Abstract: A conductive line structure includes two conductive lines in a layout. The two cut lines are over at least a part of the two conductive lines in the layout. The cut lines designate cut sections of the two conductive lines and the cut lines are spaced from each other within a fabrication process limit. The two cut lines are connected in the layout. The two conductive lines are patterned over a substrate in a physical integrated circuit using the two connected parallel cut lines. The two conductive lines are electrically conductive.

Abstract: A method includes placing two conductive lines in a layout. Two cut lines are placed over at least a part of the two conductive lines in the layout. The cut lines designate cut sections of the two conductive lines and the cut lines are spaced from each other within a fabrication process limit. The two cut lines are connected in the layout. The two conductive lines are patterned over a substrate in a physical integrated circuit using the two connected parallel cut lines. The two conductive lines are electrically conductive.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices, methods of manufacture thereof, and methods of forming resistors are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first insulating material over a workpiece, and forming a conductive chemical compound material over the first insulating material. The conductive chemical compound material is patterned to form a resistor. A second insulating material is formed over the resistor, and the second insulating material is patterned. The patterned second insulating material is filled with a conductive material to form a first contact coupled to a first end of the resistor and to form a second contact coupled to a second end of the resistor.

Abstract: A described method includes providing a semiconductor substrate. A first gate structure is formed on the semiconductor substrate and a sacrificial gate structure formed adjacent the first gate structure. The sacrificial gate structure may be used to form a metal gate structure using a replacement gate methodology. A dielectric layer is formed overlying the first gate structure and the sacrificial gate structure. The dielectric layer has a first thickness above a top surface of the first gate structure and a second thickness, less than the first thickness, above a top surface of the sacrificial gate structure. (See, e.g., FIGS. 5, 15, 26). Thus, a subsequent planarization process of the dielectric layer may not contact the first gate structure.

Abstract: Provided is an integrated circuit (IC) testline layout. The layout has a device boundary and a main pattern boundary inside the device boundary. The layout includes at least one main pattern inside the main pattern boundary. The layout further includes a plurality of dummy patterns in a region that is between the main pattern boundary and the device boundary. The plurality of dummy patterns is printable in a photolithography process and is arranged in a ring with a uniform spacing between two adjacent dummy patterns.

Abstract: A device includes an active region in a semiconductor substrate, a gate strip over and crossing the active region, and a jog over the active region and connected to the gate strip to form a continuous region. The jog is on a side of the gate strip. A first contact plug is at a same level as the gate strip, wherein the first contact plug is on the side of the gate strip. A second contact plug is over the jog and the first contact plug. The second contact plug electrically interconnects the first contact plug and the jog.

Abstract: An electrode and an isolation layer of a touch device are the same color, so that a user of the touch device perceives a good visual effect without having to employ expensive optical adhesive and decorative films in the touch device. The front bezel design used in conventional touch devices can thus be abandoned. Further, simpler fabrication, higher yield rate, and lower cost are also achieved.

Abstract: A method for mask optimization, the method including moving any features of a gate contact mask that are in violation of a spacing rule to a second layer contact mask, splitting an elongated feature of the second layer mask that is too close to a feature moved to the second layer mask from the gate contact mask, and connecting two split features of a first layer contact mask, the split features corresponding to the elongated feature of the second layer mask.

Abstract: An electrode and an isolation layer of a touch device are the same color, so that a user of the touch device perceives a good visual effect without having to employ expensive optical adhesive and decorative films in the touch device. The front bezel design used in conventional touch devices can thus be abandoned. Further, simpler fabrication, higher yield rate, and lower cost are also achieved.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices, methods of manufacture thereof, and methods of forming resistors are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first insulating material over a workpiece, and forming a conductive chemical compound material over the first insulating material. The conductive chemical compound material is patterned to form a resistor. A second insulating material is formed over the resistor, and the second insulating material is patterned. The patterned second insulating material is filled with a conductive material to form a first contact coupled to a first end of the resistor and to form a second contact coupled to a second end of the resistor.

Abstract: A method includes placing two conductive lines in a layout. Two cut lines are placed over at least a part of the two conductive lines in the layout. The cut lines designate cut sections of the two conductive lines and the cut lines are spaced from each other within a fabrication process limit. The two cut lines are connected in the layout. The two conductive lines are patterned over a substrate in a physical integrated circuit using the two connected parallel cut lines. The two conductive lines are electrically conductive.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a first pixel, a second pixel and a driving circuit. The first pixel receives a first control signal and a first scan signal and a respective data signal in a first period according to the first scan signal. The second pixel receives the first control signal and a second scan signal in a second period and a respective data signal according to the second scan signal. The first and second periods are different to each other. The first and second pixels both include a light-emitting diode. The driving circuit is electrically coupled to the first and second pixels and provide the first and second scan signals and the first control signal, wherein the first control signal is used for determining whether to allow a current to flow through the respective light-emitting diodes or not. A driving method for a display apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A device includes an active region in a semiconductor substrate, a gate strip over and crossing the active region, and a jog over the active region and connected to the gate strip to form a continuous region. The jog is on a side of the gate strip. A first contact plug is at a same level as the gate strip, wherein the first contact plug is on the side of the gate strip. A second contact plug is over the jog and the first contact plug. The second contact plug electrically interconnects the first contact plug and the jog.

Abstract: An electrode and an isolation layer of a touch device are the same color, so that a user of the touch device perceives a good visual effect without having to employ expensive optical adhesive and decorative films in the touch device. The front bezel design used in conventional touch devices can thus be abandoned. Further, simpler fabrication, higher yield rate, and lower cost are also achieved.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices, methods of manufacture thereof, and methods of forming resistors are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first insulating material over a workpiece, and forming a conductive chemical compound material over the first insulating material. The conductive chemical compound material is patterned to form a resistor. A second insulating material is formed over the resistor, and the second insulating material is patterned. The patterned second insulating material is filled with a conductive material to form a first contact coupled to a first end of the resistor and to form a second contact coupled to a second end of the resistor.

Abstract: A device includes an active region in a semiconductor substrate, a gate strip over and crossing the active region, and a jog over the active region and connected to the gate strip to form a continuous region. The jog is on a side of the gate strip. A first contact plug is at a same level as the gate strip, wherein the first contact plug is on the side of the gate strip. A second contact plug is over the jog and the first contact plug. The second contact plug electrically interconnects the first contact plug and the jog.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices, methods of manufacture thereof, and methods of forming resistors are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first insulating material over a workpiece, and forming a conductive chemical compound material over the first insulating material. The conductive chemical compound material is patterned to form a resistor. A second insulating material is formed over the resistor, and the second insulating material is patterned. The patterned second insulating material is filled with a conductive material to form a first contact coupled to a first end of the resistor and to form a second contact coupled to a second end of the resistor.

Abstract: A method for controlling appliances includes a wearing step, a swinging step and a controlling step. The control device is attached to a movable part of a user's body and the user swings the movable part to generate and send a control signal to the appliance so as to activate and control the appliance. The method is also helpful for rehabilitation to disable people.

Abstract: A resistive touch device with no visual color difference comprises a first transparent conductive substrate, a second transparent conductive substrate and a spacer layer. The first transparent conductive substrate with a bottom thereof has a plurality of first transparent conductive electrodes, and a first voltage difference in a first direction. The second transparent conductive substrate with a top thereof has a plurality of second transparent conductive electrodes, and a second voltage difference in a second direction. The first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. The spacer layer is formed between the first and second transparent conductive substrates, which is used for isolating the first transparent conductive electrode and the second transparent conductive electrode.

Abstract: A described method includes providing a semiconductor substrate. A first gate structure is formed on the semiconductor substrate and a sacrificial gate structure formed adjacent the first gate structure. The sacrificial gate structure may be used to form a metal gate structure using a replacement gate methodology. A dielectric layer is formed overlying the first gate structure and the sacrificial gate structure. The dielectric layer has a first thickness above a top surface of the first gate structure and a second thickness, less than the first thickness, above a top surface of the sacrificial gate structure. (See, e.g., FIGS. 5, 15, 26). Thus, a subsequent planarization process of the dielectric layer may not contact the first gate structure.