Abstract: An intelligent defecation device for living creature includes a device body, a supporting portion, an image module, and a first analysis module. The supporting portion is formed within the inner side of the device body for accommodating a moisture absorption member so as to allow the living creature to leave over its excrement therein. The image module is also arranged at the device body for dynamically capturing the images of the excrement in the supporting portion and outputting the image. The first analysis module is arranged in the device body and connected with the image module to analyze and calculate the defecation mode with the image based on preset or accumulated data, so as to generate a signal when an abnormal defecation mode is diagnosed.

Abstract: Provided are FinFET devices and methods of forming the same. A FinFET device includes a substrate, a first gate strip and a second gate strip. The substrate has at least one first fin in a first region, at least one second fin in a second region and an isolation layer covering lower portions of the first and second fins. The first fin includes a first material layer and a second material layer over the first material layer, and the interface between the first material layer and the second material layer is uneven. The first gate strip is disposed across the first fin. The second gate strip is disposed across the second fin.

Abstract: Provided are FinFET devices and methods of forming the same. A FinFET device includes a substrate, a first gate strip and a second gate strip. The substrate has at least one first fin in a first region, at least one second fin in a second region and an isolation layer covering lower portions of the first and second fins. The first fin includes a first material layer and a second material layer over the first material layer, and the interface between the first material layer and the second material layer is uneven. The first gate strip is disposed across the first fin. The second gate strip is disposed across the second fin.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present application are directed towards an ion-sensitive field-effect transistor for enhanced sensitivity. In some embodiments, a substrate comprises a pair of first source/drain regions and a pair of second source/drain regions. Further, a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode underlie the substrate. The first gate electrode is laterally between the first source/drain regions, and the second gate electrode is laterally between the second source/drain regions. An interconnect structure underlies the substrate and defines conductive paths electrically shorting the second source/drain regions and the second gate electrode together. A passivation layer is over the substrate and defines a first well and a second well. The first and second wells respectively overlie the first and second gate electrodes, and a sensing layer lines the substrate in the first and second wells. In some embodiments, sensing probes are in the first well, but not the second well.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device that includes a semiconductor fin disposed over a substrate, an isolation structure at least partially surrounding the fin, an epitaxial source/drain (S/D) feature disposed over the semiconductor fin, where an extended portion of the epitaxial S/D feature extends over the isolation structure, and a silicide layer disposed on the epitaxial S/D feature, where the silicide layer covers top, bottom, sidewall, front, and back surfaces of the extended portion of the S/D feature.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) device includes a plurality of memory segments. Each memory segment includes a plurality of memory cells, and a local bit line electrically coupled to the plurality of memory cells and arranged on a first side of the IC device. The IC device further includes a global bit line electrically coupled to the plurality of memory segments, and arranged on a second side of the IC device. The second side is opposite the first side in a thickness direction of the IC device.

Abstract: An image processing circuit performs super-resolution (SR) operations. The image processing circuit includes memory to store multiple parameter sets of multiple artificial intelligence (AI) models. The image processing circuit further includes an image guidance module, a parameter decision module, and an SR engine. The image guidance module operates to detect a representative feature in an image sequence including a current frame and past frames within a time window. The parameter decision module operates to adjust parameters of one or more AI models based on a measurement of the representative feature. The SR engine operates to process the current frame using the one or more AI models with the adjusted parameters to thereby generate a high-resolution image for display.

Abstract: A power management circuit is provided with groups of switches and a single shared inductor and is selectively configured in a first mode to act as a buck regulator and a second mode to act as a buck-boost regulator. There is a two-stage circuit topology, where both charging and regular operation of the device can be optimized. There is a switching charger integrated circuit that can be dedicated to performing a charging function, and there is a DC-DC power management integrated circuit that can be dedicated to regulating the system voltage provided by the battery while the battery is discharging.

Abstract: A power management circuit is provided with groups of switches and a single shared inductor and is selectively configured in a first mode to act as a buck regulator and a second mode to act as a buck-boost regulator. There is a two-stage circuit topology, where both charging and regular operation of the device can be optimised. There is a switching charger integrated circuit that can be dedicated to performing a charging function, and there is a DC-DC power management integrated circuit that can be dedicated to regulating the system voltage provided by the battery while the battery is discharging.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically adjusting a dead time of a BLDC motor during a phase change detect the winding current of the BLDC motor during the dead time, and terminate the dead time when the winding current is detected to be substantially or close to zero. Thus, the method and apparatus can optimize the dead time and switch the BLDC motor between two phases at a zero-current point, without reducing the maximum rotation speed of the BLDC motor.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a direct current (DC) light emitting device control circuit with dimming function, and a method thereof, wherein the dimming function is provided in a feedback loop for feeding back a feedback signal from an output terminal to a power switch control circuit; the feedback signal relates to an output current supplied to the DC light emitting device. The present invention adjusts the feedback signal according to the desired brightness of the DC light emitting device. The present invention controls a power switch according to the adjusted feedback signal, such that the output current supplied to the DC light emitting device is adjusted, and accordingly the brightness of the DC light emitting device is adjusted below the full brightness.

Abstract: An electrostatic transducer loudspeaker includes a filterless class-D amplifier to modulate an audio input signal to generate a modulated signal containing a PWM switching carrier component, and a transformer directly connected at an output side of the filterless class-D amplifier and directly connected at an input side of an electrostatic transducer, whereby the equivalent capacitance of the electrostatic transducer and the equivalent inductance of the transformer establish a resonance circuit to demodulate the modulated signal to generate an AC voltage to drive the electrostatic transducer.

Abstract: A driving circuit for a sound outputting apparatus includes a H-bridge and a charge pump established by six switches for driving two types of loudspeakers, respectively. The six switches include two common switches to be configured in the H-bridge and the charge pump, thereby reducing the costs and circuit area of the driving circuit.

Abstract: A power-saving method adapted in a multi-mode display device is provided. The power-saving method comprises the steps as follows. A brightness of an ambient light is detected. When the brightness of the ambient light lies within a transmissive range, the multi-mode display device is operated in a transmissive mode and enables the backlight module of the multi-mode display. When the brightness of the ambient light lies within a transflective range, the multi-mode display device is operated in a transflective mode and the brightness of the backlight module is dynamically adjusted according to a compensation method. When the brightness of the ambient light lies within a reflective range, the multi-mode display device is operated in a reflective mode and turns off the backlight module.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a light emitting device control method for adjusting the brightness of the light emitting device by an AC signal, comprising: receiving a signal having a turn ON angle and converting the signal to a DC signal; obtaining an average of the DC signal level, the average being a function of the turn ON angle; determining a reference voltage of a current source circuit according to the average of the DC signal level; and controlling a current flow through the light emitting device by the current source circuit.

Abstract: A zero-crossing detection circuit and a commutation device using the zero-crossing detection circuit are provided. The zero-crossing detection circuit is adapted into a three-phase brushless DC (direct current) motor with first to third coils. One terminal of each of the first to third coils is electrically coupled together with each other. The detection circuit comprises a first selection circuit, a second selection circuit and a comparator. The first selection circuit and the second selection circuit are both electrically coupled to another terminals of the first to third coils, to obtain first to third terminal voltages, and output one of the first to third terminal voltages according to a selection signal. The comparator is configured for comparing an output of the first selection circuit and an output of the second selection circuit, to output a comparing result.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a light emitting device open/short detection circuit, which is used for detecting at least one light emitting device string open/short. Each light emitting device string has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is coupled to a voltage supply circuit to supply electrical power to the light emitting devices. The open/short detection circuit includes: an abnormal voltage detection circuit coupled to the light emitting device strings for receiving voltages of the second ends respectively and generating an abnormal voltage detection signal; a voltage setting circuit coupled to the abnormal voltage detection circuit for setting an abnormal reference level; and a determination circuit coupled to the voltage setting circuit. When the abnormal voltage detection signal is equal to or over the abnormal reference level, the determination circuit generates an open/short detection signal for an abnormal condition detected.

Abstract: By monitoring the temperature of an LED and the temperature of a controller chip for the LED, a thermal foldback control is employed to gradually decrease the driving current of the LED before the LED or the controller chip is over heated, so as to prevent an over temperature protection from being triggered to shutdown the controller chip to cause the LED to undesirably flicker.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a light emitting device driver circuit and a method for driving a light emitting device. In the present invention, the secondary windings of a transformer provide positive and negative secondary voltages, so as to generate positive and negative output voltages. A light emitting device circuit is coupled between the positive and negative output voltages. As such, the specification to withstand high voltage for a device in the circuit is reduced.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically adjusting a dead time of a BLDC motor during a phase change detect the winding current of the BLDC motor during the dead time, and terminate the dead time when the winding current is detected to be substantially or close to zero. Thus, the method and apparatus can optimize the dead time and switch the BLDC motor between two phases at a zero-current point, without reducing the maximum rotation speed of the BLDC motor.