Abstract: A method is described including forming a first photoresist feature and a second photoresist feature on a semiconductor substrate. A chemical material coating is formed on the semiconductor substrate. The chemical material coating interposes the first and second photoresist features. The semiconductor substrate is then rinsed; the rinsing removes the chemical material coating from the semiconductor substrate. The chemical material may mix with a residue disposed on the substrate between the first and second photoresist features. Removing the chemical material coating from the substrate may also remove the residue.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and manufacturing methods thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a workpiece with a first region having a plurality of first features and a second region having a plurality of second features proximate the first region. The first region and the second region share a patterning overlap region disposed between the first region and the second region. The patterning overlap region includes a residue feature with an aspect ratio of about 4 or less.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a method for processing a workpiece. In the method, an anti-reflective coating layer is provided over the workpiece. A first patterned photoresist layer, which has a first photoresist tone, is provided over the anti-reflective coating layer. A second patterned photoresist layer, which has a second photoresist tone opposite the first photoresist tone, is provided over the first patterned photoresist layer. An opening extends through the first and second patterned photoresist layers to allow a treatment to be applied to the workpiece through the opening. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a method for processing a workpiece. In the method, a first photoresist layer is provided over the workpiece, wherein the first photoresist layer has a first photoresist tone. The first photoresist layer is patterned to provide a first opening exposing a first portion of the workpiece. A second photoresist layer is then provided over the patterned first photoresist layer, wherein the second photoresist layer has a second photoresist tone opposite the first photoresist tone. The second photoresist layer is then patterned to provide a second opening that at least partially overlaps the first opening to define a coincidentally exposed workpiece region. A treatment is then performed on the coincidentally exposed workpiece region. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A heart rate alarm system includes an article of clothing, at least two conductive units, at least one alarm device, a heart rate measurement unit, a first transmission unit, a second transmission unit, and an operation unit. The at least two conductive units are coupled to each other through at least one conductive fibric. The heart rate measurement unit measures a heart rate through the at least two conductive units, and generates a control signal and a heart rate value according to the heart rate. The first transmission unit transmits the control signal to the at least one alarm device and transmits the heart rate value. The at least one alarm device generates at least one alarm signal according to the control signal. The operation unit calculates a heart beat period, a heart physiological age, indicators of autonomic nervous system, and/or a calorie consumption indicator.

Abstract: A blood pressure measurement system includes an article of clothing, an occluding cuff, a blood pressure measurement unit, a first transmission module, and an operation module. The clothing includes tarpaulin. The occluding cuff is disposed at an inner side of the tarpaulin. The blood pressure measurement unit is disposed at the inner side of the tarpaulin for measuring blood pressure of a user to generate a blood pressure measurement result of the user, controlling a removable inflation module to inflate the occluding cuff, controlling a deflate valve to deflate the occluding cuff, and transmitting the blood pressure measurement result. The first transmission module is used for receiving the blood pressure measurement result. The operation module is coupled to the first transmission module for calculating diastolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, and/or pulses of the user according to the blood pressure measurement result.

Abstract: A current-leveling electrode for improving electroplating and electrochemical polishing uniformity in the electrochemical plating or electropolishing of metals on a substrate is disclosed. The current-leveling electrode includes a base electrode and at least one sub-electrode carried by the base electrode. The at least one sub-electrode has a width which is less than a width of the base electrode to impart a generally tapered, stepped or convex configuration to the current-leveling electrode.

Abstract: A chip sorting apparatus comprising a chip holder comprising a first surface and an second surface opposite to the first surface; a wafer comprising a first chip disposed on a first position of the first surface; a first chip receiver comprising a third surface and an fourth surface opposite to the third surface, wherein the third surface is opposite to the first surface; a pressurization device making the first chip and the third surface of the first chip receiver adhered to each other through pressuring the second surface at where corresponding to the first position; and a separator decreasing the adhesion between the first chip and the first surface.

Abstract: A current-leveling electrode for improving electroplating and electrochemical polishing uniformity in the electrochemical plating or electropolishing of metals on a substrate is disclosed. The current-leveling electrode includes a base electrode and at least one sub-electrode carried by the base electrode. The at least one sub-electrode has a width which is less than a width of the base electrode to impart a generally tapered, stepped or convex configuration to the current-leveling electrode.

Abstract: A current-leveling electrode for improving electroplating and electrochemical polishing uniformity in the electrochemical plating or electropolishing of metals on a substrate is disclosed. The current-leveling electrode includes a base electrode and at least one sub-electrode carried by the base electrode. The at least one sub-electrode has a width which is less than a width of the base electrode to impart a generally tapered, stepped or convex configuration to the current-leveling electrode.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus is disclosed in the invention. The illumination apparatus includes a cavity with a diffusion surface, a light source, a light-spreading device, and at least one optically-conditioning surface with a wavelike array formed thereon. The light-spreading device and the optically-conditioning surface spread the light generated by the light source. The light-spreading device includes a wing-shaped protrusion part, a light incident surface, a recess located away from the light incident surface, and an optically-conditioning surface including a wavelike array, wherein the wavelike array has a wavefront direction.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus is disclosed in the invention. The illumination apparatus includes a cavity with a diffusion surface, a light source, a light-spreading device, and at least one optically-conditioning surface with a wavelike array formed thereon. The light-spreading device and the optically-conditioning surface spread the light generated by the light source. The light-spreading device includes a wing-shaped protrusion part, a light incident surface, a recess located away from the light incident surface, and an optically-conditioning surface including a wavelike array, wherein the wavelike array has a wavefront direction.

Abstract: A backlight module including an independent light source is provided. The backlight module includes a light generation device, a light transmission device, a light mixing device and a planar light generation device. The light generation device may include one or more light emitting components. The light transmission device may be adopted for receiving and transmitting the light emitted by the light generation device. The light mixing device may be adopted for mixing the light emitted by the light transmission device to generate a mixed linear light. The planar light generation device may comprise a light distributing portion for receiving the mixed linear light to generate a planar light.

Abstract: An LVDS switch control device for a portable apparatus is disclosed, which has an LVDS transducer, which transforms the image information for the portable apparatus into LVDS signals; a buffer receiving the LVDS signals transmitted by the connection pedestal as the portable apparatus is assembled on the connection pedestal; a detector producing a correct assembling signal as the portable apparatus is correctly assembled on the connection pedestal; and an LVDS switcher having a first input end, a second input end and an output end, wherein the first input end connects with the detector. When the detector produces the correct assembling signal, the output end of the LVDS switcher will produce a signal that disables the LVDS transducer and enables the buffer so that the LVDS signals outputted by the connection pedestal will be transmitted to a display panel of the portable apparatus.

Abstract: A current-leveling electrode for improving electroplating and electrochemical polishing uniformity in the electrochemical plating or electropolishing of metals on a substrate is disclosed. The current-leveling electrode includes a base electrode and at least one sub-electrode carried by the base electrode. The at least one sub-electrode has a width which is less than a width of the base electrode to impart a generally tapered, stepped or convex configuration to the current-leveling electrode.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus is disclosed in the invention. The illumination apparatus includes a cavity with a diffusion surface, a light source, a light-spreading device, and at least one optically-conditioning surface with a wavelike array formed thereon. The light-spreading device and the optically-conditioning surface spread the light generated by the light source. The light-spreading device includes a wing-shaped protrusion part, a light incident surface, a recess located away from the light incident surface, and an optically-conditioning surface including a wavelike array, wherein the wavelike array has a wavefront direction.

Abstract: A backlight module including an independent light source is provided. The backlight module includes a light generation device, a light transmission device, a light mixing device and a planar light generation device. The light generation device may include one or more light emitting components. The light transmission device may be adopted for receiving and transmitting the light emitted by the light generation device. The light mixing device may be adopted for mixing the light emitted by the light transmission device to generate a mixed linear light. The planar light generation device may comprise a light distributing portion for receiving the mixed linear light to generate a planar light.

Abstract: A method for preventing the formation of voids and contaminants in vias during the fabrication of a metal interconnect structure such as a dual damascene structure is disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate; providing a dielectric layer having trench openings and via openings on the substrate, wherein the ratio of the sum of the areas of the trench openings to the sum of the areas of the via openings is between 1 and 300; wherein the via opening bottom has a width of less than about 25 ?m; and electroplating a metal in the trench openings and via openings. An interconnect structure having at least one void-free via is further disclosed.

Abstract: A portable electronic device capable of protecting a specific block of flash memory chips thereof is disclosed. It comprises at least one flash memory chip, a processor, and a programmable logic device. The flash memory chip stores a bootstrap, an embedded OS, and applications. The processor executes the bootstrap, the embedded OS, and the applications. The programmable logic device decodes address lines, write signals, and read signals of the processor so that when the processor is about to write data into the predetermined block of the flash memory chip, the programmable logic device neither generates a RDY# signal nor sends the RDY# signal to the processor for representing a write failure, and a write signal into the flash memory chip is masked so that the block of the flash memory chip is protected.

Abstract: An LVDS switch control device for a portable apparatus is disclosed, which has an LVDS transducer, which transforms the image information for the portable apparatus into LVDS signals; a buffer receiving the LVDS signals transmitted by the connection pedestal as the portable apparatus is assembled on the connection pedestal; a detector producing a correct assembling signal as the portable apparatus is correctly assembled on the connection pedestal; and an LVDS switcher having a first input end, a second input end and an output end, wherein the first input end connects with the detector. When the detector produces the correct assembling signal, the output end of the LVDS switcher will produce a signal that disables the LVDS transducer and enables the buffer so that the LVDS signals outputted by the connection pedestal will be transmitted to a display panel of the portable apparatus.