Abstract: A backside illumination (BSI) image sensor and a method of forming the same are provided. A method includes forming a plurality of photosensitive pixels in a substrate, the substrate having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface being opposite the first surface, the substrate having one or more active devices on the first surface. A first portion of the second surface is protected. A second portion of the second surface is patterned to form recesses in the substrate. An anti-reflective layer is formed on sidewalls of the recesses. A metal grid is formed over the second portion of the second surface, the anti-reflective layer being interposed between the substrate and the metal grid.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera having a sensor-shifting mechanism. For example, the camera may include a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator to move an image sensor, relative to a lens group, to provide autofocus (AF) functionality. According to some embodiments, the VCM actuator may include one or more coils attached to a coil carrier, and one or more magnets attached to a stationary structure of the camera. The coil carrier may be attached to an image sensor package such that the image sensor is movable together with the coil carrier, in at least one direction parallel to an optical axis defined by the lens group. In some embodiments, the camera may include one or more suspension arrangements to suspend the coil carrier and/or the image sensor package from one or more stationary structures of the camera.

Abstract: A trench power semiconductor component and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. In the method, a step of forming a trench gate structure includes the following steps. First, a shielding electrode, a bottom insulating layer, and an upper insulating layer are formed in a trench. The bottom insulating layer covers a lower part of an inner wall of the trench, and surrounds the shielding electrode. The upper insulating layer covers an upper part of the inner wall. Thereafter, an interlayer dielectric layer and a U-shaped masking layer are formed in the trench. The interlayer dielectric layer is interposed between the upper insulating layer and the U-shaped masking layer. A portion of the upper insulating layer and a portion of the interlayer dielectric layer which are located at an upper part of the trench are removed so as to form an inter-electrode dielectric layer.

Abstract: An electromagnetic induction type coordinate positioning apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a first induction coil, a second induction coil, a trigger circuit, and a control circuit. The first induction coil is flowed through a first current signal, and the first induction coil is configured to sense a pointer device when the electromagnetic induction type coordinate positioning apparatus is in a sleep mode, and generate a first induction signal when detecting the pointer device. The second induction coil is flowed through a second current signal, and the first induction coil is configured to sense and communicate with the pointer device when in an operating mode. The trigger circuit sends an interrupt signal according to the first induction signal. The control circuit interrupts the sleep mode according to the interrupt signal and switches to the operating mode. The control circuit in the operating mode controls the second control signal to flow through the second induction coil.

Abstract: An optical element driving module is provided, including a housing, a movable portion configured to support an optical element, a driving assembly, a positioning sensor, and a non-metallic substrate disposed on a side of the movable portion. The movable portion is movable relative to the housing, the driving assembly is configured to drive movement of the movable portion relative to the housing, and the positioning sensor is configured to detect the movement of the movable portion relative to the housing. Specifically, the non-metallic substrate forms a recess for receiving the positioning sensor, wherein a depth of the recess is greater than a height of the positioning sensor.

Abstract: An amplification device includes an amplification circuit, an inductor, a regulator, and a impedance circuit. The amplification circuit has an input terminal for receiving a radio frequency signal, and an output terminal for outputting an amplified radio frequency signal. The inductor has a first terminal, and a second terminal coupled to the output terminal of the amplification circuit. The regulator is coupled to the first terminal of the inductor and generates a steady voltage and/or a steady current. The impedance circuit has a first terminal coupled to the output terminal of the amplification circuit, and a second terminal coupled to a first system voltage terminal. The impedance circuit provides a low frequency impedance path to suppress a beat frequency signal in the amplified radio frequency signal.

Abstract: A pointer device is provided. The pointer device includes an induction coil, a clock generating circuit, and a control circuit. The induction coil converts magnetic energy into electrical potential energy and stores the electrical potential energy in a power storage period, and receives an instruction signal from the electromagnetic coordinate positioning apparatus in an instruction receiving period. The control circuit decodes the instruction signal in the instruction receiving period according to the clock signal after the power storage period. When determining that the instruction signal is one of a plurality of predefined instructions, the control circuit triggers, in a data transmission period, the induction coil to send a data signal corresponding to the instruction signal to the electromagnetic coordinate positioning apparatus according to the clock signal after the instruction receiving period. The instruction signal and the data signal each include a fixed quantity of bits.

Abstract: A waterproof structure includes a housing and a waterproof button. The housing has a first surface, a first side surface, and a second surface. The first side surface is recessed in the first surface to define a first opening, the first side surface is connected between the first surface and the second surface, and the second surface is exposed from the first opening. The waterproof button is disposed in the first opening and includes at least one first water blocking structure, and the first water blocking structure is pressed and deformed to abut against the first side surface.

Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a frame, at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel coupled to the frame, one or more pedals coupled to the frame and configured for a user's engagement via pedaling, and a controller configured to output one or more driving signals in response to the pedaling of the one or more pedals. The electric vehicle also includes a first motor coupled to and configured to drive one of the front and rear wheels, and a first driver coupled with the first motor and configured to adjust the output to the first motor in response to the one or more driving signals.

Abstract: An electromagnetic induction type coordinate positioning apparatus includes a first induction coil, a second induction coil, a first impedance circuit, a second impedance circuit, and a control circuit. The first induction coil and the first impedance circuit form a first excited current signal and the second induction coil and the second impedance circuit form a second excited current signal. The control circuit controls a first impedance value of the first induction coil to conform to a first predefined value and controls a second impedance value of the second induction coil to conform to a second predefined value, so that a first excited current signal reaching a first predefined level is formed on a current path between the first impedance circuit and the first induction coil, and a second excited current signal reaching a second predefined level is formed on a current path between the second impedance circuit and the second induction coil.

Abstract: An electronically commutated motor driving module for driving a motor includes a voltage detector, an electronically commutated motor driver, a current detector, a voltage converter, and a controller. The voltage detector detects supply voltage to generate a voltage detection signal. The electronically commutated motor driver is supplied by the supply voltage to generate, according to an electronically commutated signal, an operating current for driving the motor. The current detector detects the operating current to generate a current detection signal. The voltage converter converts the supply voltage into an internal voltage. The controller is supplied by the internal voltage and generates the electronically commutated signal according to a plurality of control parameters. When the controller determines that a specific event has happened according to the control parameters, the controller stops generating the electronically commutated signal and then stores the control parameters.

Abstract: An image capturing device for forming a higher resolution image of an image target having a plurality of pixel areas respectively is disclosed. The image capturing device includes an image sensor having a plurality of sensing pixels corresponding to the plurality of pixel areas respectively; an in-plane motion motor coupled to the image sensor, and configured to cause the image sensor to take a plurality of raw images related to the image target one by one; and a controller configured to synthesize the plurality of raw images into the higher resolution image, wherein: the image sensor has a sensor surface; the in-plane motion motor incrementally moves a plurality of times the image sensor, each time with a distance equal to 1/N of a pixel pitch of one of the plurality of sensing pixels, along a first direction parallel to the sensor surface to respectively capture the plurality of raw images for forming the higher resolution image; and N is a positive integer being larger than 1.

Abstract: An antenna assembly of reduced size but with optimized radiation and reception capabilities through slanted connections between the parts includes a feed portion, a first ground portion, a second ground portion, a first radiating portion, and a second radiating portion. The first radiating portion is a loop antenna on at least three surfaces of a carrier, and is connected between the feed portion and the first ground portion on opposite ends. The first radiating portion feeds in electric current through the feed portion. The second radiating portion is spaced from the first radiating portion, the second radiating portion is arranged on at least two surfaces of the carrier. The second radiating portion is connected between the second ground portion, the second radiating portion couples electric current from the first radiating portion. A wireless communication device employing the antenna assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A vibration sensor with monitoring function is provided, which includes a substrate, a microelectromechanical vibration sensor chip and an application-specific integrated circuit chip. The microelectromechanical vibration sensor chip is disposed on the substrate and detects a vibration applied to an object to generate a plurality of vibration signals. The application-specific integrated circuit chip is disposed on the substrate and electrically connected to the microelectromechanical vibration sensor chip, which includes a sampling module, a transform module and an analysis module. The sampling module receives and converts the vibration signals into a plurality of digital signals, and filters the digital signals to generate a plurality of time-domain data. The transform module transforms the time-domain data into a frequency-domain data according to a predetermined number.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to, in part, an inductor structure that includes an etch stop layer arranged over an interconnect structure overlying a substrate. A magnetic structure includes a plurality of stacked layers is arranged over the etch stop layer. The magnetic structure includes a bottommost layer that is wider than a topmost layer. A first conductive wire and a second conductive wire extend in parallel over the magnetic structure. The magnetic structure is configured to modify magnetic fields generated by the first and second conductive wires. A pattern enhancement layer is arranged between the bottommost layer of the magnetic structure and the etch stop layer. The pattern enhancement layer has a first thickness, and the bottommost layer of the magnetic structure has a second thickness that is less than the first thickness.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of manufacture are provided. After a patterning of a middle layer, the middle layer is removed. In order to reduce or prevent damage to other underlying layers exposed by the patterning of the middle layer and intervening layers, an inhibitor is included within an etching process in order to inhibit the amount of material removed from the underlying layers.

Abstract: An amplifier circuit includes an input terminal used to receive an input signal, an output terminal used to output an output signal, an amplification unit, and a phase adjustment unit. The amplification unit includes an input terminal coupled to the input terminal of the amplifier circuit, an output terminal coupled to the output terminal of the amplifier circuit, a first terminal coupled to a first voltage terminal, and a second terminal coupled to a second voltage terminal. The phase adjustment unit is coupled to the amplification unit. When the amplifier circuit is operated in a first mode, the output signal has a first phase, and when the amplifier circuit is operated in a second mode, the output signal has a second phase. A difference between the first phase and the second phase is within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method for forming the semiconductor device are provided. A first layer is formed over a semiconductor layer, and a first patterned mask is formed over the first layer. A cyclic etch process is then performed to define a second patterned mask in the first layer. The cyclic etch process includes a first phase to form a polymer layer over the first patterned mask and a second phase to remove the polymer layer and to remove a portion of the first layer. A portion of the semiconductor layer is removed using the second patterned mask to define a fin from the semiconductor layer.

Abstract: An amplifier circuit includes a first amplifier and a second amplifier. The first amplifier receives a first signal and generates a first amplification signal accordingly. The second amplifier receives a second signal and generates a second amplification signal accordingly. The first signal is related to a first frequency band, and the second signal is related to a second frequency band different from the first frequency band. When one of the first amplifier and the second amplifier is in use, the other one of the first amplifier and the second amplifier is unused. The first amplifier and second amplifier are coupled to a reference voltage terminal through a common node. The first amplifier includes a switch coupled between the common node and a stage of the first amplifier, and the switch can be controlled for reducing the loading effect caused by the first amplifier on the second amplifier.

Abstract: A pointer device is provided. The pointer device includes an induction coil, a clock generating circuit, and a control circuit. The induction coil converts magnetic energy into electrical potential energy and stores the electrical potential energy in a power storage period, and receives an instruction signal from the electromagnetic coordinate positioning apparatus in an instruction receiving period. The control circuit decodes the instruction signal in the instruction receiving period according to the clock signal after the power storage period. When determining that the instruction signal is one of a plurality of predefined instructions, the control circuit triggers, in a data transmission period, the induction coil to send a data signal corresponding to the instruction signal to the electromagnetic coordinate positioning apparatus according to the clock signal after the instruction receiving period. The instruction signal and the data signal each include a fixed quantity of bits.