Abstract: An electronic apparatus comprising an environment sensing device, a display, a touch sensing device, and a processing module comprising a main controller and a sub-controller is disclosed. The main controller performs a predetermined function based a touch input. The sub-controller computes a tilt angle of the electronic apparatus, and activates the touch sensing device without turning on the display if the tilt angle falls in a predetermined angle range, while the main controller is in the sleep mode. The processing module performs following steps when the display is off: determining the touch input is valid or invalid; keeping the display off if the touch input is invalid. The sub-controller wakes and activates the main controller to turn on the display and to control the electronic apparatus to perform the predetermined function according to a gesture formed by the touch input if the touch input is valid.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and methods for forming the same are provided. The method for forming a semiconductor structure includes forming an N-well region in a substrate and forming a first protection layer over the N-well region. The method for forming a semiconductor structure further includes forming a P-well region in the substrate and forming a second protection layer over the P-well region. The method for forming a semiconductor structure further includes growing a first channel layer over the first protection layer and a second channel layer over the second protection layer and forming a first gate structure over the first channel layer and a second gate structure over the second channel layer.

Abstract: Structures and formation methods of a semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate with a first lattice constant and having a PMOS region and an NMOS region. The semiconductor device further includes first and second fin structures over the PMOS region and NMOS region respectively. The first fin structure includes a buffer layer with a second lattice constant and a first channel layer. The lattice constant difference between the first channel layer and the buffer layer is smaller than that between the first channel layer and the semiconductor layer. The first channel layer has a third lattice constant, which is greater than the second lattice constant. The first lattice constant is greater than the second lattice constant. The second fin structure includes a second channel layer. The second channel layer has a fourth lattice constant which is less than the first lattice constant.

Abstract: In a method for transmit beamforming of a two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers, a beamforming pattern to apply to a beamforming space of the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers is defined. The beamforming space includes a plurality of elements, where each element of the beamforming space corresponds to an ultrasonic transducer of the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers, where the beamforming pattern identifies which ultrasonic transducers within the beamforming space are activated during a transmit operation of the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers, and wherein at least some of the ultrasonic transducers that are activated are phase delayed with respect to other ultrasonic transducers that are activated. The beamforming pattern is applied to the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers. A transmit operation is performed by activating the ultrasonic transducers of the beamforming space according to the beamforming pattern.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes a two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers. A signal generator is configured to generate a plurality of transmit signals, wherein each transmit signal of the plurality of transmit signals has a different phase delay relative to other transmit signals of the plurality of transmit signals. A plurality of shift registers is configured to store a beamforming space including a beamforming pattern to apply to the two-dimensional array, wherein the beamforming pattern identifies a transmit signal of the plurality of transmit signals that is applied to each ultrasonic transducer of the beamforming space that is activated during a transmit operation. An array controller is configured to control activation of ultrasonic transducers during a transmit operation according to the beamforming pattern and configured to shift a position of the beamforming space within the plurality of shift registers such that the beamforming space moves within the two-dimensional array.

Abstract: Methods of and apparatuses for processing substrates having carbon-containing material using atomic layer deposition and selective deposition are provided. Methods involve exposing a carbon-containing material on a substrate to an oxidant and igniting a first plasma at a first bias power to modify a surface of the substrate and exposing the modified surface to an inert plasma at a second bias power to remove the modified surface. Methods also involve selectively depositing a second carbon-containing material onto the substrate. ALE and selective deposition may be performed without breaking vacuum.

Abstract: A clock and data recovery device includes a data sampling module, a phase detection circuit, a frequency estimator, a clock generation module, and a data recovery module. The data sampling module samples input data according to first clock signals to generate data values, in which phases of the first clock signals are different from one another. The phase detection circuit detects a phase error of the input data according to at least one second clock signal, to generate an error signal. The frequency estimator generates an adjustment signal according to the error signal, a phase threshold value, and a frequency threshold value. The clock generation module generates the first clock signals and the at least one second clock signal according to the adjustment signal and a reference clock signal. The data recovery module generates recovered data corresponding to the input data according to the data values.

Abstract: A clock and data recovery device includes a data sampling module, a phase detection circuit, a frequency estimator, a clock generation module, and a data recovery module. The data sampling module samples input data according to first clock signals to generate data values, in which phases of the first clock signals are different from one another. The phase detection circuit detects a phase error of the input data according to at least one second clock signal, to generate an error signal. The frequency estimator generates an adjustment signal according to the error signal, a phase threshold value, and a frequency threshold value. The clock generation module generates the first clock signals and the at least one second clock signal according to the adjustment signal and a reference clock signal. The data recovery module generates recovered data corresponding to the input data according to the data values.

Abstract: A method for patterning a substrate including multiple layers using a sulfur-based mask includes providing a substrate including a first layer and a second layer arranged on the first layer. The first layer includes a material selected from a group consisting of germanium, silicon germanium and type III/V materials. The method includes depositing a mask layer including sulfur species on sidewalls of the first layer and the second layer by exposing the substrate to a first wet chemistry. The method includes removing the mask layer on the sidewalls of the second layer while not completely removing the mask layer on the sidewalls of the first layer by exposing the substrate to a second wet chemistry. The method includes selectively etching the second layer relative to the first layer and the mask layer on the sidewalls of the first layer by exposing the substrate to a third wet chemistry.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to audiovisual stream processing in videoconferences. For each audiovisual stream in a videoconference, a sound level of the audiovisual stream is detected. If the sound level exceeds a predefined threshold level, the audiovisual stream is processed with a first configuration. If the sound level is below the predefined threshold level, the audiovisual stream is processed with a second configuration. The second configuration is more resource-effective than the first configuration.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus comprising an environment sensing device, a display, a touch sensing device, and a processing module comprising a main controller and a sub-controller is disclosed. The main controller performs a predetermined function based a touch input. The sub-controller computes a tilt angle of the electronic apparatus, and activates the touch sensing device without turning on the display if the tilt angle falls in a predetermined angle range, while the main controller is in the sleep mode. The processing module performs following steps when the display is off: determining the touch input is valid or invalid; keeping the display off if the touch input is invalid. The sub-controller wakes and activates the main controller to turn on the display and to control the electronic apparatus to perform the predetermined function according to a gesture formed by the touch input if the touch input is valid.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for etching semiconductor material on substrates using atomic layer etching by chemisorption, by deposition, or by both chemisorption and deposition mechanisms in combination with oxide passivation are described herein. Methods involving atomic layer etching using a chemisorption mechanism involve exposing the semiconductor material to chlorine to chemisorb chlorine onto the substrate surface and exposing the modified surface to argon to remove the modified surface. Methods involving atomic layer etching using a deposition mechanism involve exposing the semiconductor material to a sulfur-containing gas and hydrogen to deposit and thereby modify the substrate surface and removing the modified surface.

Abstract: A wafer supporting structure in semiconductor manufacturing, and a device and a method for manufacturing semiconductor are provided. In accordance with some embodiments of the instant disclosure, a wafer supporting structure in semiconductor manufacturing includes a transparent ring and at least two arms. The arms are connected to the transparent ring.

Abstract: A method of operating a microphone system includes the steps of monitoring an I/O terminal to detect whether a signal on that terminal achieves a pre-defined logic level during a monitoring period. The I/O terminal and a second I/O terminal are configured to one of a hardware mode or a communications-bus mode depending on whether the pre-defined logic level is detected. A microphone system includes two I/O terminals and an automatic detection and mode switching circuit, as well as a communications bus interface circuit and a hardware control circuit. The mode automatic detection and mode switching circuit couples the two I/O terminals to either the communications bus interface circuit or the hardware control circuit in response to the logic level detected on one of the I/O terminals during a monitoring period.

Abstract: A wafer supporting structure in semiconductor manufacturing, and a device and a method for manufacturing semiconductor are provided. In accordance with some embodiments of the instant disclosure, a wafer supporting structure in semiconductor manufacturing includes a transparent ring and at least two arms. The arms are connected to the transparent ring.

Abstract: Microelectromechanical (MEMS) sensors and control interfaces, control, interface components, protocols, systems, and methods are described. An exemplary control interface can comprise one or more predefined symbols that facilitate control of a MEMS sensor over an existing pin of a package comprising one or more MEMS sensors. Provided implementations described read/write protocols that enable reading and/or writing internal registers associated with MEMS sensors and/or other electronic components or portions thereof. Embodiments of the subject disclosure can provide flexible and reusable control interfaces for MEMS sensors and associated protocols.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to treatment of a pulmonary disease. The methods and kits provided herein facilitate relieving the symptoms resulting from the pulmonary disease (e.g., asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), etc.).

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and related apparatus that facilitate patterning by performing highly non-conformal (directional) deposition on patterned structures. The methods involve depositing films on a patterned structure, such as a hard mask. The deposition may be both substrate-selective such that the films have high etch selectivity with respect to an underlying material to be etched and pattern-selective such that the films are directionally deposited to replicate the pattern of the patterned structure. In some embodiments, the deposition is performed in the same chamber as a subsequent etch is performed. In some embodiments, the deposition may be performed in a separate chamber (e.g., a PECVD deposition chamber) that is connected to the etch chamber by a vacuum transfer chamber. The deposition may be performed prior to or at selected intermittences during at etch process. In some embodiments, the deposition involves multiple cycles of a deposition and treatment process.

Abstract: A touch input determining method applied to an electronic apparatus with a touch sensing device, which comprises: (a) determining a size for a region of the touch sensing device that an object provides at least one touch input to; (b) if the size is larger than or equals to a first predetermined value, not determining the touch input is a valid touch input; and (c) if the size is smaller than or equals to a second predetermined value, not determining the touch input is a valid touch input, wherein the second predetermined value is smaller than the first predetermined value.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to audiovisual stream processing in videoconferences. For each audiovisual stream in a videoconference, a sound level of the audiovisual stream is detected. If the sound level exceeds a predefined threshold level, the audiovisual stream is processed with a first configuration. If the sound level is below the predefined threshold level, the audiovisual stream is processed with a second configuration. The second configuration is more resource-effective than the first configuration.