Abstract: A minimum IC operating voltage searching method includes acquiring a corner type of an IC, acquiring ring oscillator data of the IC, generating a first prediction voltage according to the corner type and the ring oscillator data by using a training model, generating a second prediction voltage according to the ring oscillator data by using a non-linear regression approach under an N-ordered polynomial, and generating a predicted minimum IC operating voltage according to the first prediction voltage and the second prediction voltage. N is a positive integer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a logic region and a high-voltage (HV) region, a first gate structure on the HV region, a first epitaxial layer and a second epitaxial layer adjacent to one side of the first gate structure, a first fin-shaped structure between the first epitaxial layer and the substrate, and a first contact plug between the first epitaxial layer and the second epitaxial layer. Preferably, the first gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer, top surfaces of the gate dielectric layer and the first fin-shaped structure are coplanar, and a bottom surface of the first epitaxial layer is lower than a bottom surface of the first contact plug.

Abstract: A power control apparatus is disclosed. The power control apparatus includes a temperature sensor, a level-controlling unit, a reset unit and a first voltage converter. The temperature sensor is for sensing an operation temperature of a computer system and accordingly outputs a sensing signal. The level-controlling unit is for deciding whether or not to output a control voltage according to the sensing signal. The reset unit is for producing a reset signal according to a plurality of reference voltages generated by dividing the power voltage and using the control voltage to adjust the levels of the reference voltages. The first voltage converter is for producing a start signal according to the reset signal, wherein the start signal is for enabling the embedded controller.

Abstract: An audio playing circuit for a computer is disclosed, which comprises: an audio source input to connect with an external audio apparatus; an audio decoder coupled to the audio source input, to decode an audio source signal from the same; an input/output controller, coupled to the audio source input; a selector, coupled to the audio source input, audio decoder and input/output controller, to select an audio signal according to an ON/OFF state of the computer; an audio amplifier coupled to the selector, to amplify the audio signal form the selector; and a speaker coupled to the audio amplifier, to voice the signal from the audio amplifier. According to the present invention, when the computer is in OFF state, the input/output controller activates the selector to select the audio signal directly from the audio source input to the audio amplifier, without been audio decoded.

Abstract: A power control apparatus is disclosed. The power control apparatus includes a temperature sensor, a first voltage converter, an over-temperature protection, a reset unit and a second voltage converter. The temperature sensor is for sensing a measured temperature to output a sensing signal. The first voltage converter converts the power voltage of a computer system into a first voltage. The over-temperature protection unit receives the first voltage and decides whether or not outputting the first voltage according to the sensing signal. When the reset unit has received the first voltage from the over-temperature protection unit, the reset unit decides whether or not to produce a reset signal according to the level of the power voltage. The second voltage converter is for producing a start signal to enable the embedded controller according to the reset signal.

Abstract: A power control apparatus is disclosed. The power control apparatus includes a temperature sensor, a level-controlling unit, a reset unit and a first voltage converter. The temperature sensor is for sensing an operation temperature of a computer system and accordingly outputs a sensing signal. The level-controlling unit is for deciding whether or not to output a control voltage according to the sensing signal. The reset unit is for producing a reset signal according to a plurality of reference voltages generated by dividing the power voltage and using the control voltage to adjust the levels of the reference voltages. The first voltage converter is for producing a start signal according to the reset signal, wherein the start signal is for enabling the embedded controller.

Abstract: A power control apparatus is disclosed. The power control apparatus includes a temperature sensor, a first voltage converter, an over-temperature protection, a reset unit and a second voltage converter. The temperature sensor is for sensing a measured temperature to output a sensing signal. The first voltage converter converts the power voltage of a computer system into a first voltage. The over-temperature protection unit receives the first voltage and decides whether or not outputting the first voltage according to the sensing signal. When the reset unit has received the first voltage from the over-temperature protection unit, the reset unit decides whether or not to produce a reset signal according to the level of the power voltage. The second voltage converter is for producing a start signal to enable the embedded controller according to the reset signal.