Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a FEOL structure and a BEOL structure. The BEOL structure is formed over the FEOL structure and includes a conductive layer, an etching stop layer (ESL) structure, a through via and a barrier layer. The ESL structure is formed over the conductive layer and has a first recess and a lateral surface. The through via passes through the ESL structure to form the first recess and the lateral surface. The barrier layer covers the lateral surface and the first recess. The first recess is recessed with respect to the lateral surface, and the first recess has a first depth ranging between 1 nm and 7 nm.

Abstract: An electrode controls transmittance of a blocking layer over a photodiode of a pixel sensor (e.g., a photodiode of a small pixel detector) by changing oxidation of a metal material included in the blocking layer. By using the electrode to adjust transmittance of the blocking layer, pixel sensors for different uses and/or products may be produced using a single manufacturing process. As a result, power and processing resources are conserved that otherwise would have been expended in switching manufacturing processes. Additionally, production time is decreased (e.g., by eliminating downtime that would otherwise have been used to reconfigure fabrication machines.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a semiconductor structure includes at least the following steps. A memory device is formed in an interconnect structure over a substrate. Forming the memory device includes forming an alternating stack of dielectric material layers and conductive material layers, wherein the alternating stack includes a memory array region and a staircase region adjacent to the memory array region; forming a trench on the memory array region of the alternating stack; forming a data storage layer, channel layers, bit line pillars, and source line pillars in the trench; and performing patterning processes to from a staircase structure on the staircase region. The staircase structure steps downward from a first direction and makes a 180-degree turn to step downward in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: A device includes a substrate, and a first semiconductor channel over the substrate. The first semiconductor channel includes a first nanosheet of a first semiconductor material, a second nanosheet of a second semiconductor material in physical contact with a topside surface of the first nanosheet, and a third nanosheet of the second semiconductor material in physical contact with an underside surface of the first nanosheet. The first gate structure is over and laterally surrounding the first semiconductor channel, and in physical contact with the second nanosheet and the third nanosheet.

Abstract: A device includes a substrate, and a first semiconductor channel over the substrate. The first semiconductor channel includes a first nanosheet of a first semiconductor material, a second nanosheet of a second semiconductor material in physical contact with a topside surface of the first nanosheet, and a third nanosheet of the second semiconductor material in physical contact with an underside surface of the first nanosheet. The first gate structure is over and laterally surrounding the first semiconductor channel, and in physical contact with the second nanosheet and the third nanosheet.

Abstract: Multi-gate devices and methods for fabricating such are disclosed herein. An exemplary method includes forming a gate dielectric layer around first channel layers in a p-type gate region and around second channel layers in an n-type gate region. Sacrificial features are formed between the second channel layers in the n-type gate region. A p-type work function layer is formed over the gate dielectric layer in the p-type gate region and the n-type gate region. After removing the p-type work function layer from the n-type gate region, the sacrificial features are removed from between the second channel layers in the n-type gate region. An n-type work function layer is formed over the gate dielectric layer in the n-type gate region. A metal fill layer is formed over the p-type work function layer in the p-type gate region and the n-type work function layer in the n-type gate region.

Abstract: A secondary-side controller applied to a flyback power converter prevents a secondary side of the flyback power converter from conducting incorrectly. The secondary-side controller includes a first comparison circuit, a second comparison circuit, and a gate control signal generation circuit. The first comparison circuit generates a first comparison signal according to a drain voltage of a synchronous switch of the secondary side of the flyback power converter and a first parameter. The second comparison circuit generates a ready signal according to the first comparison signal and a resistance of an external resistor. The gate control signal generation circuit generates a gate control signal to the synchronous switch according the ready signal and the drain voltage, and the synchronous switch is turned on according to the gate control signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a Raman spectral signature of nitrate, as a biomarker for an early, real-time diagnosis of nitrogen status in growing plants in a non-invasive or non-destructive way in order to detect nitrogen deficiency before the onset of any visible symptoms. The early, real-time diagnosis of nitrogen deficiency in plants makes it possible to correct nitrogen deficiency for the avoidance of negative effects on the yield and biomass of growing plants or leafy vegetables.

Abstract: A system for navigating a virtual environment using seated walking-in-place footstep locomotion includes a virtual reality device, a first sensing device, and a second sensing device. The first sensing device senses the first footstep locomotion of one of feet of a user seated in a physical environment to generate and transmit a first stepping signal to the virtual reality device. The second sensing device senses the second footstep locomotion of another of the feet of the user seated in the physical environment to generate and transmit a second stepping signal to the virtual reality device. The virtual reality device navigates the virtual environment in a virtual locomotion mode based on a combination of the first stepping signal and the second stepping signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is the source active region.

Abstract: A structure has stacks of semiconductor layers over a substrate and adjacent a dielectric feature. A gate dielectric is formed wrapping around each layer and the dielectric feature. A first layer of first gate electrode material is deposited over the gate dielectric and the dielectric feature. The first layer on the dielectric feature is recessed to a first height below a top surface of the dielectric feature. A second layer of the first gate electrode material is deposited over the first layer. The first gate electrode material in a first region of the substrate is removed to expose a portion of the gate dielectric in the first region, while the first gate electrode material in a second region of the substrate is preserved. A second gate electrode material is deposited over the exposed portion of the gate dielectric and over a remaining portion of the first gate electrode material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a Raman spectral signature of nitrate, as a biomarker for an early, real-time diagnosis of nitrogen status in growing plants in a non-invasive or non-destructive way in order to detect nitrogen deficiency before the onset of any visible symptoms. The early, real-time diagnosis of nitrogen deficiency in plants makes it possible to correct nitrogen deficiency for the avoidance of negative effects on the yield and biomass of growing plants or leafy vegetables.

Abstract: Described herein are modular server systems. The server systems include a server chassis having one or more window bays each having the same dimensions. The system also includes a plurality of device trays each for holding a device that is selected from a plurality of different devices. Each device tray fits in the one or more window bays.

Abstract: A mobile electronic device includes a ground plane, a first slot, a plurality of first inductive elements, a first antenna, a second antenna, a first signal source, and a second signal source. The first slot is disposed in the ground plane to form a first ground portion and a second ground portion separated from each other. The first inductive elements are respectively connected to the first ground portion and the second ground portion. The first antenna and the second antenna respectively receive a radio-frequency signal in a predetermined band. The first signal source is electrically connected between the first antenna and the first ground portion and receives the radio-frequency signal from the first antenna. The second signal source is electrically connected between the second antenna and the second ground portion and receives the radio-frequency signal from the second antenna.

Abstract: A simulate segmentation method of cylinder and pie cake digital models utilizes a three-dimensional model and a reference point to cope with various shapes of the nuclear reactor structures. The segmentation simulation of the nuclear reactor structure is conducted with genetic algorithm. The segmentation simulation of the nuclear reactor structure is achieved by using the genetic algorithm to perform a double selection mechanism on the cross-sectional area of the nuclear reactor structure to select the optimal configuration of the segmentation, thus minimizing the cross-sectional areas of the nuclear reactor structure. The cutter segments the nuclear reactor structure based on the optimal configuration of the segmentation, thereby achieving the purpose of minimizing the attrition rate of a cutter and segmenting the nuclear reactor structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure illustrates a map creation system and a method for a movable robot. The map creation system includes a movable robot and a display device. The movable robot includes a robot body; a driving unit driving the robot body to move in a space; an image capturing unit capturing a image in the space; a sampling unit sampling in the space to obtain a sample; a control unit controlling the operation of the driving unit, the image capturing unit and the sampling unit; and a power supply unit supplying an electrical power to each unit. The display device displays the received image and marks a location in the space where the sample is obtained on the image, and synchronously displays a movement trace of the movable robot in the space according to the driving instructions of the driving unit.

Abstract: A simulate segmentation method of cylinder and pie cake digital models utilizes a three-dimensional model and a reference point to cope with various shapes of the nuclear reactor structures. The segmentation simulation of the nuclear reactor structure is conducted with genetic algorithm. The segmentation simulation of the nuclear reactor structure is achieved by using the genetic algorithm to perform a double selection mechanism on the cross-sectional area of the nuclear reactor structure to select the optimal configuration of the segmentation, thus minimizing the cross-sectional areas of the nuclear reactor structure. The cutter segments the nuclear reactor structure based on the optimal configuration of the segmentation, thereby achieving the purpose of minimizing the attrition rate of a cutter and segmenting the nuclear reactor structure.

Abstract: A packaging methodology for radioactive dismantled parts of nuclear facilities is provided. This methodology integrates voxelization and metaheuristic to discretize the irregular 3D shape of various dismantled parts and put them into the containers with greatest efficiency. To enumerate the possible locations and orientations of an irregular part effectively, the solid models of the dismantled parts are descripted to user-specified voxelization operations. Therefore, discretized parts and container yield a finite space of optimal solutions and make the evolution algorithm viable for optimization quest. This methodology improves the package efficiency of the radioactive dismantled parts to reduce the required quantity of the storage containers.

Abstract: A walk detection method for detecting a motion state of a user includes: measuring a number of triaxial components of gravitational acceleration vector of the device; calculating a triaxial angular velocity of the device; recording data inputs of the triaxial angular velocity, and recording the data inputs not larger than a filtered threshold as effective data inputs; calculating a mean of effective data inputs; calculating a difference value between the effective data inputs and a mean thereof; and determining that, when the difference value is smaller than a threshold of walking state, the user is in a walking state. Otherwise, the user is determined to be in a shaking state at the same location.

Abstract: The present disclosure illustrates a map creation system and a method for a movable robot. The map creation system includes a movable robot and a display device. The movable robot includes a robot body; a driving unit driving the robot body to move in a space; an image capturing unit capturing a image in the space; a sampling unit sampling in the space to obtain a sample; a control unit controlling the operation of the driving unit, the image capturing unit and the sampling unit; and a power supply unit supplying an electrical power to each unit. The display device displays the received image and marks a location in the space where the sample is obtained on the image, and synchronously displays a movement trace of the movable robot in the space according to the driving instructions of the driving unit.