Abstract: Vias, along with methods for fabricating vias, are disclosed that exhibit reduced capacitance and resistance. An exemplary interconnect structure includes a first source/drain contact and a second source/drain contact disposed in a dielectric layer. The first source/drain contact physically contacts a first source/drain feature and the second source/drain contact physically contacts a second source/drain feature. A first via having a first via layer configuration, a second via having a second via layer configuration, and a third via having a third via layer configuration are disposed in the dielectric layer. The first via and the second via extend into and physically contact the first source/drain contact and the second source/drain contact, respectively. A first thickness of the first via and a second thickness of the second via are the same. The third via physically contacts a gate structure, which is disposed between the first source/drain contact and the second source/drain contact.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a system and a method for an ion implantation (IMP) process. The system includes an ion implanter configured to scan an ion beam over a target for a range of angles, a tilting mechanism configured to support and tilt the target, an ion-collecting device configured to collect a distribution and a number of ejected ions from the ion beam scan over the target, and a control unit configured to adjust a tilt angle based on a correction angle determined based on the distribution and number of ejected ions.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a fin-shaped structure on a substrate, a single diffusion break (SDB) structure in the fin-shaped structure to divide the first fin-shaped structure into a first portion and a second portion, and more than two gate structures on the SDB structure. Preferably, the more than two gate structures include a first gate structure, a second gate structure, a third gate structure, and a fourth gate structure disposed on the SDB structure.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for reducing GPU load by programmatically controlling shading rates in computer graphics. GPU load may be reduced by applying different shading rates to different screen regions. By reading the depth buffer of previous frames and performing image processing, thresholds may be calculated that control the shading rates. The approach may be run on any platform that supports VRS hardware and primitive- or image-based VRS. The approach may be applied on a graphics driver installed on a client device, in a firmware layer between hardware and a driver, in a software layer between a driver and an application, or in hardware on the client device. The approach is flexible and adaptable and calculates and sets the variable rate shading based on the graphics generated by an application without requiring the application developer to manually set variable rate shading.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a transport vehicle is provided. The method includes the operations as follows. A transport vehicle is scanned by a monitor during the transport vehicle is operated on a rail to acquire a vehicle pattern of the transport vehicle. The vehicle pattern of the transport vehicle is analyzed. An abnormal transport vehicle is determined based on the vehicle pattern. The monitor is placed nearby the rail. A method for transport vehicle maintenance is also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a system and a method for an ion implantation (IMP) process. The system includes an ion implanter configured to scan an ion beam over a target for a range of angles, a tilting mechanism configured to support and tilt the target, an ion-collecting device configured to collect a distribution and a number of ejected ions from the ion beam scan over the target, and a control unit configured to adjust a tilt angle based on a correction angle determined based on the distribution and number of ejected ions.

Abstract: A method for managing user interface includes displaying related information of an in-vehicle device using a first user interface. An authority of accessing related information of a handheld device is acquired when the handheld device is in communication with the in-vehicle device. Once the related information of the handheld device is obtained, the related information of the in-vehicle device and the related information of the handheld device are displayed using a second user interface.

Abstract: Hydrogel-based sorbents and methods for their use in collecting, concentrating, and removing environmental per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances. In one aspect, the invention provides hydrogel-based sorbents that are effective for collecting, concentrating, and removing PFASs from an environment in which the sorbent is placed; an environment in which the sorbent is in contact with (e.g., liquid communication).

Abstract: A method for managing user interface includes displaying related information of an in-vehicle device using a first user interface. An authority of accessing related information of a handheld device is acquired when the handheld device is in communication with the in-vehicle device. Once the related information of the handheld device is obtained, the related information of the in-vehicle device and the related information of the handheld device are displayed using a second user interface.

Abstract: A lubricatable ball spline device includes a ball spline shaft, a ball nut slidably sleeved on the ball spline shaft and having oil guide holes, a linear bearing unit mounted between the ball spline shaft and the ball nut, a bearing ring rotatably sleeved on the ball nut and having an oil supplying hole, a positioning portion disposed between the bearing ring and the ball nut, and an oil passage corresponding to the oil supplying hole. The oil supplying hole, the oil passage, an oil storage space of the positioning portion and any one of the oil guide holes cooperatively form a continuous oil path.

Abstract: There is a need in the point-of-care diagnostic community for an efficient and portable method for testing blood and other biological fluids that can be easily translated across multiple applications. An aspect of the invention described involves monitoring the optical properties of molecularly-mediated nanoparticle assemblies though an optically transparent and magnetically active microfluidic chip, which has recently emerged as an attractive method for biomarker detection as it is an efficient tool for monitoring the binding events that take place in a sensing assay. In one embodiment, this device is directed towards two-nanoparticle assays that rely on the assembly or disassembly of plasmonic and magnetic nanoparticles in response to a certain analyte. A further embodiment is directed to a spiral microfluidic using inertial forces to filter fluid components by size, connected to a magnetically active channel comprised of a nickel micropad array, optically transparent microchannel, and permanent magnets.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for the detection and standard free quantitation of antigens of interest. Further provided are methods for the absolute quantitation of proteins in solution, cells, or tissues. Also provided are methods for determining the on-target binding constant of a therapeutic agent to its target in a biological sample.

Abstract: A lubricatable ball screw device includes a ball screw shaft, a ball nut slidably sleeved on the ball screw shaft and having oil guide holes, a linear bearing unit mounted between the ball screw shaft and the ball nut, a bearing ring rotatably sleeved on the ball nut and having an oil supplying hole, a positioning portion disposed between the bearing ring and the ball nut, and an oil passage corresponding to the oil supplying hole. The oil supplying hole, the oil passage, an oil storage space of the positioning portion and any one of the oil guide holes cooperatively form a continuous oil path.

Abstract: There is a need in the point-of-care diagnostic community for an efficient and portable method for testing blood and other biological fluids that can be easily translated across multiple applications. An aspect of the invention described involves monitoring the optical properties of molecularly-mediated nanoparticle assemblies though an optically transparent and magnetically active microfluidic chip, which has recently emerged as an attractive method for biomarker detection as it is an efficient tool for monitoring the binding events that take place in a sensing assay. In one embodiment, this device is directed towards two-nanoparticle assays that rely on the assembly or disassembly of plasmonic and magnetic nanoparticles in response to a certain analyte. A further embodiment is directed to a spiral microfluidic using inertial forces to filter fluid components by size, connected to a magnetically active channel comprised of a nickel micropad array, optically transparent microchannel, and permanent magnets.

Abstract: There is a need in the point-of-care diagnostic community for an efficient and portable method for testing blood and other biological fluids that can be easily translated across multiple applications. An aspect of the invention described involves monitoring the optical properties of molecularly-mediated nanoparticle assemblies though an optically transparent and magnetically active microfluidic chip, which has recently emerged as an attractive method for biomarker detection as it is an efficient tool for monitoring the binding events that take place in a sensing assay. In one embodiment, this device is directed towards two-nanoparticle assays that rely on the assembly or disassembly of plasmonic and magnetic nanoparticles in response to a certain analyte. A further embodiment is directed to a spiral microfluidic using inertial forces to filter fluid components by size, connected to a magnetically active channel comprised of a nickel micropad array, optically transparent microchannel, and permanent magnets.

Abstract: A motor-incorporating reducer includes a main body, a rotational actuating member, a flex spline, and an circular spline. The rotational actuating member has a rotating shaft, a wave generator, and a motor. The rotating shaft passes through the main body, and the elliptic wheel is integratedly formed around the rotating shaft. The motor has a magnetic motor rotator that is integratedly formed on the rotating shaft. With the integrated structure, the rotating shaft, the elliptic wheel, and the motor rotator can stably perform rotation, thereby eliminating the risk that the three, when formed separated and assembled, would become non-coaxial due to the resultant tolerance after assembly and have eccentric rotation, and in turn preventing adverse effects on the drive's output torque due to non-coaxial rotation and extending the drive's service life.

Abstract: There is a need in the point-of-care diagnostic community for an efficient and portable method for testing blood and other biological fluids that can be easily translated across multiple applications. An aspect of the invention described involves monitoring the optical properties of molecularly-mediated nanoparticle assemblies though an optically transparent and magnetically active microfluidic chip, which has recently emerged as an attractive method for biomarker detection as it is an efficient tool for monitoring the binding events that take place in a sensing assay. In one embodiment, this device is directed towards two-nanoparticle assays that rely on the assembly or disassembly of plasmonic and magnetic nanoparticles in response to a certain analyte. A further embodiment is directed to a spiral microfluidic using inertial forces to filter fluid components by size, connected to a magnetically active channel comprised of a nickel micropad array, optically transparent microchannel, and permanent magnets.

Abstract: A harmonic drive includes a circular spline, a cup-shaped flex spline meshed with the circular spline, a wave generator including an bearing mounted in the cup-shaped flex spline, an elliptical wheel mounted in the bearing and a coupling connected to the elliptical wheel so that an oil storage chamber is defined between the wave generator and the cup-shaped flex spline, and one or multiple stirrers connected to the coupling of the wave generator and drivable by the coupling to carry the storage lubricating oil out of the oil storage chamber for lubricating the bearing of the wave generator and the meshed tooth surfaces between the circular spline and the cup-shaped flex spline.