Abstract: Video processing methods and apparatuses implemented in a video encoding or decoding system with conditional secondary transform signaling. The video encoding system determines and applies a transform operation to residuals of a transform block to generate final transform coefficients, and adaptively signals a secondary transform index according to a position of a last significant coefficient in the transform block. A value of the secondary transform index is determined according to the transform operation.

Abstract: Video processing methods and apparatuses for coding a current block comprise receiving input data of a current block, partitioning the current block into multiple sub-blocks, deriving sub-block MVs for the current block according to a sub-block motion compensation coding tool, constraining the sub-block MVs to form constrained sub-block MVs, and encoding or decoding the current block using the constrained sub-block MVs, and applying motion compensation to the current block using the constrained sub-block MVs to encode or decode the current block. The sub-block MVs may be constrained according to a size, width, or height of the current block or a sub-block, an inter prediction direction of one of control point MVs of the current block, the current block, or current sub-block, the control point MVs, or a combination of the above.

Abstract: Method and apparatus of video coding are disclosed. According to one method, in the decoder side, a predefined Intra mode is assigned to a neighboring block adjacent to the current luma block when the neighboring block satisfies one or more conditions. An MPM (Most Probable Mode) list is derived based on information comprising at least one of neighboring Intra modes. A current Intra mode is derived utilizing the MPM list. The current luma block is decoded according to the current Intra mode According to another method, a predefined Intra mode is assigned to a neighboring block adjacent to the current luma block if the neighboring block is coded in BDPCM (Block-based Delta Pulse Code Modulation) mode, where the predefined Intra mode is set to horizontal mode or vertical mode depending on prediction direction used by the BDPCM mode.

Abstract: An excess heat-generating element is coupled to a heat sink through a heat conduction path. A thermal switch is mounted in the heat conduction path. A temperature-sensitive element is coupled to the heat conduction path on a same side of the thermal switch as the excess heat-generating element. A temperature monitor is mounted adjacent the temperature-sensitive element. A temperature controller has an input coupled to the temperature output of the temperature monitor and an output control line coupled to an input of the thermal switch. The temperature controller switches off the thermal switch, in response to detecting a temperature below a temperature threshold from the temperature output. When the thermal switch it off, it impedes heat flow from the excess heat-generating element to the heat sink, and the heat flow is redirected to increase heat flow from the excess heat-generating element to the heat-sensitive element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of video coding, where according to one method, input data related to a current block in a current picture are received at a video encoder side or compressed data comprising the current block are received at a video decoder side. A first syntax at a high level in a video bitstream regarding residual coding type is signaled at the encoder side or parsed at the decoder side. A target coding mode is determined for the current block based on information comprising a value of the first syntax. The current block is encoded at the encoder side or decoded at the decoder side according to the target coding mode. The high level may correspond to a slice header or a picture header.

Abstract: A semiconductor die package includes a high dielectric constant (high-k) dielectric layer over a device region of a first semiconductor die that is bonded with a second semiconductor die in a wafer on wafer (WoW) configuration. A through silicon via (TSV) structure may be formed through the device region. The high-k dielectric layer has an intrinsic negative charge polarity that provides a coupling voltage to modify the electric potential in the device region. In particular, the electron carriers in high-k dielectric layer attracts hole charge carriers in device region, which suppresses trap-assist tunnels that result from surface defects formed during etching of the recess for the TSV structure. Accordingly, the high-k dielectric layer described herein reduces the likelihood of (and/or the magnitude of) current leakage in semiconductor devices that are included in the device region of the first semiconductor die.

Abstract: Video processing methods and apparatuses implemented in a video encoding or decoding system with conditional secondary transform signaling. The video encoding system determines and applies a transform operation to residuals of one or more transform blocks to generate final transform coefficients, and skip signaling a secondary transform index if a position of a last significant coefficient in each considered transform block is less than or equal to a predefined position; otherwise, the video encoding system signals a secondary transform index according to the transform operation.

Abstract: A semiconductor die package is provided. The semiconductor die package includes a semiconductor die and a package substrate supporting and electrically connected to the semiconductor die. The semiconductor die has a corner. The package substrate includes several conductive lines, and one of the conductive lines under the corner of the semiconductor die includes a first line segment and a second line segment connected to the first line segment. The first line segment is linear and extends in a first direction. The second line segment is non-linear and has a varying extension direction.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for locking a digital asset. In one implementation, the system may include a first computer node that reads a private data store associated with the first computer node and/or reads a distributed ledger to confirm a digital asset is unlocked and can be transferred from the first computer node. The first computer node cryptographically signs and sends a proposed digital lock to a second computer node. When activated, the digital lock prevents transfer of the digital asset from the first computer node to another computer node that is not the second computer node. The first computer node also reads a distributed ledger to confirm the distributed ledger contains the digital lock in an activated state. The first computer node transfers the digital asset from the first computer node to the second computer node.

Abstract: A wafer transporting method includes following operations. A plurality of wafers are received in a semiconductor container attached to a mobile vehicle. An air processing system is coupled to a wall of the semiconductor container. The air processing system includes an inlet valve, an outlet valve, a pump between the inlet valve and the outlet valve, and a desiccant coupled to the pump. The semiconductor container is moved. The pump of the air processing system is turned on to extract air from inside the semiconductor container into the air processing system through the inlet valve. Humidity of the air is reduced when the air passes through the desiccant of the air processing system. The air is returned back to the semiconductor container through the outlet valve.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for video coding are disclosed. According to one method, First ALF (Adaptive Loop Filter) processing is applied to the reconstructed chroma samples for a target reconstructed chroma sample to generate a first filtered chroma sample. Second ALF processing is applied to the related reconstructed luma samples to generate a second filtered chroma sample for the target reconstructed chroma sample, where positions of the related reconstructed luma samples selected for the second ALF processing are determined according to the target chroma format. According to another method, the luma ALF and the cross-component ALF have the same filter coefficient precision.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for block partition are disclosed. If a cross-colour component prediction mode is allowed, the luma block and the chroma block are partitioned into one or more luma leaf blocks and chroma leaf blocks. If a cross-colour component prediction mode is allowed, whether to enable an LM (Linear Model) mode for a target chroma leaf block is determined based on a first split type applied to an ancestor chroma node of the target chroma leaf block and a second split type applied to a corresponding ancestor luma node. According to another method, after the luma block and the chroma block are partitioned using different partition tress, determine whether one or more exception conditions to allow an LM for a target chroma leaf block are satisfied when the chroma partition tree uses a different split type, a different partition direction, or both from the luma partition tree.

Abstract: A video codec receives data for a block of pixels to be encoded or decoded as a current block of a current picture of a video. The video codec signals or parses a first syntax element for a first coding mode in a particular set of two or more coding modes. Each of coding mode of the particular set of coding modes modifies a merge candidate or an inter-prediction that is generated based on the merge candidate. The video codec enables the first coding mode and disables one or more other coding modes in the particular set of coding modes. The disabled one or more coding modes in the particular set of coding modes are disabled without parsing syntax elements for the disabled coding modes. The video codec encodes or decodes the current block by using the enabled first coding mode and bypassing the disabled coding modes.

Abstract: A video system that applies constraints on block partitioning is provided. The system receives a partitioning control parameter from a bitstream specifying a maximum block size for enabling ternary-tree split that is constrained to be 64 or smaller. The system receives data from a bitstream for a block of pixels to be decoded as a current block of a current picture of a video. The system splits the current block into one or more partitions recursively, wherein ternary split is disallowed for a partition of the current block unless the partition is less than or equal to the maximum block size. The system reconstructs the one or more partitions of the current block.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for constrained de-blocking filter are disclosed. One method receives input data related to a current block in a current picture at a video encoder side or a video bitstream corresponding to compressed data including the current block in the current picture at a video decoder side, and determines a first boundary associated with the current block, wherein the first boundary corresponds to one vertical boundary or one horizontal boundary of the current block. The method then applies de-blocking process to a reconstructed current block corresponding to the current block to result in a filtered-reconstructed current block, using a plurality of first reference samples at a same side of the first boundary, and replaces a first set of the first reference samples by one or more padding values. The method then generates a filtered decoded picture including the filtered-reconstructed current block.

Abstract: An electrode structure for electronic muscle stimulation (EMS) includes a conductive fabric layer, a water retention fabric layer, and an insulation cover. The conductive fabric layer has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other. The water retention fabric layer is connected to the first surface of the conductive fabric layer, in which the EMS points of the electrode structure are consisted of the water retention fabric layer. The insulation cover is disposed on the first surface of the conductive fabric layer and surrounding the edges of the water retention fabric layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor package including one or more dam structures and the method of forming are provided. A semiconductor package may include an interposer, a semiconductor die bonded to a first side of the interposer, an encapsulant on the first side of the interposer encircling the semiconductor die, a substrate bonded to the a second side of the interposer, an underfill between the interposer and the substrate, and one or more of dam structures on the substrate. The one or more dam structures may be disposed adjacent respective corners of the interposer and may be in direct contact with the underfill. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the one or more of dam structures may be smaller than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the underfill.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of Inter prediction for video coding using Multi-hypothesis (MH) are disclosed. If an MH mode is used for the current block: at least one MH candidate is derived using reduced reference data by adjusting at least one coding-control setting; an Inter candidate list is generated, where the Inter candidate list comprises said at least one MH candidate; and current motion information associated with the current block is encoded using the Inter candidate list at the video encoder side or the current motion information associated with the current block is decoded at the video decoder side using the Merge candidate list. The coding control setting may correspond to prediction direction setting, filter tap setting, block size of reference block to be fetched, reference picture setting or motion limitation setting.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for Adaptive Loop Filter (ALF) processing of reconstructed video are disclosed. According to one implementation, a method receives reconstructed pixels of a current block and determines one or more clipping values for the ALF processing, wherein a target clipping value is always signaled at an encoder side or parsed at a decoder side even if the target clipping value is zero. The method then derives a current ALF output for the current block, wherein the current ALF output has a weighted sum of clipped differences and each of the original differences is calculated between a first reconstructed pixel at a non-center filter location and a center reconstructed pixel at a center filter location, and each of the original differences is clipped according to a corresponding clipping value to form one clipped difference. The method then provides filtered-reconstructed pixels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of encoding or decoding for a coding system, where bi-directional CU (coding unit) weighting (BCW) is enabled for the coding system to allow using multiple pairs of weights, are disclosed. According to this method, a Merge candidate list is generated for the current block, where current bi-directional CU weights for a bi-directional predictor of the current block associated with a target Merge candidate in the Merge candidate list are set to a pre-define pair of weights when the target Merge candidate corresponds to a selected Merge candidate. In another method, current bi-directional CU weights for a bi-directional predictor associated with a target Merge candidate in the Merge candidate list are inherited from the target Merge candidate when the target Merge candidate corresponds to a selected Merge candidate.