Abstract: A method of fabricating semiconductor devices is provided. The method includes forming an interfacial layer on a substrate, and depositing a gate dielectric layer on the interfacial layer. The method also includes treating the gate dielectric layer with a first post deposition annealing (PDA) process. The method further includes depositing a first capping layer on the gate dielectric layer, and treating the gate dielectric layer by performing a post metal annealing (PMA) process on the first capping layer. In addition, the method includes removing the first capping layer, and treating the gate dielectric layer with a second PDA process. The method also includes forming a gate electrode layer on the gate dielectric layer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a unique identifier of a second user from a mobile client system of a first user after the second user requests to communicate with the first user, identifying the second user based on the unique identifier, retrieving multiple items of profile information of the second user, determining whether the unique identifier is in a list of blocked identifiers, and sending to the first user a notification that a communication request form the second user has been declined if the unique identifier is in the list of blocked identifiers. The method also includes sending the first user multiple items of profile information of the second user if the unique identifier is in the list of blocked identifiers.

Abstract: A lighting controller comprises power circuitry, transmitter circuitry, a touch-sensitive panel, and processing circuitry. The power circuitry is configured to relay power from the lighting controller to a solid state lighting fixture wired to the lighting controller. The transmitter circuitry is configured to wirelessly exchange signals with the solid state lighting fixture. The touch-sensitive panel is configured to emit light and receive touch input from a user. The processing circuitry is electrically coupled to the power circuitry, the transmitter circuitry, and the touch-sensitive panel. The processing circuitry is configured to wirelessly control, via the transmitter circuitry, the attribute of light emitted by the solid state lighting fixture in accordance with the touch input received via the touch-sensitive panel and control the light emitted from the touch-sensitive panel to indicate the attribute as the attribute is wirelessly controlled.

Abstract: An infrared emitting fluoride phosphor and an infrared light emitting device are provided. The infrared emitting fluoride phosphor includes an activation center of Cr3+. The infrared light emitting device includes a light source and the infrared emitting fluoride phosphor. The light source is disposed to emit a first light, and the first light has a wavelength of 400-700 nm. The infrared emitting fluoride phosphor is configured to be excited by the first light to emit a first infrared ray. The first infrared ray has a wavelength of 650-1000 nm. The infrared light emitting device has a broad emission wavelength, such that it can be applied in variety of sensing device.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a source/drain feature disposed over a substrate. The source/drain feature includes a first nanowire, a second nanowire disposed over the first nanowire, a cladding layer disposed over the first nanowire and the second nanowire and a spacer layer extending from the first nanowire to the second nanowire. The device also includes a conductive feature disposed directly on the source/drain feature such that the conductive feature physically contacts the cladding layer and the spacer layer.

Abstract: A touch event processing method, comprising: virtualizing a standard HID pen apparatus and a touch apparatus in an operating system; intercepting touch information sent by a physical touch apparatus so that the touch information is not directly received by the operating system; classifying the touch information, and sending, by using different virtual apparatuses based on the classification, the touch information to the operating system for processing. A user can directly touch, write and erase in the software based on past experience and impressions, does not need to search a toolbar for a required functional icon, and even does not need to open the toolbar.

Abstract: System and method for protecting a power converter. An example system controller for protecting a power converter includes a signal generator, a comparator, and a modulation and drive component. The signal generator is configured to generate a threshold signal. The comparator is configured to receive the threshold signal and a current sensing signal and generate a comparison signal based on at least information associated with the threshold signal and the current sensing signal, the current sensing signal indicating a magnitude of a primary current flowing through a primary winding of a power converter. The modulation and drive component is coupled to the signal generator.

Abstract: This document describes a system and method for configuring a second wireless device to access a wireless network using a first wireless device whereby one-round key exchange protocol is adopted to share the wireless network's configuration data with the second wireless device in an efficient and secure manner.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns compositions and methods for identifying the SCN resistant phenotype in soybean. In some embodiments, the disclosure concerns methods for performing marker-assisted breeding and selection of plants carrying one or more determinants of SCN resistance in soybean.

Abstract: A server computer runs several remote mobile operating systems. A remote mobile app running on one of the remote mobile operating systems generates a user interface that includes an input field for receiving a credential. The user interface is displayed on a touchscreen of a mobile device that is in communication with the server computer. A touchscreen keyboard with an autofill button is displayed on the touchscreen. When a user of the mobile device clicks on the autofill button, the credential of the user is retrieved and sent from the mobile device to the server computer, where the credential is entered into the input field.

Abstract: Techniques for identifying rule violations in a network community are described herein. The disclosed techniques include receiving a report event from a first client computing device, wherein the report event is associated with content and a possible violation and the content comprises one or more comments relative to a plurality of video frames; identifying the content based on the possible violation; sending the content to a plurality of review users, wherein the content is presented and viewable via an interface by each review user; determining whether a voting instruction has been received from each review user during a predetermined period of time; recording a voting instruction from a first review user in a list of voting instructions in response to a determination that the voting instruction has been received during the predetermined period of time; and identifying the possible violation as a violation based on the list of voting instructions.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing a circuit board. The method for manufacturing the circuit board includes forming a patterned first dielectric layer on a substrate; forming an adhesive layer on the patterned first dielectric layer; forming a second dielectric layer on the adhesive layer; and patterning the second dielectric layer and the adhesive layer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for regulating a power converter. An example system controller includes: a driver configured to output a drive signal to a switch to affect a current flowing through an inductive winding of a power converter, the drive signal being associated with a switching period including an on-time period and an off-time period. The switch is closed in response to the drive signal during the on-time period. The switch is opened in response to the drive signal during the off-time period. A duty cycle is equal to a duration of the on-time period divided by a duration of the switching period. One minus the duty cycle is equal to a parameter. The system controller is configured to keep a multiplication product of the duty cycle, the parameter and the duration of the on-time period approximately constant.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable medium may store instructions that when executed by a processor direct the processor to perform a radio spectrum allocation method including processing requested radio access terms of one or more lower-tiered users and determining available radio access terms from one or more incumbents, generating a plurality of candidate radio access licenses based on the requested radio access terms and the available radio access terms, determining radio conditions of each of the plurality of candidate radio access licenses, and based on the determined radio conditions, selecting a radio access license from the plurality of candidate radio access licenses and directing the one or more lower-tiered users to use the selected radio access license or operated based on the selected radio access license.

Abstract: Various examples are provided for smart transportation and sensing systems. In one example, an apparatus for smart transportation sensing includes a reflector integrated in a contoured roadway unit configured to protect the reflector from damage by vehicles traveling along a transportation surface; and a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag integrated in the contoured roadway unit. In another example, a system for smart transportation includes a vehicle including a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader configured to interrogate RFID tags integrated in reflector units disposed along a transportation surface; and a processing system in communication with the RFID reader, the processing system configured to process data obtained from at least one of the RFID tags to determine vehicle location along the transportation surface.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media for power reduction in a wireless network are disclosed. An apparatus of a first access point is disclosed comprising processing circuitry configure to decode a first PPDU, the first PPDU including a trigger for control (TOC) frame, the TOC frame comprising resource allocations for deferral transmissions, the TOC frame including a first duration field indicating a duration of a transmission opportunity (TXOP). The processing circuitry may be further configured to respond to a determination that the TOC frame includes a resource allocation by encoding a second PPDU including a preamble portion and a media access control (MAC) portion including a receive with condition (ARC) frame, the ARC frame including a second duration field indicating a remaining duration of the TXOP, an address field indicating a MAC address of the first AP, and a condition field indicating a condition.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electronic device is disclosed, which includes the following steps: assembling a first mother substrate and a second mother substrate; disposing a first protection element on a surface of the first mother substrate away from the second mother substrate; disposing a first mother polarizer on the first protection element; and processing an assembly of the first mother substrate, the second mother substrate, the first protection element, and the first mother polarizer into a plurality of panels.

Abstract: An upper plasma-exclusion-zone ring for a bevel etcher is provided that is configured to etch a bevel edge of a substrate. The upper plasma-exclusion-zone ring includes a ring-shaped body and a radially-inner stepped surface. The ring-shaped body of the upper plasma-exclusion-zone ring defines an upper surface, a lower surface, a radially inner surface, and a radially outer surface. The radially-inner stepped surface of the upper plasma-exclusion-zone ring extends inwardly into the ring-shaped body between the radially inner surface of the ring-shaped body and the lower surface of the ring-shaped body. The ring-shaped body is made of a material selected from a group consisting of aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride, silicon, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, and yttria.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for multiple flexible circuit cable attachment is described herein. Gold bumps are bonded on interconnection pads of a substrate to create a columnar structure and solder or conductive epoxy is dispensed on the flexible cable circuit. The substrate and flexible cable circuit are aligned and pressed together using force or placement of a weight on either the substrate or flexible cable circuit. Appropriate heat is applied to reflow the solder or cure the epoxy. The solder wets to the substrate pads, assisted by the gold bumps, and have reduced bridging risk due to the columnar structure. A nonconductive underfill epoxy is applied to increase mechanical strength.

Abstract: A cell culture article includes a substrate having a polymer coating that is conducive to colony passaging of cells cultured on the coating. Example polymer coatings are formed from polygalacturonic acid (PGA), alginate, or combinations thereof. Cells cultured on the polymer coating can be separated from the substrate as a colony or layer of cells by exposing the polymer coating to (i) a chelating agent, (ii) a proteinase-free enzyme, or (iii) a chelating agent and a proteinase-free enzyme.