectors, wherein a first subset of the plurality of photodetectors are configured as a first region for detecting a first optical signal, and a second subset of the plurality of photodetectors are configured as a second region for detecting a second optical signal. The first circuitry, coupled to the first region, is configured to perform a first function based on the first optical signal to output a first output result. The second circuitry, coupled to the second region, is configured to perform a second function based on the second optical signal to output a second output result.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for multi-application optical sensing are provided. For example, an optical sensing apparatus can include a photodetector array, a first circuitry, and a second circuitry. The photodetector array includes a plurality of photodetectors, wherein a first subset of the plurality of photodetectors are configured as a first region for detecting a first optical signal, and a second subset of the plurality of photodetectors are configured as a second region for detecting a second optical signal. The first circuitry, coupled to the first region, is configured to perform a first function based on the first optical signal to output a first output result. The second circuitry, coupled to the second region, is configured to perform a second function based on the second optical signal to output a second output result.

Abstract: A kinetic energy recovery system with flywheel includes a cascade flywheel doubly-fed electric machine and an electric motor. The cascade flywheel doubly-fed electric machine has a stator end coil, a rotor end coil and a flywheel. The flywheel can store kinetic energy by increasing speed or releasing kinetic energy by decreasing speed. A control circuit has an inverter, a rectifier and a DC bus connecting the inverter and the rectifier. The inverter supplies alternating current to the rotor end coil. The rectifier has an AC end connected to the stator end coil through an AC bus. The rectifier converts alternating current to direct current, so that the inverter can draw power from the DC bus. The electric motor has a phase coil connected to the AC bus. When the cascade flywheel double-fed electric machine decelerates, the system converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.

Abstract: An optical detector module can be used to implement proximity sensing function by detecting ambient light outside of the optical detector module in accordance with a first detection threshold. An optical detector module can be further used to implement other active functions such as material detection (e.g., skin) or depth-sensing by emitting one or more optical signals (e.g., light pulses at a specific wavelength) and detecting the reflected optical signals relative to a second and/or third detection threshold. The disclosure provides technical solutions for actively monitoring detection threshold(s) of an optical detector module to achieve better power management. In some embodiments, such solutions are useful for photodetectors having a wide sensing bandwidth, such as a photodetector formed in germanium or a photodetector comprising an absorption region comprising germanium.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for multi-application optical sensing are provided. For example, an optical sensing apparatus can include a photodetector array, a first circuitry, and a second circuitry. The photodetector array includes a plurality of photodetectors, wherein a first subset of the plurality of photodetectors are configured as a first region for detecting a first optical signal, and a second subset of the plurality of photodetectors are configured as a second region for detecting a second optical signal. The first circuitry, coupled to the first region, is configured to perform a first function based on the first optical signal to output a first output result. The second circuitry, coupled to the second region, is configured to perform a second function based on the second optical signal to output a second output result.

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: A hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation device is provided, which includes a processing circuit and a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal observation circuit. The PWM signal observation circuit includes an energy storage unit and the energy storage unit is coupled to the processing circuit. A signal source transmits a PWM signal to the processing circuit and the PWM signal observation circuit, and the energy storage unit is charged when the PWM signal is at high level. The processing circuit detects the voltage of the energy storage unit when detecting the falling edge of the PWM signal so as to calculate the duty cycle of the PWM signal.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for adjusting image display on an electronic display by predicting a temperature change of the electronic display due to heat-producing components near the display or due to changes in content. An electronic device may include an electronic display and processing circuitry. The electronic display may include pixels with behaviors that vary with temperature. As such, the processing circuitry may generate image data to send to the electronic display and adjust the image data or vary an operation of the electronic display based at least in part on a predicted temperature effect on at least part of the active area of the electronic display. The processing circuitry may determine the predicted temperature effect at least in part due to a first heat producing component or changes in content of the image data.

Abstract: A photo-detecting apparatus is provided. The photo-detecting apparatus includes a carrier conducting layer having a first surface; an absorption region is doped with a first dopant having a first conductivity type and a first peak doping concentration, wherein the carrier conducting layer is doped with a second dopant having a second conductivity type and a second peak doping concentration, wherein the carrier conducting layer comprises a material different from a material of the absorption region, wherein the carrier conducting layer is in contact with the absorption region to form at least one heterointerface, wherein a ratio between the first peak doping concentration of the absorption region and the second peak doping concentration of the carrier conducting layer is equal to or greater than 10; and a first electrode and a second electrode both formed over the first surface of the carrier conducting layer.