Abstract: An illumination system having a light source, an integration rod and a color wheel is provided. The light source is suitable for providing a light beam. The light integration rod and the color wheel are disposed on the transmission path of the light beam. The color wheel is disposed between the light source and the light integration rod. The light integration rod has a light input end adjacent to the color wheel and a light output end on the opposite side of the light input end. The light integration rod has two indentations at the light input end to form an airflow channel. The noise caused by the rotating color wheel is reduced through the airflow channel.

Abstract: A fabrication method for an alignment film is proposed. A film is deposited on a substrate by an atmosphere plasma in a predetermined direction at a predetermined angle, while moving the substrate and the atmosphere plasma relative to each other. Thereby, a uniform isotropic alignment film with strong anchoring energy is formed and the pre-tilt angle can be designed according to the need. Problems such as static charge and dust generated during a conventional rubbing process are prevented. In addition, since the above fabrication method eliminates the need of vacuum devices that are required in conventional ion beam alignment and plasma beam alignment processes, the fabrication method can be used to fabricate large sized alignment film. Moreover, fabrication cost is lowered through the use of the fabrication method.

Abstract: A water-repellent structure and a method for fabricating the same are provided. The method adopts an atmospheric pressure plasma deposition (APPD) technique to form a hardened coating having a rough surface on a substrate, and form a water-repellent coating on the rough surface. Because the water-repellent structure includes the hardened coating and the water-repellent coating, hardness, abrasion-resistance, transparency and hydrophobicity of the water-repellent structure are improved. The hard water-repellent structure protects the substrate from friction. Moreover, because the present invention adopts the APPD technique to form the water-repellent structure, the cost of production is reduced dramatically. Thus, the present invention can solve drawbacks of prior art.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for inserting dummy patterns in sparsely populated portions of a metal layer. The dummy pattern counters the effects of variations of pattern density in a semiconductor layout which can cause uneven post-polish film thickness. An algorithm according to one embodiment of the disclosure determines the size and location of the dummy patterns based on the patterns in the metal layer by first surrounding the metal structure with small dummy pattern and then filling any remaining voids with large dummy patterns.

Abstract: Embodiments of isolated gate driver circuits are disclosed for driving high- and low-side switching devices for half- and full-bridge power converter topology. Disclosed circuits provide sufficient dead-time, operate over a wide range of duty cycles, and require a single power supply (Vcc). Typical applications for such circuits include cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) inverters that are powered by a high voltage DC rail.

Abstract: The invention provides a fiber having different morphology and a method of making such fiber in a predictable manner. The method includes providing a first component including water, wherein the first component has a first evaporation rate, providing a second component including a polymer, wherein the second component has a second evaporation rate, provided that the second evaporation rate is higher than the first evaporation rate, combining the first component and the second component to make an emulsion, applying a force to the emulsion, and extruding the emulsion to make the fiber, wherein the fiber has an outer surface, an internal cavity and a diameter of at most 10 micrometers.

Abstract: A detector circuit monitors the phase relationship between the lamp voltage and the excitation voltage, and if one or more conditions are met, triggers the open lamp protection process in a discharge lamp system. The detection circuit can be incorporated into a lamp voltage feedback circuit and implemented on the integrated circuit level with less cost and circuit complexity.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a metal silicide layer over a substrate is provided. First, a hard mask layer is formed over a gate formed on a substrate and a portion of the substrate is exposed. Thereafter, a first metal silicide layer, which is a cobalt silicide or a titanium silicide layer, is formed on the exposed substrate. After that, the hard mask layer is removed and a second metal silicide layer is formed over the gate, wherein a material of the second metal silicide layer is selected from a group consisting of nickel silicide, platinum silicide, palladium silicide and nickel alloy. Since different metal silicide layers are formed on the substrate and the gate, the problem of having a high resistance in lines with a narrow line width and the problem of nickel silicide forming spikes and pipelines in the source region and the drain region are improved.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods for fabricating the same. An exemplary device includes a substrate, a dielectric layer, a protection layer, and a conformal barrier layer. The dielectric layer overlies the substrate and comprises an opening. The opening comprises a lower portion and a wider upper portion, exposing parts of the substrate. The bottoms of the upper portion act as shoulders of the opening. The protection layer overlies at least one shoulder of the opening. The conformal barrier layer is disposed in the opening and overlies the protection layer and the dielectric layer, wherein etching resistance of the protection layer against inert-gas plasma is higher than that of the barrier layer.

Abstract: A method for producing an alignment layer for a liquid crystal panel, which is produced by modifying an alignment film in a fixed direction and at a fixed angle by using an atmospheric pressure plasma source to form a uniform and isotropic alignment layer on the surface of the substrate. The resultant alignment layer has good uniformity and high anchoring energy, and the pre-tilt angle can be selected as desired. In addition, there are no problems with static charge generation, dust pollution and the like as in the prior arts. The method of the present invention is not restricted by vacuum apparatuses that need ion alignment or vacuum plasma alignment and the like and is not restricted by the size of the equipment. Therefore, the method of the present invention is suitable for treating the surface of an alignment layer of a large size liquid crystal panel.

Abstract: A method comprises forming a first semiconductor device in a substrate, where the first semiconductor device comprises a gate structure, a spacer disposed on sidewalls of the gate structure, the spacer having a first thickness, and raised source and drain regions disposed on either side of the gate structure. The method further comprises forming a second semiconductor device in the substrate and electrically isolated from the first semiconductor device, where the second semiconductor device comprises a gate structure, a spacer disposed on sidewalls of the gate structure, the spacer having a second thickness less than the first thickness of the spacer of the first semiconductor device, and recessed source and drain regions disposed on either side of the gate structure.

Abstract: Reinforced interconnection structures are provided. A reinforced interconnection structure comprises a first conductive layer formed in a first dielectric layer. A second conductive layer is formed in a second dielectric layer which overlies the first dielectric layer.

Abstract: A security method includes reading an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) number of a subscriber identity module (SIM) card and an identity number of a near field communication (NFC) card of the mobile phone; detecting if the IMSI number matches first data stored in memory of the mobile phone, detecting if the identity number matches second data stored in the memory, and when the IMSI number and the identity number respectively match the first and the second set of data stored in the memory, the mobile phone enables the NFC card. The security method allows a consumer to feel more secure when the NFC card is used.

Abstract: A memory control method for restoring data in a cache memory is proposed, which is applied in a computer device having Linux Operating System, and the computer device has a spare battery for supplying spare power to go on to store cached data into a cache memory unit, the temporary data can be backed up quickly, seriously and efficiently without significantly modifying a memory management core of the Linux system, thereby preventing operational efficiency of the computer device from decreasing, avoiding the designing and fabricating cost from adding, and also avoiding the problem such that the cached content can not be stored since memory has been initialized by Linux system once the system is started every time, as well even making the temporary data in the cache memory restored to disk without influencing structure of Linux Operating System itself, when the computer device is restarted after powering off abnormally.

Abstract: Disclosed are an index structure and a method of extending index which comprises: (a) performing indexing operations of generating inverted index for newly inserted data source in the memory; (b) if the number of source data involved in the indexing operations reaches a first threshold value k1, sequentially writing the generated inverted index into the first index subfile; (c) if the number of the smallest grids, or index groups, in the first index subfile reaches a second threshold value k2, merging the k2 grids into a larger grid and sequentially writing it into the second index subfile; and (d) if the number of the smallest grids in the second index subfile reaches a third threshold value k3, merging the k3 grids into a larger grid and sequentially writing it into the first index subfile. Because index updating mostly occurs in small grids, the number of I/O operations on large grids is reduced and thus the speed of index building and updating is increased.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for processing data retrieval/storage, which includes a memory data BUS and a logic converter circuit adopted for switching a non-IDE electrical level into an IDE electrical level, and also for switching a address line to an IDE address line, a data line to an IDE data line, a chip select line to nIDE channel chip select line, a control line to IDE control line, and through the nIDE channel chip select line to process channel locating to a IDE device of a IDE channel. Thus, it is possible that the memory data BUS can process data retrieval/storage to the IDE devices in many IDE channels.

Abstract: Resistance-switching oxide films, and devices therewith, are disclosed. Resistance-switching oxide films, according to certain preferred aspects of the present invention, include at least about 75 atomic percent of an insulator oxide matrix having a conducting material dopant in an amount up to about 25 atomic percent. The matrix and dopant are preferably in solid solution. The insulator oxide matrix may also preferably include about 6 to about 12 atomic percent of a conducting material dopant. According to certain aspects of the present invention, the insulator oxide matrix, the conducting material dopant, or both, may have a perovskite crystal structure. The insulator oxide matrix may preferably include at least one of LaAlO3 and CaZrO3. Preferred conducting material dopants include SrRuO3, CaRuO3, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a front-end circuit for an optical communication system including a laser module arranged for transmitting bursts of data signals over an optical network and a driving circuit for providing the bursts of data signals to the laser module. The front-end circuit further includes receiver means in connection with said laser module and arranged for receiving from the optical network optical echo signals. The laser module includes a laser diode arranged for transmitting the bursts of data signals. The driving circuit is arranged for setting a disabling signal for stopping the laser diode from transmitting bursts of the data signals. Fiber-related information can be extracted from the echo signals, such as distance-resolved optical fiber reflections and fiber attenuation.

Abstract: An integrated circuit chip is provided, which includes an active circuit area, a seal ring structure, and a first dummy structure. The seal ring structure is formed at least partially around the active circuit area. The first dummy structure extends from the seal ring structure into the active circuit area. Other dummy structures that are not directly joined to the seal ring structure at a given level may be provided also to further fill in spaces between active wiring. A software algorithm included in a layout tool may allow for automatically laying out such structures in accordance with predetermined layout design rules.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for heating plastic by laser beams with the aid of a number of laser points on the focal plane, the laser points being produced by an optical arrangement with the aid of a multiple wedge plate. The arrangement can be integrated in a processing head.