Abstract: Methods and devices including an air gap adjacent a contact element extending to a source/drain feature of a device are described. Some embodiments of the method include depositing a dummy layer, which is subsequently removed to form the air gap. The dummy layer and subsequent air gap may be formed after a SAC dielectric layer such as silicon nitride is formed over an adjacent metal gate structure.

Abstract: Epitaxial source/drain structures for enhancing performance of multigate devices, such as fin-like field-effect transistors (FETs) or gate-all-around (GAA) FETs, and methods of fabricating the epitaxial source/drain structures, are disclosed herein. An exemplary device includes a dielectric substrate. The device further includes a channel layer, a gate disposed over the channel layer, and an epitaxial source/drain structure disposed adjacent to the channel layer. The channel layer, the gate, and the epitaxial source/drain structure are disposed over the dielectric substrate. The epitaxial source/drain structure includes an inner portion having a first dopant concentration and an outer portion having a second dopant concentration that is less than the first dopant concentration. The inner portion physically contacts the dielectric substrate, and the outer portion is disposed between the inner portion and the channel layer. In some embodiments, the outer portion physically contacts the dielectric substrate.

Abstract: Described is a shoe, in particular an athletic shoe. The shoe can include a sole and a shoe upper. The shoe upper can include (a.) a lateral portion; (b.) a medial portion; and (c.) intermediate portion between the lateral portion and the medial portion. The intermediate portion can include a cupped portion uncoated by a first coating portion on the lateral portion and a second coating portion on the medial portion. When the shoe upper is separate from the sole at least a majority of the cupped portion may be cupped above surrounding areas of the shoe upper.

Abstract: Described is a shoe, in particular an athletic shoe. The shoe can include a sole and a shoe upper. The shoe upper can include (a.) a lateral portion; (b.) a medial portion; and (c.) intermediate portion between the lateral portion and the medial portion. The intermediate portion can include a cupped portion uncoated by a first coating portion on the lateral portion and a second coating portion on the medial portion. When the shoe upper is separate from the sole at least a majority of the cupped portion may be cupped above surrounding areas of the shoe upper.

Abstract: Described is a shoe, in particular an athletic shoe. The shoe can include a sole and a shoe upper. The shoe upper can include (a.) a lateral portion; (b.) a medial portion; and (c.) intermediate portion between the lateral portion and the medial portion. The intermediate portion can include a cupped portion uncoated by a first coating portion on the lateral portion and a second coating portion on the medial portion. When the shoe upper is separate from the sole at least a majority of the cupped portion may be cupped above surrounding areas of the shoe upper.

Abstract: Described is a shoe upper for a shoe, in particular an athletic shoe, wherein the shoe upper is laceless and comprises: (a.) a lateral portion; (b.) a medial portion; and (c.) at least an elastic intermediate portion between the lateral portion and the medial portion, wherein the stiffness of at least one of the lateral portion and the medial portion is at least 2 times higher than the stiffness of the elastic intermediate portion.

Abstract: Described is a shoe upper for a shoe, in particular an athletic shoe, wherein the shoe upper is laceless and comprises: (a.) a lateral portion; (b.) a medial portion; and (c.) at least an elastic intermediate portion between the lateral portion and the medial portion, wherein the stiffness of at least one of the lateral portion and the medial portion is at least 2 times higher than the stiffness of the elastic intermediate portion.

Abstract: A method includes: (a.) providing a fabric comprising a first surface and a second surface; (b.) placing the fabric on a support structure adapted to permit gas circulation through at least a portion of a surface of the support structure, wherein the fabric is placed such that the first surface of the fabric faces the surface of the support structure and such that the fabric is arranged at least in part over a raised or embossed portion of the support structure; (c.) providing at least one coating comprising a first coating surface and a second coating surface opposite the first coating surface; (d.) placing the coating at least partially on the second surface of the fabric, such that the first coating surface faces the fabric; and (e.) applying a gas pressure differential between the second coating surface and the first surface of the fabric.

Abstract: Described is a shoe upper for a shoe, in particular an athletic shoe, wherein the shoe upper is laceless and comprises: (a.) a lateral portion; (b.) a medial portion; and (c.) at least an elastic intermediate portion between the lateral portion and the medial portion, wherein the stiffness of at least one of the lateral portion and the medial portion is at least 2 times higher than the stiffness of the elastic intermediate portion.

Abstract: Described is a shoe upper for a shoe, in particular an athletic shoe, wherein the shoe upper is laceless and comprises: (a.) a lateral portion; (b.) a medial portion; and (c.) at least an elastic intermediate portion between the lateral portion and the medial portion, wherein the stiffness of at least one of the lateral portion and the medial portion is at least 2 times higher than the stiffness of the elastic intermediate portion.

Abstract: Described is a shoe upper for a shoe, in particular an athletic shoe, wherein the shoe upper is laceless and comprises: (a.) a lateral portion; (b.) a medial portion; and (c.) at least an elastic intermediate portion between the lateral portion and the medial portion, wherein the stiffness of at least one of the lateral portion and the medial portion is at least 2 times higher than the stiffness of the elastic intermediate portion.

Abstract: Provided is a method for applying a virtual person and for use with a portable electronic device connected to a cloud server via a communication chain, wherein the cloud server executes a virtual person artificial intelligence simulation program. The portable electronic device displays a virtual person and detects and collects a user's biological feature signals and use status signals by a plurality of sensors of the portable electronic device, and then sends the signals to the cloud server. The virtual person artificial intelligence simulation program processes the signals and then outputs a plurality of response signals in response to the signals. The portable electronic device outputs and displays a plurality of animation frames and/or sounds which are performed by the virtual person and/or outputs vibrations in response to the response signals.

Abstract: A method of photo/text separation, which includes converting a document image into a plurality of source color planes, setting a source color consecutive point threshold (Tc), performing an intensity/color operation for each of the source color planes, and assigning photo/text types to the document image according to a connected length density threshold (Td) and a result of the intensity/color operation.

Abstract: A method of separating text and graphs in digital image data is used to separate digital image data into graph data and text data. According to a default separating parameter, the digital image data are partitioned into several operating matrices. One then sets a default crossing reference level for comparison analyses to compare adjacent pixel units in each operating matrix. When the digital characteristic value of a pixel unit is greater than the default crossing reference level and the digital characteristic value of its one adjacent pixel unit are smaller the default crossing reference level, the operating matrix is given a weight. Afterwards, all the weights are added up to give a weighted statistical value, which eventually is used to separate the graph data from the text data.

Abstract: A system for determining the return of the photo sensor in the scanner and the method thereof are disclosed. There are two base position sensing units in the system. Each of the base position sensing units computes the currents in two sections of a line resistance material defined by the position of the photo sensor after a document is scanned to determine which base position sensing unit the photo sensor should return to. This method reduces the return time of the photo sensor than the prior art in which the photo sensor can only return to a single end. Therefore, the system helps achieving the goals of increasing the scanning efficiency and saving power. Moreover, the system realizes the image scanning in both directions.

Abstract: A method of separating text and graphs in digital image data is used to separate digital image data into graph data and text data. According to a default separating parameter, the digital image data are partitioned into several operating matrices. One then sets a default crossing reference level for comparison analyses to compare adjacent pixel units in each operating matrix. When the digital characteristic value of a pixel unit is greater than the default crossing reference level and the digital characteristic value of its one adjacent pixel unit are smaller the default crossing reference level, the operating matrix is given a weight. Afterwards, all the weights are added up to give a weighted statistical value, which eventually is used to separate the graph data from the text data.

Abstract: A system for determining the return of the photo sensor in the scanner and the method thereof are disclosed. There are two base position sensing units in the system. Each of the base position sensing units computes the currents in two sections of a line resistance material defined by the position of the photo sensor after a document is scanned to determine which base position sensing unit the photo sensor should return to. This method reduces the return time of the photo sensor than the prior art in which the photo sensor can only return to a single end. Therefore, the system helps achieving the goals of increasing the scanning efficiency and saving power. Moreover, the system realizes the image scanning in both directions.

Abstract: A method of photo/text separation in an image uses the specified color and intensity range of each source color in the spectrum to convert a document image into individual source color planes. The photo/text types in the document image are distinguished by performing a color/intensity operation on each source color plane.