Abstract: In some implementations, one or more semiconductor processing tools may form a via within a substrate of a semiconductor device. The one or more semiconductor processing tools may deposit a ruthenium-based liner within the via. The one or more semiconductor processing tools may deposit, after depositing the ruthenium-based liner, a copper plug within the via.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a direct-conversion transceiver with dc offset compensation, and method using the same. The transceiver mainly comprises an antenna, a first filter, a second filter, a third filter, a first variable gain amplifier with multi-stages, a second variable gain amplifier with multi-stages, a first analog-to-digital converter, a second analog-to-digital converter, a first dc offset loop, a second dc offset loop, a first digital-to-analog converter, a second digital-to-analog converter, a third digital-to-analog converter, a fourth digital-to-analog converter, a third mixer, a fourth mixer, a power amplifier, a local oscillator, and a baseband circuit. By using the second filters, the third filter, the first digital-to-analog converter and the second digital-to-analog converter for both in transmitting mode or receiving mode, the numbers of the filter and digital-to-analog converter can be reduced and thus the circuit area of the transceiver can be further miniaturized.

Abstract: A wireless signal transceiving apparatus is provided. The wireless signal transceiving apparatus includes a signal transceiving-end circuit, a transceiving amplify module, an output amplify module, a mixer, a frequency selecting filter, switch modules a first base-band signal transceiver and a second base-band signal transceiver. The transceiving amplify module receives and amplifies a signal from an antenna or the mixer. The output amplify module amplifies the signal from the mixer. The frequency selecting filter filters the signal from the mixer, the first base-band signal transceiver or the second base-band signal transceiver according to the mode selecting signal. The first base-band signal transceiver and the second base-band signal transceiver receive the signal generated by the frequency selecting filter and/or respectively transmit the first and the second base-band output signal. The switch modules turn on or turn off transmission paths for the signal according to the mode selecting signal.

Abstract: A wireless signal transceiving apparatus is provided. The wireless signal transceiving apparatus includes a signal transceiving-end circuit, a transceiving amplify module, an output amplify module, a mixer, a frequency selecting filter, switch modules a first base-band signal transceiver and a second base-band signal transceiver. The transceiving amplify module receives and amplifies a signal from an antenna or the mixer. The output amplify module amplifies the signal from the mixer. The frequency selecting filter filters the signal from the mixer, the first base-band signal transceiver or the second base-band signal transceiver according to the mode selecting signal. The first base-band signal transceiver and the second base-band signal transceiver receive the signal generated by the frequency selecting filter and/or respectively transmit the first and the second base-band output signal. The switch modules turn on or turn off transmission paths for the signal according to the mode selecting signal.

Abstract: A radio communication transceiver includes a transformer, a switch, a power amplifier (AP), and a low noise amplifier (LNA). The transformer has a primary winding and a center-tap secondary winding, the primary winding has a first endpoint and a second endpoint, and the center-tap secondary winding has a first endpoint, a second endpoint, and a third endpoint. The switch has a gate, a drain, and a source, in which the gate receives a control signal (CS), the drain is connected to the second endpoint of the primary winding of the transformer through a coupling capacitor, and the source is grounded. The PA has at least one output terminal connected to the first endpoint and the second endpoint of the center-tap secondary winding of the transformer. The LNA has an input terminal connected to the second endpoint of the primary winding of the transformer.

Abstract: A radio communication transceiver achieving impedance matching when the transceiver operates in an output state and an input state respectively in a manner of switching a switch includes a transformer, a switch, a power amplifier (PA), and a low noise amplifier (LNA). The transformer has a primary winding including a first endpoint and a second endpoint and a secondary winding including a first endpoint and a second endpoint. The switch has a gate, a drain, and a source, wherein the gate receives a control signal, the drain is connected to the second endpoint of the primary winding, and the source is connected to the second endpoint of the secondary winding. The PA has an output terminal connected to the first endpoint of the primary winding of the transformer. The LNA has an input terminal connected to the second endpoint of the primary winding of the transformer.

Abstract: A method for reducing channel zapping time is executed by a residential gateway. The method comprises predicting the next channel the client device will request and storing the most recent I-frames of each channel adjacent to the current channel in the same frequency band into a buffer. While a current channel is tuned by one tuner, using the other tuner for locking onto the frequency of the predicted channel if the predicted channel and the current channel are not in the same frequency band. If the prediction is correct, the total channel zapping time is reduced by saving tuner locking time. If the predicted channel and the current channel are in the same frequency band and the prediction is correct, the total channel zapping time is reduced by presenting the stored I-frame immediately.

Abstract: A method for establishing a video communication using a communication device includes sending local audio signals to the remote communication device, receiving response audio signals from the remote communication device. The method further includes controlling the local UPnP set-top box to send local video signals to the remote UPnP set-top box according to the IP address of the remote UPnP set-top box, controlling the local UPnP set-top box to receive response video signals from the remote UPnP set-top box.

Abstract: A radio communication transceiver achieving impedance matching when the transceiver operates in an output state and an input state respectively in a manner of switching a switch includes a transformer, a switch, a power amplifier (PA), and a low noise amplifier (LNA). The transformer has a primary winding including a first endpoint and a second endpoint and a secondary winding including a first endpoint and a second endpoint. The switch has a gate, a drain, and a source, wherein the gate receives a control signal, the drain is connected to the second endpoint of the primary winding, and the source is connected to the second endpoint of the secondary winding. The PA has an output terminal connected to the first endpoint of the primary winding of the transformer. The LNA has an input terminal connected to the second endpoint of the primary winding of the transformer.

Abstract: A radio communication transceiver includes a transformer, a switch, a power amplifier (AP), and a low noise amplifier (LNA). The transformer has a primary winding and a center-tap secondary winding, the primary winding has a first endpoint and a second endpoint, and the center-tap secondary winding has a first endpoint, a second endpoint, and a third endpoint. The switch has a gate, a drain, and a source, in which the gate receives a control signal (CS), the drain is connected to the second endpoint of the primary winding of the transformer through a coupling capacitor, and the source is grounded. The PA has at least one output terminal connected to the first endpoint and the second endpoint of the center-tap secondary winding of the transformer. The LNA has an input terminal connected to the second endpoint of the primary winding of the transformer.

Abstract: A remote control device for controlling a media renderer is provided, the remote control device includes a wireless personal area network module and a wireless local area network module. The wireless personal area network module includes a receiving module and a determining module. The receiving module receives a packet from the media renderer. The determining module determines whether the remote control device roams according to the packet. The wireless local area network module includes a control module. The control module controls another media renderer to play from a paused position according to the paused information when the remote control device roams. An automatic switching method is also provided.

Abstract: A current-matching variable gain amplifier is provided. The amplifier comprises a reference current source, at least one cascode amplifier, a matching circuit, a control circuit, and at least one first blocking circuit. The reference current source provides a reference current. Each of the cascode amplifiers amplifies an input signal according to the reference current. The matching circuit equalizes the voltage level at a first node in each cascode amplifier and the voltage level at a second node in the matching circuit. The matching circuit also equalizes the current of a main MOSFET of each cascode amplifier and the current of a first MOSFET of the matching circuit. The control circuit controls the current of the first MOSFET of the matching circuit. Each of the first blocking circuit(s) corresponds with the cascode amplifier, and is coupled between the reference current source and the corresponding cascode amplifier, for blocking RF signals.

Abstract: A current-matching variable gain amplifier is provided. The amplifier comprises a reference current source, at least one cascode amplifier, a matching circuit, a control circuit, and at least one first blocking circuit. The reference current source provides a reference current. Each of the cascode amplifiers amplifies an input signal according to the reference current. The matching circuit equalizes the voltage level at a first node in each cascode amplifier and the voltage level at a second node in the matching circuit. The matching circuit also equalizes the current of a main MOSFET of each cascode amplifier and the current of a first MOSFET of the matching circuit. The control circuit controls the current of the first MOSFET of the matching circuit. Each of the first blocking circuit(s) corresponds with the cascode amplifier, and is coupled between the reference current source and the corresponding cascode amplifier, for blocking RF signals.