Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, an isolation structure over the substrate, a fin over the substrate and the isolation structure, a gate structure engaging a first portion of the fin, first sidewall spacers over sidewalls of the gate structure and over a second portion of the fin, source/drain (S/D) features adjacent to the first sidewall spacers, and second sidewall spacers over the isolation structure and over sidewalls of a portion of the S/D features. The second sidewall spacers and the second portion of the fin include a same dopant.

Abstract: In order to overcome the issue caused by a decoded block vector (BV) pointing to a reference block overlapping with an unavailable area, various methods are disclosed. According to one method, if the reference block overlaps with an unavailable area, the reference pixels in the unavailable area are generated for IntraBC prediction of the current block by padding from neighbouring available pixels. The padding can be done in the horizontal direction and then the vertical direction. The padding may also done in the vertical direction first and then horizontal direction. In another method, if the reference block overlaps with an unavailable area, the reference pixels in the unavailable area are generated for IntraBC prediction of the current block by using previous decoded pixels in the unavailable area. A pre-defined value may also be used for the unavailable area.

Abstract: A palette decoding apparatus includes a palette color storage device which stores palette colors, a color index storage device which stores color indices of pixels, and a palette value processing circuit which generates a palette value for each pixel by reading data from the color index storage device and the palette color storage device. A frame is divided into first coding units, and each first coding unit is sub-divided into one or more second coding units. Before a palette value of a last pixel in a first coding unit is generated by the palette value processing circuit, a palette value of a non-last pixel in the first coding unit is generated by the palette value processing circuit and used by a reconstruction circuit of the video decoder.

Abstract: A video encoder has a processing circuit and a universal binary entropy (UBE) syntax encoder. The processing circuit processes pixel data of a video frame to generate encoding-related data, wherein the encoding-related data comprise at least quantized transform coefficients. The UBE syntax encoder processes a plurality of syntax elements to generate UBE syntax data. The encoding-related data are represented by the syntax elements. The processing circuit operates according to a video coding standard. The video coding standard supports arithmetic encoding. The UBE syntax data contain no arithmetic-encoded syntax data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of sharing an on-chip buffer or cache memory for a video coding system using coding modes including Inter prediction mode or Intra Block Copy (IntraBC) mode are disclosed. At least partial pre-deblocking reconstructed video data of a current picture is stored in an on-chip buffer or cache memory. If the current block is coded using IntraBC mode, the pre-deblocking reconstructed video data of the current picture stored in the on-chip buffer or cache memory are used to derive IntraBC prediction for the current block. In some embodiments, if the current block is coded using Inter prediction mode, Inter reference video data from the previous picture stored in the on-chip buffer or cache memory are used to derive Inter prediction for the current block. In another embodiment, the motion compensation/motion estimation unit is shared by the two modes.

Abstract: A method includes providing a structure having a substrate, a fin, and a gate structure; performing an implantation process to implant a dopant into the fin adjacent to the gate structure; and forming gate sidewall spacers and fin sidewall spacers. The method further includes performing a first etching process to recess the fin adjacent to the gate sidewall spacers while keeping at least a portion of the fin above the fin sidewall spacers. The method further includes performing another implantation process to implant the dopant into the fin and the fin sidewall spacers; and performing a second etching process to recess the fin adjacent to the gate sidewall spacers until a top surface of the fin is below a top surface of the fin sidewall spacers, resulting in a trench between the fin sidewall spacers. The method further includes epitaxially growing a semiconductor material in the trench.

Abstract: Methods of palette coding to reduce the required coding process are disclosed. According to one method, smaller blocks are derived from a large block. The histogram of the large block is derived based on the histograms of smaller blocks in the large block. According to another method, one or more palette tables are derived based on multiple blocks. One palette table is used for each of the multiple blocks. According to yet another method, index map transpose is performed in the parsing stage according to the transpose flag of the index map. Accordingly, a buffer to store the transpose flags can be saved. According to still yet another method, the palette predictor update is performed using an index mapping table to avoid the need for shuffling the contents of the palette predictor stored in a palette buffer.

Abstract: A video processing apparatus includes an external storage device, a hardware entropy engine, and a software execution engine. The hardware entropy engine performs entropy processing of a current picture, and further outputs count information to the external storage device during the entropy processing of the current picture. When loaded and executed by the software execution engine, a software program instructs the software execution engine to convert the count information into count table contents, and generate a count table in the external storage device according to at least the count table contents. The count table is referenced to apply a backward adaptation to a probability table that is selectively used by the hardware entropy engine to perform entropy processing of a next picture.

Abstract: A method includes providing a structure having a substrate, a fin, and a gate structure; performing an implantation process to implant a dopant into the fin adjacent to the gate structure; and forming gate sidewall spacers and fin sidewall spacers. The method further includes performing a first etching process to recess the fin adjacent to the gate sidewall spacers while keeping at least a portion of the fin above the fin sidewall spacers. The method further includes performing another implantation process to implant the dopant into the fin and the fin sidewall spacers; and performing a second etching process to recess the fin adjacent to the gate sidewall spacers until a top surface of the fin is below a top surface of the fin sidewall spacers, resulting in a trench between the fin sidewall spacers. The method further includes epitaxially growing a semiconductor material in the trench.

Abstract: In order to overcome the issue caused by a decoded block vector (BV) pointing to a reference block overlapping with an unavailable area, various methods are disclosed. According to one method, if the reference block overlaps with an unavailable area, the reference pixels in the unavailable area are generated for IntraBC prediction of the current block by padding from neighboring available pixels. The padding can be done in the horizontal direction and then the vertical direction. The padding may also done in the vertical direction first and then horizontal direction. In another method, if the reference block overlaps with an unavailable area, the reference pixels in the unavailable area are generated for IntraBC prediction of the current block by using previous decoded pixels in the unavailable area. A pre-defined value may also be used for the unavailable area.

Abstract: A interactive product recommendation method is provided, including: selecting a target product from the plurality of products; loading the product information of the target product; generating a product list according to the product characteristics corresponding to the target product and the user preferences corresponding to at least one user, where the product list includes a plurality of icons corresponding to different products; generating a first label list based on at least one product characteristics corresponding to the target product and the user preferences corresponding to the user, where the first label list has a plurality of first labels corresponding to different product features; and displaying the product information, the product list and the first label list in a user interface. When clicking the icon, displaying another user interface corresponding to the clicked icon. When clicking the first label, updating the product list according to the clicked first label.

Abstract: A method of determining colorability of a layer of a semiconductor device includes iteratively decomposing a conflict graph to remove all nodes having fewer links than a threshold number of links. The method further includes determining whether the decomposed conflict graph is a simplified graph based on a comparison between the decomposed conflict graph and a stored conflict graph. The method further includes determining whether the decomposed conflict graph is colorable based on a number of masks used to pattern the layer of the semiconductor device. The method further includes flagging violations in response to a determination that the decomposed conflict graph is not colorable.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for video encoding or decoding used by an AVS2 (Second Generation of Audio Video Coding Standard) video encoder or decoder respectively are disclosed. According to this method, first motion vectors associated with spatial neighboring blocks of a current block are determined. For each spatial neighboring block, a value of 1 is assigned to a first BlockDistance associated with the spatial neighboring block if a corresponding first reference picture is a G picture or GB picture. Motion vector predictor candidates are derived from the first motion vectors by scaling each first motion vector according to a corresponding first BlockDistance and a current BlockDistance. A final motion vector predictor is determined among the motion vector predictor candidates.

Abstract: A decoding apparatus is used for decoding region of interest (ROI) regions in an image, and includes a storage device, a pre-processing circuit, a decoding circuit, and an information fetching circuit. The pre-processing circuit performs a syntax pre-parsing operation upon a bitstream to obtain necessary information of the ROI regions, and stores the necessary information into the storage device. The decoding circuit performs a decoding operation upon the bitstream to decode the ROI regions, wherein the decoding operation includes syntax parsing of the bitstream. The information fetching circuit reads and analyzes the necessary information, and delivers at least a portion of the necessary information to the decoding circuit. A processing time of obtaining necessary information of one ROI region at the pre-processing circuit overlaps a processing time of decoding another ROI region at the decoding circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus is capable of achieving high-throughput entropy decoding, and includes an arithmetic decoding processing circuitry and a variable-length decoder (VLD). The arithmetic decoding processing circuitry receives a video bitstream through a bitstream input, applies arithmetic decoding to at least a portion of the video bitstream to derive one or more arithmetic-decoded binary strings containing no arithmetic encoded binary string, and stores the arithmetic-decoded binary strings in the storage device. The variable-length decoder is coupled to the arithmetic decoding processing circuitry, the storage device and a VLD output. The variable-length decoder receives at least a portion of arithmetic-decoded bitstream when arithmetic-decoded bitstreams stored in the storage device are complete for a selected image unit, decodes at least a portion of arithmetic-decoded bitstream into one or more decoded syntax elements, and provides the decoded syntax elements through the VLD output.

Abstract: A residual processing circuit has a single-path pipeline and a single-path controller. The single-path pipeline has an inverse scan (IS) circuit, an inverse quantization (IQ) circuit and an inverse transform (IT) circuit arranged to process a current non-zero residual data block in a pipeline manner. The current non-zero residual data block is at least a portion of a transform unit. The single-path controller controls pipelined processing of the current non-zero residual data block at the single-path pipeline. The single-path controller instructs the IS circuit to start IS processing of a next non-zero residual data block before the IT circuit finishes a first half of IT processing of the current non-zero residual data block.

Abstract: A video transmitting system includes a source buffer, a video encoder, a bitstream buffer, and a transmitting circuit. The source buffer receives pixel data of pixels of a video frame. The video encoder retrieve pixel data of a portion of the pixels of the video frame from the source buffer, and starts encoding the pixel data of the portion of the pixels before pixel data of a last pixel of the video frame is received by the source buffer. The bitstream buffer receives a network abstraction layer (NAL) stream from the video encoder, wherein the NAL stream is generated by encoding the pixel data of the portion of the pixels. The transmitting circuit retrieves the NAL stream from the bitstream buffer, and starts outputting the NAL stream before the pixel data of the last pixel of the video frame is encoded by the video encoder.

Abstract: A video decoding method is used for decoding a multi-plane video bitstream. The multi-plane video bitstream includes a first video subset bitstream corresponding to a fundamental plane (FP) and at least one second video subset bitstream corresponding to at least one augmented plane (AP). The video decoding method includes decoding the first video subset bitstream, decoding the at least one second video subset bitstream, and performing resampling of one decoded FP frame to generate one resampled frame. Decoding the first video subset bitstream includes performing decoding of a first FP frame to generate a first decoded FP frame. Decoding the at least one second video subset bitstream includes performing decoding of a first AP frame to generate a first decoded AP frame. A processing time of performing decoding of the first FP frame overlaps a processing time of performing resampling of said one decoded FP frame.

Abstract: An electrodeless lamp driven by a microwave generator is disclosed. The electrodeless lamp includes a first infill composed of mercury-free metal halide and provides a continuous full spectrum radiation including ultraviolet ray, visible light, and infrared ray. Thereby, the electrodeless lamp, which meets the standard of AM 1.5 G, has advantages of environmental friendliness, high efficacy lighting, long service life, and low light decay, and therefore, have become applicable in the field of solar simulators.

Abstract: An apparatus for multi-standard bin decoding in a video decoder for decoding two video coded in two different video coding standards is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first bin decoder to decode one or more first bin strings, a second bin decoder to decode one or more second bin strings, a standard change control module coupled to the first bin decoder and the second bin decoder and a system controller coupled to the standard change control module, the first bin decoder and the second bin decoder. The standard change control module or the system controller selects either a next slice or picture to be decoded by the first bin decoder or the second bin decoder based on one or more control parameters including the decoding time information.