Abstract: An arrow-shooting apparatus includes two limbs extending backward from a barrel. An upper pulley is connected to each of the limbs. Two lower pulleys and two wheels are supported on the barrel. Each of the wheels includes a rod, a primary-string stem and a secondary-string stem. A diameter of the rod is smaller than a diameter of the corresponding wheel. Each terminal section of a primary string extends around one of the wheels and is tied to the primary-string stem of the corresponding wheel. Each of two secondary strings is tied to the secondary-string stem of one of the wheels at an end and tied to the barrel at another end, and extends around the rod of one of the wheels, one of the lower pulleys, and one of the upper pulleys.

Abstract: A string-loading apparatus for a crossbow includes a reel, a crank, a locking rod, a pin and a handle. The reel includes a centric bore, an eccentric bore, and a fin extending around the centric bore. The crank includes an axial aperture and a cavity. The locking rod includes a radial protuberance. The locking rod is rotationally inserted in the axial aperture of the handle. The locking rod is insertable in the centric bore of the reel. The pin is insertable in the cavity of the crank and the eccentric bore of the reel. The handle is connected to the third section of the locking rod to allow operation of the handle to rotate the locking rod between a locking position where the protuberance is overlapped with the fin and an unlocking position where the protuberance is biased from the fin.

Abstract: A crossbow is provided with a silent crank-cocking device including a shaft extending through a positioning sleeve, reels, a housing, a bushing, covers, a shaft sleeve, limiting pieces and a clutch wrench. A crank is connected to an end of the shaft. The reels are connected to two ends of the shaft. The housing receives the bushing, which includes a hole and clutch slots. The covers are connected to both ends of the housing. Rollers are located in the clutch slots. The limiting pieces are arranged on two ends of the shaft sleeve. The clutch wrench includes a portion connected to the rollers in the housing and another portion extending from the housing.

Abstract: An angle-adjustable stirrup assembly includes a connector, a stirrup, and a locking element. The connector includes a plate connected to a crossbow, a sleeve formed on a face of the plate, and recesses in an external face of the sleeve. The stirrup is pivotally connected to the sleeve and includes a first section, a second section in parallel to the first section, a slot in the first section, and a tread formed on the second section. The locking element includes an end pivotally connected to the stirrup and another end formed with a boss for insertion in a selected one of the recesses via the slot to keep the stirrup in a selected one of several angles relative to the connector.

Abstract: A stock assembly of a crossbow includes a fore-end stock, a butt stock, and a lock. The fore-end stock includes a slot in a lateral face and a chamber in a rear face. The slot is in communication with the chamber. The butt stock includes an insert movably inserted in the chamber, a shoulder contact portion formed at an end of the insert out of the chamber, and recesses in a lateral face of the insert. The lock is pivotally connected to the fore-end stock and insertable in a selected one of the recesses through the slot.

Abstract: A crossbow includes a rail and an arrow retention device including a bridge, a supporting element, a rolling unit, and two springs. The bridge includes a first section connected to the rail and a second section extending over the rail. The supporting element is connected to the second section of the bridge. The supporting element includes a pocket intersecting a bore. The rolling unit includes a roller and an axle. The axle includes a middle section for supporting the roller and two lateral sections extending from the roller. The lateral sections of the axle are located in two portions of the bore divided by the pocket. The roller includes a portion located in the pocket and another portion extending from the pocket to contact an arrow. The roller includes a smooth periphery. Each of the springs is compressed between the bridge and one of the lateral sections of the axle.

Abstract: A crossbow-used trigger assembly includes a casing, a connector, a trigger, a safety element, and a shield. The casing includes a trigger pivot, a latch pivot, and a first groove in communication with a second groove. The safety element is movable in the first groove. The connector is movable in the second groove. The trigger is pivotally supported on the trigger pivot and includes a front end and a rear end pivotally connected to the connector. The latch is pivotally supported on the latch pivot. A spring biases the latch towards the front end of the trigger. Another spring biases the trigger to keep the connector from the first groove. The shield is pivotally supported on the trigger pivot and includes a protuberance extending beyond the front end of the trigger to abut against the latch.

Abstract: A crossbow includes a barrel, a tube, a threaded bolt, a riser, a mount, a cam and a handle. The tube is connected to the barrel. The threaded bolt includes a head and is engaged with the tube to provide a gap between the head and the tube. The mount extends from the riser, and includes an aperture for receiving the tube and a recess for receiving the tube and the threaded bolt so that the gap is located in the rear recess. The cam is movable in the recess and includes an extensive portion and a space for receiving the tube. The handle assembly is connected to the mount and the cam so that the handle assembly is operable to move the cam in the recess of the mount to insert the extensive portion of the cam in the gap to keep the connection mechanism in the aperture.

Abstract: A crossbow includes a barrel, a tube, a threaded bolt, a riser, a mount, a cam and a handle. The tube is connected to the barrel. The threaded bolt includes a head and is engaged with the tube to provide a gap between the head and the tube. The mount extends from the riser, and includes an aperture for receiving the tube and a recess for receiving the tube and the threaded bolt so that the gap is located in the rear recess. The cam is movable in the recess and includes an extensive portion and a space for receiving the tube. The handle assembly is pivotally connected to the mount and the cam so that the handle assembly is operable to move the cam in the recess of the mount to insert the extensive portion of the cam in the gap to keep the connection mechanism in the aperture.

Abstract: A crossbow includes a supporting unit, a bow, a string-pulling unit, a trigger unit, a sight and a security unit. The security unit includes a lock, a lock-biasing spring and a pusher. The sight includes an unlocking window. The lock is movable in the sight corresponding to the unlocking window between a locking position and an unlocking position. In the unlocking position, the lock prevents the trigger unit from pivoting. The lock-biasing spring is inserted in the sight and adapted for pivoting the lock to the locking position. The pusher is connected to the string-pulling unit and hence movable relative to the supporting between two positions through the unlocking window. In the first position, the pusher keeps the lock in the unlocking position. In the second position, the pusher allows the lock-biasing spring to move the lock to the locking position.

Abstract: A crossbow includes a barrel, a wing supported on a front portion of the barrel, a string connected to the wing at two ends, a rear sight supported on a rear portion of the barrel, and a string-pulling unit movably supported on the barrel and adapted for pulling the string backward on the barrel. The string-pulling unit includes two parallel shanks, a handle and a crossbar. The shanks are movable along two parallel lateral faces of the barrel. The handle is connected to the shanks near a rear end of each of the shanks. The crossbar is connected to the shanks near a front end of each of the shanks and adapted for keeping the shanks in position relative to each other. Moreover, the crossbar extends over the barrel. A front sight is formed on the crossbar and adapted for cooperation with the rear sight during aiming.

Abstract: A crossbow includes a supporting body, a hook unit, a bow and a triggering device. The supporting body includes an elongated portion and a butt detachably connected to the elongated portion. The hook unit is provided on the butt. The bow is provided on the supporting body. The triggering device is located in the elongated portion to control the bow. The triggering device includes a shell, a trigger unit located in the shell, and a security unit movable between a locking position and an unlocking position. The security unit abuts against the trigger unit in the locking position to restrain the trigger unit. The hook unit moves the security unit to the unlocking position when the butt is connected to the elongated portion. The security unit moves to the locking position when the butt is moved from the elongated portion.

Abstract: A crossbow includes an elongated body, a wing transversely provided on a front portion of the elongated body, a string connected to the wing at two ends, a trigger pivotally connected to the elongated body, and a pull turner assembly operable to pull the string. The pull turner assembly includes two pull turners, a crossbar and a lever. Each pull turner includes a front end and a rear end, and is moveable near and along a lateral face of the elongated body in parallel. The front ends of the pull turners pull the string while the pull turners are moved rearwards. The crossbar is connected to the front ends of the pull turners and movable along an upper face of the elongated body. The lever is connected to the rear ends of the pull turners and operable to move the pull turners to and fro along the elongated body.

Abstract: A method includes forming a plurality of image sensors on a front side of a semiconductor substrate, and forming a dielectric layer on a backside of the semiconductor substrate. The dielectric layer is over the semiconductor substrate. The dielectric layer is patterned into a plurality of grid-filling regions, wherein each of the plurality of grid-filling regions overlaps one of the plurality of image sensors. A metal layer is formed on top surfaces and sidewalls of the plurality of grid-filling regions. The metal layer is etched to remove horizontal portions of the metal layer, wherein vertical portions of the metal layer remain after the step of etching to form a metal grid. A transparent material is filled into grid openings of the metal grid.

Abstract: A method includes forming a plurality of image sensors on a front side of a semiconductor substrate, and forming a dielectric layer on a backside of the semiconductor substrate. The dielectric layer is over the semiconductor substrate. The dielectric layer is patterned into a plurality of grid-filling regions, wherein each of the plurality of grid-filling regions overlaps one of the plurality of image sensors. A metal layer is formed on top surfaces and sidewalls of the plurality of grid-filling regions. The metal layer is etched to remove horizontal portions of the metal layer, wherein vertical portions of the metal layer remain after the step of etching to form a metal grid. A transparent material is filled into grid openings of the metal grid.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; a tunneling layer on the semiconductor substrate; a source region adjacent the tunneling layer; and a floating gate on the tunneling layer. The floating gate comprises a first edge having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the lower portion is recessed from the upper portion. The semiconductor structure further includes a blocking layer on the floating gate, wherein the blocking layer has a first edge facing a same direction as the first edge of the floating gate.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; a tunneling layer on the semiconductor substrate; a source region adjacent the tunneling layer; and a floating gate on the tunneling layer. The floating gate comprises a first edge having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the lower portion is recessed from the upper portion. The semiconductor structure further includes a blocking layer on the floating gate, wherein the blocking layer has a first edge facing a same direction as the first edge of the floating gate.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; a tunneling layer on the semiconductor substrate; a source region adjacent the tunneling layer; and a floating gate on the tunneling layer. The floating gate comprises a first edge having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the lower portion is recessed from the upper portion. The semiconductor structure further includes a blocking layer on the floating gate, wherein the blocking layer has a first edge facing a same direction as the first edge of the floating gate.

Abstract: A trigger assembly has a housing, a trigger, a string holder, a bowstring catch biasing member, a safety pin, a safety lock, a pushing arm, a block, a block biasing member and a string stop. The housing has a mouth. The trigger has a trigger element and an actuating lever combined with the trigger element by dovetailed recess and protrusion. The bowstring catch has a string hook and a leg selectively engaging the hook on the actuating lever. The safety pin is moveably mounted in the housing and is supported on the actuating lever. The safety lock is moveably mounted in the housing and has a push rod. The pushing arm has a protrusion abutting the push rod. The block has a transverse rod selectively engaging the front end of the pushing arm. Accordingly, a trigger assembly with two safety features is provided.

Abstract: A bow for a crossbow includes a retainer, two holders, two limbs, two mounting members and two fastening members. The retainer has two inclined surfaces having a receiving recess. Each holder is mounted on one of the inclined surfaces and includes a base, a cover and a semicircular pivot. The semicircular pivot is mounted detachably on the outer end of the base and corresponds to and abuts with the receiving recess of the inclined surface. Each buffer is mounted between one of the limbs and the base of a corresponding holder for absorbing the force applied to the limb and reducing stress concentration to prolong the useful life of the limb.