Abstract: A metal interconnect structure can be fabricated within an integrated circuit (IC). A recess can be created in an IC dielectric layer and a surface modulation liner can be formed by depositing two different metallic elements onto the surfaces of the recess. One metallic element can have a standard electrode potential greater than a standard electrode potential of an interconnect metal, and the other metallic element can have a standard electrode potential less than the standard electrode potential of the interconnect metal. A metal interconnect structure can be formed by filling the remainder of the recess with interconnect metal, which is physically separated from the dielectric layer by the surface modulation liner. The surface topography of the metal interconnect structure can be modulated with a polishing process, by removing a top portion of the interconnect metal and a top portion of the surface modulation liner.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method and apparatus for verifying information. The method includes: acquiring a target combination of question and answer, the target combination of question and answer comprising a question and an answer to the question; sending the question in the target combination of question and answer to a terminal device; receiving to-be-confirmed voice information sent by the terminal device, and recognizing the to-be-confirmed voice information to generate a to-be-confirmed answer; and determining that the to-be-confirmed voice information is verified, if the to-be-confirmed answer matches the answer in the target combination of question and answer.

Abstract: A temperature measuring device includes at least one first distance sensing unit and a second distance sensing unit for outputting first and second distance sensing signals, respectively; a temperature sensing unit for outputting a temperature sensing signal; a display unit for displaying the temperature measurement value; and a micro processing unit for receiving the first and the second distance sensing signals, and then determining, according to the first and the second distance sensing signals, whether the display unit displays the temperature measurement value calculated according to the temperature sensing signal. As a result, the at least two distance sensing units are used to prevent the temperature measuring device from executing the temperature measurement when the sensing unit of the thermometer obliquely points to a to-be-sensed part of a to-be-measured target to cause a large measurement angle.

Abstract: A diagnostic Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) procedure is applied to measure values of impedance-related parameters for one or more sensing electrodes. The parameters may include real impedance, imaginary impedance, impedance magnitude, and/or phase angle. The measured values of the impedance-related parameters are then used in performing sensor diagnostics, calculating a highly-reliable fused sensor glucose value based on signals from a plurality of redundant sensing electrodes, calibrating sensors, detecting interferents within close proximity of one or more sensing electrodes, and testing surface area characteristics of electroplated electrodes. Advantageously, impedance-related parameters can be defined that are substantially glucose-independent over specific ranges of frequencies. An Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) enables implementation of the EIS-based diagnostics, fusion algorithms, and other processes based on measurement of EIS-based parameters.

Abstract: A method of producing a ceramic core for investment casting is provided. The method includes injecting a slurry into a disposable die. The slurry includes ceramic particles, a binder, and carbon fibers. The method also includes a first heating to eliminate the disposable die, leaving a cured ceramic core comprising the ceramic particles, binder, and carbon fibers.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a first microphone device, a speaker, a memory circuit, and a processor. The first microphone device is configured to generate first data based on a first sound. The memory circuit at least stores acoustic data. The processor is coupled to the first microphone device and the speaker. The processor generates second data based on the first data and the acoustic data. The speaker generates a second sound based on the second data. The acoustic data includes the frequency-response of human ear and sound-masking data.

Abstract: A system for performing single Gaussian skin detection is described herein. The system includes a memory and a processor. The memory is configured to receive image data. The processor is coupled to the memory. The processor is to generate a single Gaussian skin model based on a skin dominant region associated with the image data and a single Gaussian non-skin model based on a second region associated with the image data and to classify individual pixels associated with the image data via a discriminative skin likelihood function based on the single Gaussian skin model and the single Gaussian non-skin model to generate skin label data associated with the image data.

Abstract: Nanowire devices and fin devices are formed in a first region and a second region of a substrate. To form the devices, alternating layers of a first material and a second material are formed, inner spacers are formed adjacent to the layers of the first material, and then the layers of the first material are removed to form nanowires without removing the layers of the first material within the second region. Gate structures of gate dielectrics and gate electrodes are formed within the first region and the second region in order to form the nanowire devices in the first region and the fin devices in the second region.

Abstract: A multiplexer applied to a display device includes: a plurality of switching units, electrically coupled to a data driver and a plurality of pixel units, where the switching units are adapted to receive a plurality of input display data signals output by the data driver, and the switching units output a plurality of output display data signals to the electrically coupled pixel units, where each of the switching units includes a plurality of switch units, configuration locations of the switch units in each of the switching units are the same as, and some of the switch units configured at a same configuration location in the different switching units are electrically coupled to different control signal lines and have different wiring lengths, where the wiring lengths are distances between the switch units and the control signal lines.

Abstract: An omnidirectional image sensor and a method of manufacturing the omnidirectional image sensor are provided. An image sensor may include a plurality of photodiodes, and a spherical structure comprising a plurality of protrusions, wherein the plurality of photodiodes are disposed between the plurality of protrusions, and wherein the spherical structure comprises a plurality of spherical wedges.

Abstract: A blow-molded article having improved well-defined corners is provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose an audio file play control method, including: obtaining, by an audio play apparatus, identification information corresponding to an audio file; determining, by the audio play apparatus, a play probability of the audio file according to the identification information corresponding to the audio file; and playing, by the audio play apparatus, the audio file according to the play probability of the audio file. The embodiments of the present invention further provide an audio play apparatus. In the embodiments of the present invention, in a random play mode, a quantity of play times of the audio file is determined according to the identification information corresponding to the audio file, that is, according to a degree to which a user likes the audio file, with no need to play multiple audio files at an equal probability. This improves user experience and increases solution flexibility.

Abstract: An imaging lens system includes, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element and a sixth lens element. The first lens element with negative refractive power has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof. The second lens element with negative refractive power has an object-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof. The third lens element with positive refractive power has an image-side surface being convex in a paraxial region thereof. The fourth lens element has positive refractive power. The fifth lens element with negative refractive power has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof. The sixth lens element with positive refractive power has an object-side surface being convex in a paraxial region thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a sterilization and drying device. The sterilization and drying device includes: a body configured to be coupled to the inside of a sterilization target, and to suck and discharge internal air of the sterilization target; a silicon carbide honeycomb heater installed inside the body, and configured to sterilize, purify, dry, and heat the sucked air and discharge the sterilized, purified, dried, and heated air; an air circulation fan installed behind the silicon carbide honeycomb heater, and configured such that the internal air of the sterilization target is sucked, passed through the silicon carbide honeycomb heater, and then discharged; and a battery installed on one side of the air circulation fan, and configured to supply power to the silicon carbide honeycomb heater and the air circulation fan.

Abstract: A flat cable (100) includes plural wires (10), an insulative layer (20) enclosing the wires, a metal shielding layer (30) enclosing the insulative layer, and a jacket (40) enclosing the metal shielding layer. The wires include plural pairs of differential wires (11) for transmitting high speed signals. The pairs of differential wires are evenly arranged in two rows, and each pair of differential wires is axially symmetrically arranged in the up and down direction.

Abstract: Various embodiments include methods and apparatus structured to provide synchronization of a transaction identification between a host and a memory module using a parity check. A transaction identification can be generated at both the host and the memory module independently using incremental counters of these apparatus. Synchronization of the transaction identifications generated by the host and by a controller of the memory module can be implemented using a parity bit sequences pattern of a combination of the generated transaction identification plus the corresponding transaction command and data address. Use of transaction commands modified with respect to transaction identifications can be used in initialization of the synchronization, in message passing, and in error detection and response to errors. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods can be implemented in a variety of applications.

Abstract: A control method by an electronic device is provided. The control method includes monitoring current consumption for each of a plurality of components of the electronic device, predicting a first surface temperature of the electronic device and detecting a location where heat is generated, predicting a second surface temperature by analyzing power consumption of a component corresponding to the location where heat is generated, determining whether the predicted second surface temperature is greater than or equal to a predetermined temperature, setting a target temperature when the predicted second surface temperature is greater than or equal to the predetermined temperature, and controlling the component to reduce the power consumption.

Abstract: A diagnostic Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) procedure is applied to measure values of impedance-related parameters for one or more sensing electrodes. The parameters may include real impedance, imaginary impedance, impedance magnitude, and/or phase angle. The measured values of the impedance-related parameters are then used in performing sensor diagnostics, calculating a highly-reliable fused sensor glucose value based on signals from a plurality of redundant sensing electrodes, calibrating sensors, detecting interferents within close proximity of one or more sensing electrodes, and testing surface area characteristics of electroplated electrodes. Advantageously, impedance-related parameters can be defined that are substantially glucose-independent over specific ranges of frequencies. An Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) enables implementation of the EIS-based diagnostics, fusion algorithms, and other processes based on measurement of EIS-based parameters.

Abstract: A wireless power system may have a wireless power transmitting device and a wireless power receiving device. The wireless power receiving device may have a display that operates at a frame rate. The wireless power transmitting device may transmit wireless power signals to the wireless power receiving device at an initial frequency. In response to receiving the wireless power signals or in response to a request sent by the wireless power transmitting device, the wireless power receiving device transmits information on the frame rate to the wireless power transmitting device. The wireless power transmitting device uses the initial frequency and the frame rate in determining a safe frequency to use in transmitting wireless signals to avoid or at least reduce interference with the display. The wireless power transmitting device then adjusts the wireless power transmission frequency from the initial frequency to the safe frequency.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a plurality of channel layers stacked on the substrate, a gate electrode surrounding the plurality of channel layers, and embedded source/drain layers on opposing sides of the gate electrode. The embedded source/drain layers each have a first region and a second region on the first region. The second region has a plurality of layers having different compositions.