Abstract: Method of preparing a biological sample appropriate for use in a subsequent in vitro nucleic acid amplification reaction. The method involves a rapid, transient exposure to alkaline conditions which can be achieved by mixing an alkaline solution with a pH-buffered solution that includes a detergent and the biological sample to be tested for the presence of particular nucleic acid species using in vitro amplification. The invented method advantageously can improve detection of some target nucleic acids without substantially compromising detectability of others. The method is particularly useful for simultaneously preparing RNA and DNA templates that can be used in multiplex amplification reactions.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a battery module including a casing capable of supporting a plurality of battery cells and having a circuit board holding structure, a circuit board held by the circuit board holding structure, a plurality of conducting buses disposed on the casing for electrically connecting the plurality of battery cells and the circuit board, and a plurality of battery cell sets, each of which including a battery holder and at least two battery cells, where any two of the plurality of battery cell sets are independent in structure and thereby can be affixed to the casing or detached from the casing respectively.

Abstract: A method for inter-encoding a block of a colour image in H.264 high444 profile is proposed wherein the image comprises a first, a different second and a different third colour component. Said method comprises the steps of determining among two or more reference block candidates comprised in a different colour image that reference block candidate which has a corresponding first colour component matching said first colour component of said block at least as well as any of corresponding first colour components of the remaining reference block candidates, and encoding the second colour component of said block using a corresponding second colour component of the determined reference block. The reference block having a first colour component, which matches the corresponding first colour component of the block to-be-encoded, often is a good starting point for searching a reference block for a different second colour component of the block to-be-encoded.

Abstract: An L-shaped sidewall protection process is used for Cu pillar bump technology. The L-shaped sidewall protection structure is formed of at least one of non-metal material layers, for example a dielectric material layer, a polymer material layer or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a detachable first casing, an antenna, and a first coupling element. The antenna is disposed in the detachable first casing, and the first coupling element is disposed at an inner wall of the detachable first casing. In addition, the first coupling element does not contact the antenna and overlaps the antenna in a vertical projection plane.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an UV LED curing apparatus, and more particularly, to an UV LED curing apparatus with improved housing and switch controller. The UV LED curing apparatus of the present invention is preferably provided for curing UV hardening gel applied onto the nails of multiple fingers or toes all at once and with automatic controls; the UV LED curing apparatus comprises a light reflective inner casing enclosing a curing chamber having a front opening, an outer casing detachably attached to the inner casing and an UV LED light source disposed on the inner casing and capable of providing an illumination covering a large space in the curing chamber.

Abstract: A sidewall protection structure is provided for covering at least a portion of a sidewall surface of a bump structure, in which a protection structure on the sidewalls of a Cu pillar and a surface region of an under-bump-metallurgy (UBM) layer is formed of at least one non-metal material layers, for example a dielectric material layer, a polymer material layer, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: An omni-wheel based driving mechanism includes a spherical wheel, a pair of first omni wheels, and a pair of second omni wheels. The first omni wheels are arranged at two sides of the spherical wheel to space from each other by a predetermined distance in a first direction, so that the spherical wheel is rollably positioned between the first omni wheels. The second omni wheels are arranged at another two sides of the spherical wheel to space from each other by a predetermined distance in a second direction, so that the spherical wheel is rollably positioned between the second omni wheels. Therefore, a good driving efficiency can be obtained between the spherical wheel and the first omni wheels and the second omni wheels.

Abstract: An omni-wheel based driving mechanism includes a spherical wheel, a pair of first omni wheels, and a pair of second omni wheels. The first omni wheels are arranged at two sides of the spherical wheel to space from each other by a predetermined distance in a first direction, so that the spherical wheel is rollably positioned between the first omni wheels. The second omni wheels are arranged at another two sides of the spherical wheel to space from each other by a predetermined distance in a second direction, so that the spherical wheel is rollably positioned between the second omni wheels. Therefore, a good driving efficiency can be obtained between the spherical wheel and the first omni wheels and the second omni wheels.

Abstract: A technique for updating filter coefficients of an adaptive filter includes filtering a signal with an adaptive filter, whose filter coefficients are grouped into filter blocks. In this case a number of the filter blocks is less than or equal to a number of the filter coefficients. During each update period, the filter coefficients for less than all of the filter blocks are updated based on a network echo path impulse response.

Abstract: A technique for detecting in-band signaling tones in a communication system includes performing a first adaptation of an adaptive filter of an echo canceller in response to detection of a far-end harmonic signal. In this case, the adaptive filter provides an echo estimation signal. The technique also includes subtracting the echo estimation signal from a near-end signal that includes one or more in-band signaling tones to provide an error signal. The technique further includes detecting, using a tone detector, the one or more in-band signaling tones in the error signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a battery pack which comprises a case for defining a space; a first and second cell boxes set inside the space for accepting battery cells; a first, second and third conductors for electrically connecting the electrodes of the battery cells set in the first and second cell boxes; a conductive layout formed on the inside surface of the case for electrically connecting the battery cells; and a circuit board disposed in the space and connected with the battery cells through the conductive layout and the first, second and third conductors. The first cell box, the second cell box, the circuit board and/or at least one of the battery cells is capable of being taken apart from the battery pack and replaced in a non-destructive way.

Abstract: An embodiment of the disclosure includes a conductive feature on a semiconductor die. A substrate is provided. A bond pad is formed over the substrate. The bond pad has a first width. A polyimide layer is formed over the substrate and the bond pad. The polyimide layer has a first opening over the bond pad with a second width. A silicon-based protection layer overlies the polyimide layer. The silicon-based protection layer has a second opening over the bond pad with a third width. The first opening and the second opening form a combined opening having sidewalls to expose a portion of the bond pad. A UBM layer is formed over the sidewalls of combined opening to contact the exposed portion of the bond pad. A conductive feature overlies the UBM layer.

Abstract: A surface mounted planner antenna apparatus includes an antenna and a circuit board. The antenna includes a base, a radiation metal plate arranged on a top face of the base, and a ground metal plate arranged on a bottom face of the base. A through hole is defined from the radiation metal plate and passed through the base to the ground metal plate. A signal feeder is arranged in the through hole and electrically connected to the radiation metal plate but electrically insulated with the ground metal plate. The circuit board is attached on the bottom face of the base and includes an upper face and a lower face, the upper face includes an area for binding with the ground metal plate on the bottom face of the base, and the lower face includes a first pad and a signal feeding trace electrically connected with the signal feeder.

Abstract: A method and system controls an optical disk driver (ODD) of a computer. The method detects whether an eject button connected with an I/O (input/output) chip of the computer has been pressed, and determines if an optical disk exists in the ODD when the eject button has been pressed. Additionally, the method sends a control signal to the ODD, and control the ODD to eject the optical disk when the optical disk exists in the ODD.

Abstract: Sidewall protection processes are provided for Cu pillar bump technology, in which a protection structure on the sidewalls of the Cu pillar bump is formed of at least one of non-metal material layers, for example a dielectric material layer, a polymer material layer, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A network configuration method of a baseboard management controller (BMC) reads network port information of the BMC. The BMC connects to a network via at least one network interface device that includes more than one network port. A current active network port is determined from network ports of the at least one network interface device according to the current network port information of the BMC. If the current active network port does not works properly, a new active network port is determined from the network ports. The network port information of the BMC is updated according to the new active network port.

Abstract: Improved methods of depositing copper seed layers in copper interconnect structure fabrication processes are provided. Also provided are the resulting structures, which have improved electromigration performance and reduced line resistance. According to various embodiments, the methods involve depositing a copper seed bilayer on a barrier layer in a recessed feature on a partially fabricated semiconductor substrate. The bilayer has a copper alloy seed layer and a pure copper seed layer, with the pure copper seed layer is deposited on the copper alloy seed layer. The copper seed bilayers have reduced line resistance increase and better electromigration performance than conventional doped copper seed layers. Precise line resistance control is achieved by tuning the bilayer thickness to meet the desired electromigration performance.

Abstract: Methods and systems for updating a source image file in a BIOS memory are provided. In one embodiment of the method, an initialization document is loaded to generate a first image file, and the initialization document comprises a function setting and first and second address information associated with the function setting, and the function setting represents whether a system locked pre-installation (SLP) 2.0 is supported. The initialization document is loaded to write an SLP mark and an OEM public key to the first image file according to the first and second address information, serving as a second image file. The second image file is written into the source image file in the BIOS memory.