Abstract: A device includes a fin extending from a semiconductor substrate; a gate stack over the fin; a first spacer on a sidewall of the gate stack; a source/drain region in the fin adjacent the first spacer; an inter-layer dielectric layer (ILD) extending over the gate stack, the first spacer, and the source/drain region, the ILD having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the second portion of the ILD is closer to the gate stack than the first portion of the ILD; a contact plug extending through the ILD and contacting the source/drain region; a second spacer on a sidewall of the contact plug; and an air gap between the first spacer and the second spacer, wherein the first portion of the ILD extends across the air gap and physically contacts the second spacer, wherein the first portion of the ILD seals the air gap.

Abstract: A link down detector and a link down detecting method for Ethernet are provided. The link down detecting method includes the following steps. Firstly, a received signal is received, and a high-frequency band signal is extracted from the received signal. Consequently, the high-frequency band signal is formed as an extraction signal. Then, a high-frequency band power value of the extraction signal is calculated, and a full band power value of the received signal is calculated. Then, a ratio value of the high-frequency band power value to the full band power value is calculated. In a link up status, if the ratio value is changed dramatically in a specified time, a link down signal is asserted to indicate that a network device connected to the Ethernet is switched to a link down status.

Abstract: An encoding method is used for encoding an image. The image includes a plurality of blocks each having a plurality of pixels. The encoding method includes: encoding a plurality of data partitions of block data of a block in the image to generate a plurality of compressed bitstream segments, respectively; and combining the compressed bitstream segments to generate an output bitstream of the block. A bit group based interleaving process is involved in generating the output bitstream. According to the bit group based interleaving process, each of the compressed bitstream segments is divided into a plurality of bit groups each having at least one bit, and the output bitstream includes consecutive bit groups belonging to different compressed bitstream segments, respectively.

Abstract: A power source analysis method includes receiving a target number, performing voltage drop analysis on a plurality of power sources in a power delivery network (PDN) to determine respective supply currents of the power sources, sorting the supply currents of the power sources, and selecting a plurality of target power sources from the power sources according to a sorted result. The total number of the selected target power sources equals the target number.

Abstract: An encoding method is used for encoding an image. The image includes a plurality of blocks each having a plurality of pixels. The encoding method includes: encoding a plurality of data partitions of block data of a block in the image to generate a plurality of compressed bitstream segments, respectively; and combining the compressed bitstream segments to generate an output bitstream of the block. A bit group based interleaving process is involved in generating the output bitstream. According to the bit group based interleaving process, each of the compressed bitstream segments is divided into a plurality of bit groups each having at least one bit, and the output bitstream includes consecutive bit groups belonging to different compressed bitstream segments, respectively.

Abstract: A method of yield prejudgment and bump re-assignment for a die is provided. The die includes a plurality of areas. Each area is electrically connected to a substrate through a corresponding bump. The successful-connection probability of each area is prejudged. The die is divided into a signal region and a short-circuit region according to the successful-connection probabilities. The positions of the bumps are arranged so that signal bumps are disposed in the signal region and power bumps are disposed in the short region.

Abstract: A method of yield prejudgment and bump re-assignment for a die is provided. The die includes a plurality of areas. Each area is electrically connected to a substrate through a corresponding bump. The successful-connection probability of each area is prejudged. The die is divided into a signal region and a short-circuit region according to the successful-connection probabilities. The positions of the bumps are arranged so that signal bumps are disposed in the signal region and power bumps are disposed in the short region.

Abstract: A power source analysis method includes receiving a target number, performing voltage drop analysis on a plurality of power sources in a power delivery network (PDN) to determine respective supply currents of the power sources, sorting the supply currents of the power sources, and selecting a plurality of target power sources from the power sources according to a sorted result. The total number of the selected target power sources equals the target number.