Abstract: Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) systems use light pulses to create an image or point cloud of an environment. This LiDAR system and method having data encoding and compression improves the efficiency and communication reliability of point cloud data using data encoding and compression. After receiving return light pulse reflected by an object in the FOV, the system converts the detected optical signal data into raw data for the purpose of generating trigger data, encoder data, and time synchronization data from the raw data. The system further configures output data in a compressed format using the least amount of bits to carry the same amount of information defining point cloud data describing an external environment and the computational load is reduced. The compressed format comprises a data set for one baseline channel and differential channel data for one or more channels based upon the baseline channel.

Abstract: A Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) scanning system, having a window blockage detector, aids in delivering reliable point cloud data associated with surroundings during instances of window blockage. A laser source within the system may generate one or more beams of light transmitted through a window, scanning the surroundings for external objects. The window blockage detector couples to receive scattered light from the window, as well as returning light from an object in the path of one or more light beams. From the scattered and returning light pulses, the window blockage detector having a thresholding method determines a window state relative to a select one of the following states including, unblocked, blocked, and null; wherein the null state exists when the beam of light intersects an empty sky or a highly absorbent object. Thereby, the LiDAR system provide a more accurate picture of a vehicles surrounding.

Abstract: A time-of-flight sensor includes a pixel array of pixel circuits. A first subset of the pixel circuits is illuminated by reflected modulated light from a portion of an object. A second subset of the pixel circuits is non-illuminated by the reflected modulated light. Each pixel circuit includes a floating diffusion that stores a portion of charge photogenerated in a photodiode in response to the reflected modulated light. A transfer transistor transfers the portion of charge from the photodiode to the floating diffusion in response to modulation by a phase modulation signal. A modulation driver block generates the phase modulation signal and is coupled to a light source that emits the modulated light to the portion of the object. The modulation driver block synchronizes scanning the modulated light emitted by the light source across the object with scanning of the first subset of the pixel circuits across the pixel array.

Abstract: A light guide module includes a cover plate, a light-shielding layer, a light guide plate, and at least one light source. The light-shielding layer is disposed under the cover plate and has a width less than about 4 mm. The light guide plate is disposed under the cover plate. The light guide plate has a reflective surface and a light-exiting surface opposite to each other, and a light-incident surface and three side surfaces connected between the reflective surface and the light-exiting surface. The light source is configured to emit light toward the light-incident surface. A surface roughness of the three side surfaces ranges from about 300 nm to about 400 nm, so that a change rate of brightness measured by any adjacent two of measuring points evenly distributed on the light-exiting surface is between about 8% and about 12%.

Abstract: An audio signal processing method including the following steps: acquiring a bone conduction audio signal collected by a bone conduction vibration pickup device; acquiring a low frequency transfer function which matches the bone conduction audio signal and a high frequency transfer function corresponding to the low frequency transfer function, wherein the low frequency transfer function and the high frequency transfer function are corresponding transfer functions between the bone conduction audio signal and an air conduction audio signal which correspond to the same voice; and performing frequency domain extension on the bone conduction audio signal on the basis of the low frequency transfer function and the high frequency transfer function, and taking the extended initial audio as output audio. The effect of improving the integrity pf a voice signal collected by a terminal device is achieved.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method includes: forming a gate stack over a substrate; growing a source/drain region adjacent the gate stack, the source/drain region being n-type doped Si; growing a semiconductor cap layer over the source/drain region, the semiconductor cap layer having Ge impurities, the source/drain region free of the Ge impurities; depositing a metal layer over the semiconductor cap layer; annealing the metal layer and the semiconductor cap layer to form a silicide layer over the source/drain region, the silicide layer having the Ge impurities; and forming a metal contact electrically coupled to the silicide layer.

Abstract: A dopant boost in the source/drain regions of a semiconductor device, such as a transistor can be provided. A semiconductor device can include a doped epitaxy of a first material having a plurality of boosting layers embedded within. The boosting layers can be of a second material different from the first material. Another device can include a source/drain feature of a transistor. The source/drain feature includes a doped source/drain material and one or more embedded distinct boosting layers. A method includes growing a boosting layer in a recess of a substrate, where the boosting layer is substantially free of dopant. The method also includes growing a layer of doped epitaxy in the recess on the boosting layer.

Abstract: A light guide module includes a cover plate, a light-shielding layer, a light guide plate, and at least one light source. The light-shielding layer is disposed under the cover plate and has a width less than about 4 mm. The light guide plate is disposed under the cover plate. The light guide plate has a reflective surface and a light-exiting surface opposite to each other, and a light-incident surface and three side surfaces connected between the reflective surface and the light-exiting surface. The light source is configured to emit light toward the light-incident surface. A surface roughness of the three side surfaces ranges from about 300 nm to about 400 nm, so that a change rate of brightness measured by any adjacent two of measuring points evenly distributed on the light-exiting surface is between about 8% and about 12%.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system for scanning and reconfiguring regions-of-interest (ROIs) is provided. The system comprises a LiDAR scanner configured to scan a current set of ROIs within a field-of-view (FOV), and a LiDAR perception sub-system coupled to the LiDAR scanner. The LIDAR perception sub-system includes instructions for: obtaining sensor data provided at least by the LiDAR scanner; deriving one or more current perceptions based on the sensor data; obtaining one or more predefined perception policies; determining one or more policy-based ROI candidates; determining whether an ROI reconfiguration request is provided, based on a vehicle perception decision; determining one or more request-based ROI candidates based on the ROI reconfiguration request; and determining a next set of ROIs for the LiDAR scanner to scan based on the current set of ROIs, and one or both of the one or more policy-based ROI candidates and the one or more request-based ROI candidates.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a pixel array configured to generate image charge voltage signals in response to incident light received from an external scene. An infrared illumination source is deactivated during the capture of a first image of the external scene and activated during the capture of a second image of the external scene. An array of sample and hold circuits is coupled to the pixel array. Each sample and hold circuit is coupled to a respective pixel of the pixel array and includes first and second capacitors to store first and second image charge voltage signals of the captured first and second images, respectively. A column voltage domain differential amplifier is coupled to the first and second capacitors to determine a difference between the first and second image charge voltage signals to identify an object in a foreground of the external scene.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for treating cancer, comprising administering to a subject having cancer a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-GITR antibody alone or together with an anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 antibody.

Abstract: A pixel readout circuit includes an analog to digital converter coupled to the bitline output of the pixel circuit. A switch is coupled between the bitline output of the pixel circuit and a reference voltage. The switch is pulsed on and off a first time to settle the bitline to the reference voltage prior to an autozero operation of the analog to digital converter. The switch is pulsed on and off a second time to settle the bitline to the reference voltage after the autozero operation and prior to a first analog to digital conversion. The switch is configured to be pulsed on and off a third time to settle the bitline to the reference voltage after the first analog to digital conversion operation and prior to a second analog to digital conversion operation.

Abstract: A metrology system comprising a target object, a metrology instrument and a control unit configured for controlling an alignment of the targeting unit and for deriving an orientation of the target object. The metrology instrument comprises a zoom objective, an illumination unit and a time-of-flight sensor comprising an array of pixels and capable of providing range data for each pixel of the array as point cloud data, the time-of-flight sensor provides the distance measuring device. The control unit comprises an object determination functionality which provides receiving the point cloud data provided by the time-of-flight sensor, deriving a digital representation of the target object by processing the point cloud data, comparing the digital representation of the target object with a reference pattern of the target object, and determining the orientation of the target object based on the comparison of the digital representation of the target object with the reference pattern.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a fin structure having a channel region protruding from an isolation insulating layer disposed over a semiconductor substrate is formed, a cleaning operation is performed, and an epitaxial semiconductor layer is formed over the channel region. The cleaning operation and the forming the epitaxial semiconductor layer are performed in a same chamber without breaking vacuum.

Abstract: A differential subrange analog-to-digital converter (ADC) converts differential analog image signals received from sample and hold circuits to a digital signal through an ADC comparator. The comparator of the differential subrange ADC is shared by a successive approximation register (SAR) ADC coupled to provide both M upper output bits (UOB) and a ramp ADC coupled to provide N lower output bits (LOB). Digital-to-analog converters (DACs) of the differential subrange SAR ADC comprises 2M buffered bit capacitor fingers connected to the comparator. Each buffered bit capacitor finger comprises a bit capacitor, a bit buffer, and a bit switch controlled by the UOB. Both DACs are initialized to preset values and finalized based on the values of the least significant bit of the UOB. The subsequent ramp ADC operation will be ensured to have its first ramp signal ramps in a monotonic direction and its second ramp signal ramp in an opposite direction.

Abstract: A differential subrange analog-to-digital converter (ADC) converts differential analog image signals received from sample and hold circuits to a digital signal through an ADC comparator. The comparator of the differential subrange ADC is shared by a successive approximation register (SAR) ADC coupled to provide both M upper output bits (UOB) and a ramp ADC coupled to provide N lower output bits (LOB). Digital-to-analog converters (DACs) of the differential subrange SAR ADC comprises 2M buffered bit capacitor fingers connected to the comparator. Each buffered bit capacitor finger comprises a bit capacitor, a bit buffer, and a bit switch controlled by the UOB. Both DACs are initialized to preset values and finalized based on the values of the least significant bit of the UOB. The subsequent ramp ADC operation will be ensured to have its first ramp signal ramps in a monotonic direction and its second ramp signal ramp in an opposite direction.

Abstract: Some implementations described herein provide a method that includes forming a set of fins of a device, where the set of fins comprises an isolation fin disposed between a first fin and a second fin of the set of fins. The method also includes forming an isolation structure on at least one side of the isolation fin, with the isolation fin providing electrical isolation between the first fin and the second fin of the set of fins. Additionally, or alternatively, some implementations described herein provide a method that includes forming a funnel-shaped isolation structure between a first set of fins and a second set of fins. Additionally, or alternatively, some implementations described herein provide a method that includes forming, after forming a first gate structure and a second gate structure, an isolation structure between the first gate structure and the second gate structure.

Abstract: A time-of-flight sensor includes an integrated circuit chip in which a voltage regulator and a load are disposed. The load includes a grouping of pixel circuits and modulation driver that is supplied power from the voltage regulator. The grouping of pixel circuits included in a pixel array disposed in the integrated circuit trip. Each one of the pixel circuits includes a photodiode configured to photogenerate charge in response to reflected modulated light, a floating diffusion configured to store a portion of charge photogenerated in the photodiode, and transfer transistor to transfer the portion of charge from the photodiode to the floating diffusion in response to a phase modulation signal generated by the modulation driver. A feedback circuit is coupled between the load and the voltage regulator and is coupled to receive a feedback signal from the feedback circuit in response to the load.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method includes: forming a gate stack over a substrate; growing a source/drain region adjacent the gate stack, the source/drain region being n-type doped Si; growing a semiconductor cap layer over the source/drain region, the semiconductor cap layer having Ge impurities, the source/drain region free of the Ge impurities; depositing a metal layer over the semiconductor cap layer; annealing the metal layer and the semiconductor cap layer to form a silicide layer over the source/drain region, the silicide layer having the Ge impurities; and forming a metal contact electrically coupled to the silicide layer.

Abstract: A time-of-flight sensor includes a pixel array of pixel circuits. A first subset of the pixel circuits is illuminated by reflected modulated light from a portion of an object. A second subset of the pixel circuits is non-illuminated by the reflected modulated light. Each pixel circuit includes a floating diffusion that stores a portion of charge photogenerated in a photodiode in response to the reflected modulated light. A transfer transistor transfers the portion of charge from the photodiode to the floating diffusion in response to modulation by a phase modulation signal. A modulation driver block generates the phase modulation signal and is coupled to a light source that emits the modulated light to the portion of the object. The modulation driver block synchronizes scanning the modulated light emitted by the light source across the object with scanning of the first subset of the pixel circuits across the pixel array.