Abstract: A method includes providing a substrate having a surface such that a first hard mask layer is formed over the surface and a second hard mask layer is formed over the first hard mask layer, forming a first pattern in the second hard mask layer, where the first pattern includes a first mandrel oriented lengthwise in a first direction and a second mandrel oriented lengthwise in a second direction different from the first direction, and where the first mandrel has a top surface, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall opposite to the first sidewall, and depositing a material towards the first mandrel and the second mandrel such that a layer of the material is formed on the top surface and the first sidewall but not the second sidewall of the first mandrel.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a wireless charging switching method, which includes steps as follows. After a proximity sensor disposed in the central area of a coil senses an object, it is determined whether a power bus voltage of a wireless power transceiver electrically connected to the coil has reached a predetermined voltage value during a predetermined period, so as to determine a receiver mode or a transmitter mode for the wireless power transceiver.

Abstract: An energy storage device and a temperature control method thereof are provided. When a temperature of a battery is lower than a preset temperature and an alternating current-direct current conversion circuit receives an alternating current input voltage, an inductance-capacitance resonance circuit and a direct current-direct current conversion circuit are controlled to use electrical energy provided by the alternating current-direct current conversion circuit to generate a resonant current to heat the battery. When the temperature of the battery is lower than the preset temperature and the alternating current-direct current conversion circuit does not receive the alternating current input voltage, the inductance-capacitance resonance circuit and the direct current-direct current conversion circuit are controlled to use electrical energy provided by the battery to generate a resonant current to heat the battery.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for the RRC message segmentation. In one novel aspect, the UE obtains the size Z of the RRC message and the size limit L of the underlying transmission at layer S of the UE protocol stack, wherein the layer S either the RRC layer, the PDCP layer, or a sublayer between an RRC layer and a PDCP layer. The UE triggers RRC message segmentation upon detecting Z is greater than L. In another embodiment, the layer R of the protocol stack of the UE receives, in order, a sequence of chunks of an RRC message, reassembles of the RRC message, wherein the layer R is selected from a same layer as the layer S and a layer higher than the layer S. In one novel aspect, the size limitation L is either predefined or obtained through network notification or UE inquiry.

Abstract: An energy storage device and a method thereof are provided. The power transfer circuit transfers a DC voltage provided by a battery module into an AC output voltage to provide the AC output voltage to an output end of the power transfer circuit for providing power to a load. When the AC output voltage is at a default phase, the power transfer circuit is disabled in a default period, and whether the energy storage device may be shut down is determined according to a voltage difference of the AC output voltage sensed by a sensing circuit during the default period.

Abstract: An energy storage device and a method thereof for supplying power are provided. Control a power conversion circuit to lower an AC output voltage during a preset period to a preset voltage, control the power conversion circuit to change from outputting the preset voltage to outputting a surge voltage, so that the power conversion circuit enters a surge generation period, and determine whether to turn off the energy storage device according to whether an output terminal of the power conversion circuit generating a surge current during the surge generation period.

Abstract: A Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) based true random number generator (TRNG), a method for generating true random numbers, and an associated electronic device are provided. The PUF based TRNG may include a first obfuscation circuit, a cryptography circuit coupled to the first obfuscation circuit, and a second obfuscation circuit coupled to the cryptography circuit. The first obfuscation circuit obtains a first PUF value from a PUF pool of the electronic device, and performs a first obfuscation function on a preliminary seed based on the first PUF value to generate a final seed. The cryptography circuit utilizes the final seed as a key of a cryptography function to generate preliminary random numbers. The second obfuscation circuit obtains a second PUF value from the PUF pool, and performs a second obfuscation function on the preliminary random numbers based on the second PUF value to generate final random numbers.

Abstract: An energy storage system and a power supply method thereof are provided. First and second energy storage devices are connected in series between an AC power source and a load. When the AC power source is normal, the AC power source is used to charge the first energy storage device and provided to the second energy storage device for charging. When the AC power source is abnormal, an output of the first energy storage device is switched from the AC power source to a first energy storage power source, and the second energy storage device is disabled from using the first energy storage power source for charging. A power source provided by the first energy storage device or a second energy storage power source provided by the second energy storage circuit is output to the load according to a power supply state of the first energy storage device.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a wireless charging switching method, which includes steps as follows. After a proximity sensor disposed in the central area of a coil senses an object, it is determined whether a power bus voltage of a wireless power transceiver electrically connected to the coil has reached a predetermined voltage value during a predetermined period, so as to determine a receiver mode or a transmitter mode for the wireless power transceiver.

Abstract: An energy storage system and a power supply method thereof are provided. First and second energy storage devices are connected in series between an AC power source and a load. When the AC power source is normal, the AC power source is used to charge the first energy storage device and provided to the second energy storage device for charging. When the AC power source is abnormal, an output of the first energy storage device is switched from the AC power source to a first energy storage power source, and the second energy storage device is disabled from using the first energy storage power source for charging. A power source provided by the first energy storage device or a second energy storage power source provided by the second energy storage circuit is output to the load according to a power supply state of the first energy storage device.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a case body, a wireless transmission circuit, a voice processing circuit, a control circuit, and a wireless charging circuit. The case body is configured to hold an external electronic device. The wireless transmission circuit is configured to wirelessly connect the external electronic devices. The voice processing circuit is configured to generate a voice command according to a voice signal, and transmit the voice command to the external electronic devices. The wireless charging circuit is configured to couple the external electronic device to receive a first voltage, and convert the first voltage to a storage voltage to supply power to the control circuit, the wireless transmission circuit, and the voice processing circuit.

Abstract: A method of operating the physically unclonable function (PUF)-based key management system includes upon receiving a key generation request including a parameter, a load balancer dispatching a key generation request including a parameter from an external device according to workloads of a plurality of key management components (KMCs). A KMC having minimum workload among the plurality of KMCs is designated as the key-generation KMC and the key generation request is dispatched thereto, and remaining KMCs of the plurality of KMCs are designated as backup KMCs. The method further includes the key-generation KMC generating a key according to the parameter and a first PUF sequence, transmitting the key and an identifier associated therewith to the backup KMC via a backup channel, and the backup KMC generating a wrapped key according to the key and a second PUF sequence.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for UE-triggered handover and early preparation with coexistence of the network-triggered handover. In one novel aspect, the UE is configured early measurement report configuration, receives an early handover command from the serving base station with a handover candidate cell list, monitors handover triggering conditions for each candidate cell on the handover candidate cell list based on a UE-triggered handover configuration and performs the UE-triggered handover to a candidate cell when the corresponding triggering condition is met for the candidate cell. In one embodiment, the UE receives a network-triggered handover command to a target cell, suspends the UE-triggered handover configuration and performs the network-triggered handover to the target cell. The UE discards the UE-triggered handover configuration upon success of the network-triggered handover and resumes the UE-triggered handover configuration upon failure of the network-triggered handover.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for handover robustness. In novel aspect, the UE receives a conditional handover (CHO) command from a source gNB containing a set of candidate cells with corresponding triggering conditions; detects a handover conditions for a target gNB belonging to the set of candidate cells; and performs HO procedure towards the target gNB. In one embodiment, the conditional HO command further configures a validity timer that controls a validity of handover conditions for the set of candidate cells. The validity timer is started upon receiving the conditional HO command, the validity timer is stopped upon detecting at least one events comprising a handover condition is met and a normal handover command is received, and the conditional HO command is set to be invalid upon the expiration of the validity timer.

Abstract: A Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) based true random number generator (TRNG), a method for generating true random numbers, and an associated electronic device are provided. The PUF based TRNG may include a first obfuscation circuit, a cryptography circuit coupled to the first obfuscation circuit, and a second obfuscation circuit coupled to the cryptography circuit. The first obfuscation circuit obtains a first PUF value from a PUF pool of the electronic device, and performs a first obfuscation function on a preliminary seed based on the first PUF value to generate a final seed. The cryptography circuit utilizes the final seed as a key of a cryptography function to generate preliminary random numbers. The second obfuscation circuit obtains a second PUF value from the PUF pool, and performs a second obfuscation function on the preliminary random numbers based on the second PUF value to generate final random numbers.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for the RRC message segmentation. In one novel aspect, the UE obtains the size Z of the RRC message and the size limit L of the underlying transmission at layer S of the UE protocol stack, wherein the layer S either the RRC layer, the PDCP layer, or a sublayer between an RRC layer and a PDCP layer. The UE triggers RRC message segmentation upon detecting Z is greater than L. In another embodiment, the layer R of the protocol stack of the UE receives, in order, a sequence of chunks of an RRC message, reassembles of the RRC message, wherein the layer R is selected from a same layer as the layer S and a layer higher than the layer S. In one novel aspect, the size limitation L is either predefined or obtained through network notification or UE inquiry.

Abstract: A User Equipment (UE) de-multiplexes a paging indication, which precedes a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) in time and is generated using the same sequence generation formula as that for generating a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS) in the SSB. From the de-multiplexed paging indication, the UE detects that it is paged for message reception and wakes up to receive the message in a next data reception period of the UE's DRX cycle.

Abstract: A charging apparatus is provided. A detection circuit includes a voltage dividing path between an output terminal of a charging circuit and an output terminal of a reference voltage generating circuit. The detection circuit provides a detection signal according to a divided voltage on the voltage dividing path. A control circuit determines whether a load is connected to the charging apparatus according to the detection signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for the RRC message segmentation. In one novel aspect, the UE obtains the size Z of the RRC message and the size limit L of the underlying transmission at layer S of the UE protocol stack, wherein the layer S either the RRC layer, the PDCP layer, or a sublayer between an RRC layer and a PDCP layer. The UE triggers RRC message segmentation upon detecting Z is greater than L. In another embodiment, the layer R of the protocol stack of the UE receives, in order, a sequence of chunks of an RRC message, reassembles of the RRC message, wherein the layer R is selected from a same layer as the layer S and a layer higher than the layer S. In one novel aspect, the size limitation L is either predefined or obtained through network notification or UE inquiry.

Abstract: In one aspect, a User Equipment (UE) performs Radio Resource Management (RRM) measurements on downlink signals with a first cycle period equal to the UE's Discontinuous Reception (DRX) cycle period. The RRM measurements cycle period is lengthened when UE detects that a signal quality measurement of the primary cell is greater than the sum of a positive offset and a signal quality measurement of a neighboring cell having the best signal quality among all of UE's neighboring cells. In another aspect, a UE de-multiplexes a paging indication which precedes a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) in time and is generated using the same sequence generation formula as that for generating a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS) in the SSB. From the de-multiplexed paging indication, the UE detects that it is paged for message reception and wakes up to receive the message in a next data reception period of the UE's DRX cycle.