Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate and a gate structure. The gate structure is disposed on the substrate, and the gate structure includes a titanium nitride barrier layer a titanium aluminide layer, and a middle layer. The titanium aluminide layer is disposed on the titanium nitride barrier layer, and the middle layer is disposed between the titanium aluminide layer and the titanium nitride barrier layer. The middle layer is directly connected with the titanium aluminide layer and the titanium nitride barrier layer, and the middle layer includes titanium and nitrogen. A concentration of nitrogen in the middle layer is gradually decreased in a vertical direction towards an interface between the middle layer and the titanium aluminide layer.

Abstract: Provided herein, among other aspects, are methods and apparatuses for analyzing particles in a sample. In some aspects, the particles can be analytes, cells, nucleic acids, or proteins and can be contacted with a tag, partitioned into aliquots, detected by a ranking device, and isolated. The methods and apparatuses provided herein may include a microfluidic chip. In some aspects, the methods and apparatuses may be used to quantify rare particles in a sample, such as cancer cells and other rare cells for disease diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment.

Abstract: A microfluidic device and a microfluidic chip are provided. The microfluidic device includes the microfluidic chip, a pouring element, a flow adjustment element and a processor. The microfluidic chip includes a sorting assembly, a sample outlet channel, a pouring channel, a collection channel and a waste channel. The sorting assembly includes a sample inlet channel and a sorting chamber. The pouring element is connected to the pouring channel. The flow adjustment element is connected to a distal end of the sample outlet channel. The processor is configured to control the pouring element to pour a guiding fluid into the pouring channel entering the sample outlet channel and control the flow adjustment element to adjust a flow resistance of a drain section of the sample outlet channel.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a fluid sample collection and retrieval apparatus including a microfluidic chip, a retrieval tube, a first switch, a second switch and a processor is provided. The microfluidic chip includes a first sample channel, a first fluid directing channel assembly, a first confluence chamber, a first collection channel, a first waste channel, and a retrieval hole. The retrieval hole passes through an outer surface of the microfluidic chip. The retrieval tube is connected to the retrieval hole. The first switch is connected to the microfluidic chip. The second switch is attached to the retrieval tube. The processor is configured to activate the first switch to operate the flow adjustment of the first fluid directing channel assembly and activate the second switch to operate a sample collection in the first collection channel within duration of operating the flow adjustment of the first fluid directing channel assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fluidic connector, to combine with a microfluidic chip cartridge, comprising: a base, having a plurality of through holes; and a plurality of soft tubes, penetrating the base via the through holes and fixed on the base, and having a Shore A hardness in a range of 50-99, wherein an end of the plurality of soft tubes is protruded from a first side of the base to form plurality of protrusion portions and each protrusion portion has a length in a range of 0.5-10 mm. The present invention also provides a microfluidic chip cartridge and a fluidic connector assembly.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a microfluidic chip including a first cells enrichment system and a second cells enrichment system is provided. Channel layouts of the first and the second cells enrichment systems are symmetric with respect to a reflection plane vertical to the microfluidic chip. Each of the first the second cells enrichment systems includes a first fluid channel, a second fluid channel, a sample channel, an inlet channel, and a filtration chamber. The sample channel of the first cells enrichment system has a first inner wall and a first outer wall. The sample channel of the second cells enrichment system has a second inner wall and a second outer wall. The first outer wall and the second outer wall are both far from the reflection plane. A distance between the first outer wall and the second outer wall is in the range from about 10 ?m to about 1 cm.

Abstract: Provided herein, among other aspects, are methods and apparatuses for analyzing particles in a sample. In some aspects, the particles can be analytes, cells, nucleic acids, or proteins and can be contacted with a tag, partitioned into aliquots, detected by a ranking device, and isolated. The methods and apparatuses provided herein may include a microfluidic chip. In some aspects, the methods and apparatuses may be used to quantify rare particles in a sample, such as cancer cells and other rare cells for disease diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a fluid sample collection and retrieval apparatus including a microfluidic chip, a retrieval tube, a first switch, a second switch and a processor is provided. The microfluidic chip includes a first sample channel, a first fluid directing channel assembly, a first confluence chamber, a first collection channel, a first waste channel, and a retrieval hole. The retrieval hole passes through an outer surface of the microfluidic chip. The retrieval tube is connected to the retrieval hole. The first switch is connected to the microfluidic chip. The second switch is attached to the retrieval tube. The processor is configured to activate the first switch to operate the flow adjustment of the first fluid directing channel assembly and activate the second switch to operate a sample collection in the first collection channel within duration of operating the flow adjustment of the first fluid directing channel assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fluidic connector, to combine with a microfluidic chip cartridge, comprising: a base, having a plurality of through holes; and a plurality of soft tubes, penetrating the base via the through holes and fixed on the base, and having a Shore A hardness in a range of 50-99, wherein an end of the plurality of soft tubes is protruded from a first side of the base to form plurality of protrusion portions and each protrusion portion has a length in a range of 0.5-10 mm. The present invention also provides a microfluidic chip cartridge and a fluidic connector assembly.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a microfluidic chip including a first cells enrichment system and a second cells enrichment system is provided. Channel layouts of the first and the second cells enrichment systems are symmetric with respect to a reflection plane vertical to the microfluidic chip. Each of the first the second cells enrichment systems includes a first fluid channel, a second fluid channel, a sample channel, an inlet channel, and a filtration chamber. The sample channel of the first cells enrichment system has a first inner wall and a first outer wall. The sample channel of the second cells enrichment system has a second inner wall and a second outer wall. The first outer wall and the second outer wall are both far from the reflection plane. A distance between the first outer wall and the second outer wall is in the range from about 10 ?m to about 1 cm.

Abstract: A method for notifying a legal status of a patent is disclosed. The method includes: setting notification parameters, the notification parameters including one or more patent numbers and/or patent application numbers and an assignee information; downloading a new legal status of patents in a database from the patent office website and updating the legal status of the patents in the database if the patent office website has issued new legal status of the patent; sending a message including the updated legal status to assignee according to the assignee information, if the updated legal status are of the one or more patents and/or patent applications.

Abstract: Terminals of a socket connector are directly positioned and are conducted electrically. No additional through-holes on a circuit board are required. Hence, the cost of the circuit board is reduced.

Abstract: A pulse transformer package includes a substrate, a passive component, and a cap member. The substrate includes a surface layer, a base layer, a middle wiring layer between the surface and base layers, a set of bonding pads formed on the surface layer, and a set of connecting pads formed on the base layer. The bonding pads and the connecting pads are connected electrically to the wiring layer. The passive component is connected electrically to the bonding pads on the substrate. The cap member is connected to the surface layer of the substrate, and cooperates with the surface layer to form a sealed space for the passive component.