Abstract: There is provided a thermostat system comprising a HVAC interface module for controlling an external HVAC system; at least one of a wide-area communication module for data communication with an external network and a local communication module for data communication over a home automation network; and a processor configured for: receiving selection of an in-use schedule dataset; receiving environmental control rules; and controlling the HVAC interface module based on the in-use schedule dataset and the environmental control rules. Methods for controlling a HVAC system are also provided.

Abstract: A Raman spectrometer includes a laser, a lens, a dichroscope, a confocal microscope, an optical system, a Fabri-Perot tunable filter and a silicon detector. The light emitted by the laser impinges on the dichroscope after passing through the lens. The dichroscope reflects the light, and the reflected light impinges on a sample through the confocal microscope. The light generates a Rayleigh scattering and a Raman scattering upon reaching the sample, scattered light generating the Rayleigh scattering and the scattered light generating the Raman scattering impinge on the dichroscope again after passing through the confocal microscope. The Raman scattered light transmitted by the dichroscope passes through the optical system and the Fabri-Perot tunable filter successively, and the light passing through the Fabri-Perot tunable filter is detected by the silicon detector to obtain a light signal. The Raman spectrometer has the advantages of small volume and low cost.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tire repairing plug, a kit comprising a plurality of such plugs with different dimensions and designs to fit different tires and different damages thereon, and a method of using the plug to repair a damaged tire in vehicles such as bicycles, motorcycles, cars, and trucks etc. The plug incudes a cap and an elongated body, and a middle portion of the body is bigger than any other portions of the body. The invention exhibits numerous technical merits such as simpler operation, higher effectiveness and improved reliability in repairing a damaged tire, among others.

Abstract: A tunneling transistor and a method of fabricating the same, the tunneling transistor includes a fin shaped structure, a source structure and a drain structure, and a gate structure. The fin shaped structure is disposed in a substrate, and the source structure and the drain structure are disposed the fin shaped structure, wherein an entirety of the source structure and an entirety of the drain structure being of complementary conductivity types with respect to one another and having different materials. A channel region is disposed in the fin shaped structure between the source structure and the drain structure and the gate structure is disposed on the channel region. That is, a hetero tunneling junction is vertically formed between the channel region and the source structure, and between the channel region and the drain structure in the fin shaped structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of forming the same, the semiconductor device includes a fin shaped structure, agate structure, an epitaxial layer, an interlayer dielectric layer, a first plug and a protection layer. The fin shaped structure is disposed on a substrate, and the gate structure is across the fin shaped structure. The epitaxial layer is disposed in the fin shaped structure, adjacent to the gate structure. The interlayer dielectric layer covers the substrate and the fin shaped structure. The first plug is formed in the interlayer dielectric layer, wherein the first plug is electrically connected to the epitaxial layer. The protection layer is disposed between the first plug and the gate structure.

Abstract: A method for fabricating semiconductor device is disclosed. A substrate having a first transistor on a first region, a second transistor on a second region, a trench isolation region, a resistor-forming region is provided. A first ILD layer covers the first region, the second region, and the resistor-forming region. A resistor material layer and a capping layer are formed over the first region, the second region, and the resistor-forming region. The capping layer and the resistor material layer are patterned to form a first hard mask pattern above the first and second regions and a second hard mask pattern above the resistor-forming region. The resistor material layer is isotropically etched. A second ILD layer is formed over the substrate. The second ILD layer and the first ILD layer are patterned with a mask and the first hard mask pattern to form a contact opening.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with reinforced gate spacers and a method of fabricating the same. The semiconductor device includes low-k dielectric gate spacers adjacent to a gate structure. A high-k dielectric material is disposed over an upper surface of the low-k dielectric gate spacers to prevent unnecessary contact between the gate structure and a self-aligned contact structure. The high-k dielectric material may be disposed, if desired, over an upper surface of the gate structure to provide additional isolation of the gate structure from the self-aligned contact structure.

Abstract: A road lamp control method is disclosed, comprising steps of determining whether a road lamp lighting condition is satisfied, and controlling the road lamp lighting time period. The method can control ON and OFF and the brightness of the road lamps in real time based on the real traffic flow at night, and thereby ensuring safety of pedestrians and vehicles and saving electrical energy.

Abstract: A road lamp control method is disclosed, comprising steps of determining whether a road lamp lighting condition is satisfied, and controlling the road lamp lighting time period. The method can control ON and OFF and the brightness of the road lamps in real time based on the real traffic flow at night, and thereby ensuring safety of pedestrians and vehicles and saving electrical energy.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming an opening, including: first, a hard mask material layer is formed on a target layer, next, a tri-layer hard mask is formed on the hard mask material layer, where the tri-layer hard mask includes an bottom organic layer (ODL), a middle silicon-containing hard mask bottom anti-reflection coating (SHB) layer and a top photoresist layer, and an etching process is then performed, to remove parts of the tri-layer hard mask, parts of the hard mask material layer and parts of the target layer in sequence, so as to form at least one opening in the target layer, where during the step for removing parts of the hard mask material layer, a lateral etching rate of the hard mask material layer is smaller than a lateral etching rate of the ODL.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same, the semiconductor device includes a fin shaped structure, a gate structure, an epitaxial layer, a germanium layer, an interlayer dielectric layer and a first plug. The fin shaped structure is disposed on a substrate. The gate structure is formed across the fin shaped structure. The epitaxial layer is disposed in the fin shaped structure adjacent to the gate structure. The germanium layer is disposed on the epitaxial layer. The interlayer dielectric layer covers the substrate and the fin shaped structure. The first plug is disposed in the interlayer dielectric layer to contact the germanium layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides exercise apparatus comprising a first handle, an elongated connector, an extension director, a second handle, a rod, and an elongated elastic member having a first end and a second end. The extension director is configured to direct the first end of the elongated elastic member to move to a first direction when the elastic member is stretched by pushing the first handle and the second handle closer to each other, and to a second direction when the elastic member is stretched by pulling the first handle and the second handle away from each other.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with reinforced gate spacers and a method of fabricating the same. The semiconductor device includes low-k dielectric gate spacers adjacent to a gate structure. A high-k dielectric material is disposed over an upper surface of the low-k dielectric gate spacers to prevent unnecessary contact between the gate structure and a self-aligned contact structure. The high-k dielectric material may be disposed, if desired, over an upper surface of the gate structure to provide additional isolation of the gate structure from the self-aligned contact structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of forming the same, the semiconductor device includes a fin shaped structure, agate structure, an epitaxial layer, an interlayer dielectric layer, a first plug and a protection layer. The fin shaped structure is disposed on a substrate, and the gate structure is across the fin shaped structure. The epitaxial layer is disposed in the fin shaped structure, adjacent to the gate structure. The interlayer dielectric layer covers the substrate and the fin shaped structure. The first plug is formed in the interlayer dielectric layer, wherein the first plug is electrically connected to the epitaxial layer. The protection layer is disposed between the first plug and the gate structure.

Abstract: A method for fabricating semiconductor device includes the steps of: providing a substrate having at least a gate structure thereon and an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer surrounding the gate structure, wherein the gate structure comprises a hard mask thereon; forming a dielectric layer on the gate structure and the ILD layer; removing part of the dielectric layer to expose the hard mask and the ILD layer; and performing a surface treatment to form a doped region in the hard mask and the ILD layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a gate structure on the substrate; an interlayer dielectric (ILD) around the gate structure; a first contact plug in the ILD layer; a second dielectric layer on the ILD layer; a second contact plug in the second dielectric layer and electrically connected to the first contact plug; and a spacer between the second contact plug and the second dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method for fabricating semiconductor device includes the steps of: providing a substrate having a gate structure thereon and an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer surrounding the gate structure; forming a sacrificial layer on the gate structure; forming a first contact plug in the sacrificial layer and the ILD layer; removing the sacrificial layer; and forming a first dielectric layer on the gate structure and the first contact plug.

Abstract: A method for fabricating semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a substrate; forming a first gate structure and a second gate structure on the substrate; forming a contact etch stop layer (CESL) on the first gate structure, the second gate structure, and the substrate; removing part of the CESL between the first gate structure and the second gate structure; and forming an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer on the CESL.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same, the semiconductor device includes a fin shaped structure, a gate structure, an epitaxial layer, a germanium layer, an interlayer dielectric layer and a first plug. The fin shaped structure is disposed on a substrate. The gate structure is formed across the fin shaped structure. The epitaxial layer is disposed in the fin shaped structure adjacent to the gate structure. The germanium layer is disposed on the epitaxial layer. The interlayer dielectric layer covers the substrate and the fin shaped structure. The first plug is disposed in the interlayer dielectric layer to contact the germanium layer.

Abstract: A method for fabricating semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a substrate having at least a gate structure thereon and an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer surrounding the gate structure, wherein the gate structure comprises a hard mask thereon; forming a dielectric layer on the gate structure and the ILD layer; removing part of the dielectric layer to expose the hard mask and the ILD layer; and performing a surface treatment to form a doped region in the hard mask and the ILD layer.