Abstract: Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices are provided. A substrate having active patterns and isolating layer patterns is prepared. Each of the isolating layer patterns has an upper surface higher than that of each of the active patterns. A spacer layer having a uniform thickness is formed on the substrate. The spacer layer is etched to form a spacer on a sidewall of each of the isolating layer patterns. A gate structure is formed on each of the active patterns. A selective epitaxial growth (SEG) process is performed on the active patterns having the gate structure to form isolated epitaxial layers that have upper surfaces higher than those of the isolating layer patterns, on the active patterns. Related semiconductor devices are also provided.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices are provided. A substrate having active patterns and isolating layer patterns is prepared. Each of the isolating layer patterns has an upper surface higher than that of each of the active patterns. A spacer layer having a uniform thickness is formed on the substrate. The spacer layer is etched to form a spacer on a sidewall of each of the isolating layer patterns. A gate structure is formed on each of the active patterns. A selective epitaxial growth (SEG) process is performed on the active patterns having the gate structure to form isolated epitaxial layers that have upper surfaces higher than those of the isolating layer patterns, on the active patterns. Related semiconductor devices are also provided.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices include forming a transistor on and/or in a semiconductor substrate, wherein the transistor includes a source/drain region and a gate pattern disposed on a channel region adjacent the source/drain region. An insulating layer is formed on the transistor and patterned to expose the source/drain region. A semiconductor source layer is formed on the exposed source/drain region and on an adjacent portion of the insulating layer. A metal source layer is formed on the semiconductor source layer. Annealing, is performed to form a first metal-semiconductor compound region on the source/drain region and a second metal-semiconductor compound region on the adjacent portion of the insulating layer. The first metal-semiconductor compound region may be thicker than the second metal-semiconductor compound region. The metal source layer may include a metal layer and a metal nitride barrier layer.

Abstract: A system for customized prediction of a menstruation period or a fertility period is provided. The system includes a vital information measurer for measuring vital information about a user, a basic menstruation information generator for calculating the first day of menstruation or an ovulation day using the vital information received from the vital information measurer and outputting the first day of menstruation or the ovulation day as basic menstruation information, a menstruation cycle modeler having a menstruation cycle model representing a menstruation cycle as a function with a predetermined period, and a model parameter estimator for estimating and compensating a menstruation cycle parameter of the menstruation cycle model using the basic menstruation information received from the basic menstruation information generator.

Abstract: A resource allocation method for an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing access (OFDMA) system is provided. The resource allocation method includes dividing a frequency band occupied by a predetermined number of OFDM symbols into a plurality of subbands and determining the number of diversity subchannels, each of which comprises at least two time-frequency resources respectively included in different subbands, and the number of subband selective subchannels, which comprise time-frequency resources that are not included in the diversity subchannels; and generating the diversity subchannels and the subband selective subchannels according to the determined numbers and allocating a physical channel comprised of a generated subchannel to a user in a cell. Accordingly, diversity is enhanced without reducing the freedom of selection of a subband.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting a fixing pressure of an image forming apparatus is provided. The apparatus for adjusting the fixing pressure includes a pair of pressing members to rotatably support an axis of a first roller from both ends and to rotate about a hinge shaft to cause the first roller to press against a second roller, a pair of hinge cams to move the hinge shaft of the pair of pressing members in either of two directions, a driving unit to rotate the pair of hinge cams, and a control unit to control the driving unit to adjust the position of the hinge shaft.

Abstract: Provided is a method of determining a similarity between a target image and a reference image. The method includes (a) obtaining related approximation pixel-values of the reference image pt having overall relationship between coordinates (x, y) and original pixel-values ft of pixels of the reference image; (b) obtaining related approximation pixel-values of the target image ps having overall relationship between coordinates (x, y) and original pixel-values fs of pixels of the target image; and (c) determining the similarity using the target related approximation pixel-values ps and the reference related approximation pixel-values pt.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a paper supply apparatus including an adjustable knock-up plate to store a plurality of papers and having a lifter, a pick-up roller and feed roller to pick up each of the plurality of papers and feed each of the plurality of papers into the image forming device respectively, a motor to drive a plurality of units in the image forming device including the knock-up plate, and a brake unit to selectively transmit and disconnect power to the lifter. The lifting operation of the knock-up plate, to smoothly supply papers to the image forming device, is performed by receiving power from an existing arbitrary motor installed within the image forming device, and not from an exclusive motor that is solely used to drive and lift the knock-up plate.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder and a scanner having the same are provided. The automatic document feeder can include a transport unit configured to transport a document to a scanning unit, an apparatus main body configured to hold the transport unit, a cover configured to be rotatably disposed on the apparatus main body, and a sensing unit disposed on a document transportation path to sense whether the cover is open or closed, the position of the document, or both. The automatic document feeder and the scanner having the same are configured to allow a jammed document to be ejected without having the document be damaged.

Abstract: Provided are a chip mounter and a method for recognizing a Ball Grid Array (BGA) package through a chip mounter. The chip mounter includes a BGA package recognition apparatus which includes an image acquisition unit which acquires image information of a BGA package which includes a plurality of solder balls having n patterns (n?1), a pattern recognition unit which analyzes the image information and outputs information about the BGA package, and a storage unit which stores the information about the BGA package, wherein the pattern recognition unit recognizes the n patterns, selects n seeds respectively corresponding to the n patterns and performs a seed growing operation which groups solder balls which are continuously located adjacent to the seed and have the same pattern as the seed into the same group as the seed, with respect to each of the n seeds.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing a field effect transistor include forming a gate pattern on a substrate. A gate spacer is formed on a sidewall of the gate pattern. A first layer is formed from a surface of the substrate and contacting the gate spacer using a first selective epitaxial growth (SEG) process at a first temperature. A second layer is formed from a surface of the first layer and contacting the gate spacer using a second SEG process at a second temperature. The second temperature is lower than the first temperature. The first and second layers define elevated source/drain regions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus discharging a printed medium at a stable speed. A image developer affixes an image to a printing medium to form a printed medium and a transporting roller moves the printed medium toward a discharge roller. A one-way clutch driving the transport roller permits the discharge roller to assert control over the printed medium while the printed medium is in contact with the transport roller. The discharge roller is controllable to accelerate and decelerate the printed medium so that printed media are orderly stacked. The one way clutch permits the discharge roller and the transport roller to be spaced apart less than a length of the printed medium.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming at least one capping layer over epitaxial source/drain regions of a PMOS device, forming a stress memorization (SM) layer over the PMOS device including the at least one capping layer and over an adjacent NMOS device, and treating the SM layer formed over the NMOS and PMOS devices to induce tensile stress in a channel region of the NMOS device.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices are provided. A substrate having active patterns and isolating layer patterns is prepared. Each of the isolating layer patterns has an upper surface higher than that of each of the active patterns. A spacer layer having a uniform thickness is formed on the substrate. The spacer layer is etched to form a spacer on a sidewall of each of the isolating layer patterns. A gate structure is formed on each of the active patterns. A selective epitaxial growth (SEG) process is performed on the active patterns having the gate structure to form isolated epitaxial layers that have upper surfaces higher than those of the isolating layer patterns, on the active patterns. Related semiconductor devices are also provided.

Abstract: A paper supply apparatus to supply paper to printing devices such as printers or copiers. The paper supply apparatus includes a knock-up plate on which papers are stacked, a pick-up roller that feeds the papers into the printing device by picking up the papers stacked on the knock-up plate, a lifter that lifts the knock-up plate so that the papers stacked on the knock-up plate continuously contact with the pick-up roller, a motor for driving apparatuses in the printing device, a spring clutch that connects the motor to the lifter to transmit power, and a brake lever that selectively transmits power according to height variations of the pick-up roller via the spring clutch. In the paper supply apparatus, since the knock-up plate can be lifted using the power of the motor that is used for driving other apparatuses of the printing device, an exclusive motor for supplying paper is unnecessary, thereby reducing the number of parts and power consumption.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting a fixing pressure of an image forming apparatus is provided. The apparatus for adjusting the fixing pressure includes a pair of pressing members to rotatably support an axis of a first roller from both ends and to rotate about a hinge shaft to cause the first roller to press against a second roller, a pair of hinge cams to move the hinge shaft of the pair of pressing members in either of two directions, a driving unit to rotate the pair of hinge cams, and a control unit to control the driving unit to adjust the position of the hinge shaft.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a structure to lift or lower a paper loading tray without a separate drive source while preventing damage to constituent elements even under an abnormal situation in that excessive force is transmitted to the paper loading tray. The image forming apparatus includes a paper feeding cassette including a paper loading tray and a lifting member to lift or lower the paper loading tray, the paper feeding cassette being detachably coupled to the body, a power intermittence device to intermit power to be transmitted from a drive source provided in a body of the image forming apparatus to the lifting member, and a power transmission device to transmit the power transmitted through the power intermittence device to the lifting member by use of at least one worm gear. The image forming apparatus further includes a safety lever having one end to cooperate with a pickup roller assembly.

Abstract: A fabrication method and a related semiconductor device are disclosed. The method includes; forming a gate structure on a semiconductor substrate, the gate structure comprising a stacked combination a gate dielectric pattern, a gate, a capping layer pattern and an epitaxial blocking layer pattern, forming sidewall spacers on the gate structure covering at least sidewall portions of the gate dielectric pattern, the gate, and the capping layer pattern, wherein the epitaxial blocking layer pattern is exposed on a top surface of the gate structure, forming an elevated epitaxial layer on the semiconductor substrate outside the gate structure using a selective epitaxial growth process, and forming elevated source/drain regions by applying an ion implantation process to the semiconductor substrate following formation of the elevated epitaxial layer, wherein the epitaxial blocking layer is a nitrogen enhanced layer relative to the capping layer pattern.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing a field effect transistor include forming a gate pattern on a substrate. A gate spacer is formed on a sidewall of the gate pattern. A first layer is formed from a surface of the substrate and contacting the gate spacer using a first selective epitaxial growth (SEG) process at a first temperature. A second layer is formed from a surface of the first layer and contacting the gate spacer using a second SEG process at a second temperature. The second temperature is lower than the first temperature. The first and second layers define elevated source/drain regions.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system for providing a call service for a mobile terminal to an application server. The system includes a location server that manages a location of the mobile terminal in an idle state by a paging group identifier. A paging controller detects a state and a location of the mobile terminal from the location server. When the mobile terminal is in the idle state, the paging controller requests a paging operation from at least one paging controller corresponding to the paging group having the mobile terminal so that the mobile terminal receives a network address when in the idle state, and provides the network address to the application server.