Abstract: A processing system, such as typically a CPU, is used for converting a digital signal organized in pixels, such as a video signal, between a first format and a second multiple-description format. The system comprises at least one input register and at least one output register, and is configured via instructions, that can be constituted at least in part by instructions of a SIMD type, so as to: order the pixels of the signal to be converted in a set of input registers; and take selectively the pixels from the aforesaid set of input registers and place them in an orderly way in at least one output register.

Abstract: A pressure sensor including a pressure-sensor element having a monolithic body of semiconductor material, and a first main face and a second main face acting on which is a stress resulting from a pressure, the value of which is to be determined; and a package enclosing the pressure-sensor element. The package has an inner chamber containing liquid material, and the pressure-sensor element is arranged within the inner chamber in such a manner that the first and second main faces are both in contact with the liquid material. In particular, the liquid material is a silicone gel.

Abstract: The system carries out conversion of digital video signals organized in blocks of pixels from a first format to a second format. The second format is a format compressed via vector quantization. The vector quantization is performed by means of repeated application of a scalar quantizer to the pixels of said blocks with a quantization step (Q) determined in an adaptive way according to the characteristics of sharpness and/or brightness of the pixels and representing said vector quantization in a n-dimensional space indicative of the characteristics on n of said pixels in the block partitioned into cells of size proportional to said quantization step, each cell being assigned to an appropriate binary code, wherein said process further includes identifying at least one symmetry element in said n-dimensional space suitable for separating at least two symmetrical set of cells, and selecting one of said at least two symmetrical set of cells for the assignment of said binary codes.

Abstract: A method processes a signal by storing a template sequence composed of a number N of consecutive digital samples of the signal; calculating a sequence of extended sums that includes, for each digital sample, an extended sum of absolute values of differences between N most recent digital samples and the samples of the template sequence; detecting minima of the sequence of extended sums; and estimating a period of the signal as a time interval between two consecutive minima of the sequence of extended sums. The method also estimates the noise level of the signal as a ratio between most recently-detected minimum and maximum of said sequence of extended sums. The method also generates a reduced-noise replica of the signal as a weighted average of the template sequence and of the current samples of the signal processed between two consecutive minima of said extended sum, the weighted average being calculated using weights based on the estimated noise level.

Abstract: Digital signals, such as image/video signals are converted between a first format and a second format by using Multiple Description Coding, whereby the second format conveys multiple descriptions (D1 to D4; D1? to D4?) of the digital signals. In combination with MD coding, the signals are jointly subject to an error concealment process. Preferably, the error concealment process takes place in converting said digital signals from the second format conveying multiple descriptions to the first format.

Abstract: A method estimates morphological features of heart beats from an ECG signal. Peaks of the R wave of the ECG are detected and classified using a parallel filtering structure. The first branch implements a bandpass filtering with cut off frequencies of about 10 Hz and 35 Hz, enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the QRS complex. The second branch estimates morphological features of the heart beat from an alternating current (AC) replica of the ECG signal, that may be used to classify the beat and potentially detect arrhythmias.

Abstract: Information codes are arranged in pieces comprised of chunks of bytes over a network, such as a Peer-to-Peer overlay network, including a set of peer terminals. A first peer identifies missing chunks in the received pieces and requests such missing chunks from other peers. The chunks are subjected to a fountain code encoding wherein the chunks in a piece are X-ORed. The first peer is therefore capable of reconstructing a received piece encoded with fountain codes from a combination of linearly independent chunks corresponding to the piece. The chunks are transmitted over the network with a connection-less protocol, without retransmission of lost packets, preferably with a UDP protocol.

Abstract: The method for encoding and/or decoding video signals, includes the operations of generating at a transmitter side a multiple descriptions vector associated to a pixel values vector of the video signals and decoding at a receiver side available descriptions vector for reconstructing the pixel values vector. The operation of generating a multiple descriptions vector includes the steps of obtaining the pixel values vector by selecting a group of pixels in a picture of the video signal and applying an encoding matrix to the pixel values vector. The decoding operation includes the step of applying a decoding matrix that is in an inverse relationship with the encoding matrix to the available descriptions vector to obtain the pixel values vector.

Abstract: A method for encoding and decoding media signals, includes the operations of generating at a transmitting side multiple descriptions associated to data of the media signals through a downsampling operation performed on the data, and decoding at a receiving side the multiple descriptions for reconstructing the data by merging the multiple descriptions. The operation of generating multiple descriptions further includes the operations of obtaining a spectral representation of the data, including bands associated to different ranges, the bands being obtained by a suitable quantization operation and including at least one highly quantized band, that is subjected to a higher degree of quantization. A scrambling operation is performed on the spectral representation by moving the at least one highly quantized band to a different range, the scrambling operation being performed prior the downsampling operation. In decoding, a descrambling operation is performed before the merging operation on the multiple descriptions.

Abstract: A method for encoding and decoding media signals, includes the operations of generating at a transmitting side multiple descriptions associated to data of the media signals through a downsampling operation performed on the data, and decoding at a receiving side the multiple descriptions for reconstructing the data by merging the multiple descriptions. The operation of generating multiple descriptions further includes the operations of obtaining a spectral representation of the data, including bands associated to different ranges, the bands being obtained by a suitable quantization operation and including at least one highly quantized band, that is subjected to a higher degree of quantization. A scrambling operation is performed on the spectral representation by moving the at least one highly quantized band to a different range, the scrambling operation being performed prior the downsampling operation. In decoding, a descrambling operation is performed before the merging operation on the multiple descriptions.

Abstract: The system carries out conversion of digital video signals organized in blocks of pixels from a first format to a second format. The second format is a format compressed via vector quantization. The vector quantization is performed by means of repeated application of a scalar quantizer to the pixels of said blocks with a quantization step (Q) determined in an adaptive way according to the characteristics of sharpness and/or brightness of the pixels.

Abstract: In a pressure sensor with double measuring scale: a monolithic body of semiconductor material has a first main surface, a bulk region and a sensitive portion upon which pressure acts; a cavity is formed in the monolithic body and is separated from the first main surface by a membrane, which is flexible and deformable as a function of the pressure, and is arranged inside the sensitive portion and is surrounded by the bulk region; a low-pressure detecting element of the piezoresistive type, sensitive to first values of pressure, is integrated in the membrane and has a variable resistance as a function of the deformation of the membrane; in addition, a high-pressure detecting element, also of a piezoresistive type, is formed in the bulk region inside the sensitive portion and has a variable resistance as a function of the pressure. The high-pressure detecting element is sensitive to second values of pressure.

Abstract: An embodiment of a control system of a braking device is provided. Said braking device includes at least one braking element adapted to apply a braking action to a moving body. The control system includes receiving means for receiving an indication of a target value of the braking action to be applied to the moving body, measuring means for measuring an indication of an actual value of the braking action applied to the moving body and driving means for driving the braking element according to a comparison between the target value and the actual value. The measuring means includes sensing means for sensing a warping of at least one part of the moving body and/or of the braking device, and logic means for estimating the actual value according to the warping.

Abstract: A pressure sensor including a pressure-sensor element having a monolithic body of semiconductor material, and a first main face and a second main face acting on which is a stress resulting from a pressure, the value of which is to be determined; and a package enclosing the pressure-sensor element. The package has an inner chamber containing liquid material, and the pressure-sensor element is arranged within the inner chamber in such a manner that the first and second main faces are both in contact with the liquid material. In particular, the liquid material is a silicone gel.

Abstract: In a pressure sensor with double measuring scale: a monolithic body of semiconductor material has a first main surface, a bulk region and a sensitive portion upon which pressure acts; a cavity is formed in the monolithic body and is separated from the first main surface by a membrane, which is flexible and deformable as a function of the pressure, and is arranged inside the sensitive portion and is surrounded by the bulk region; a low-pressure detecting element of the piezoresistive type, sensitive to first values of pressure, is integrated in the membrane and has a variable resistance as a function of the deformation of the membrane; in addition, a high-pressure detecting element, also of a piezoresistive type, is formed in the bulk region inside the sensitive portion and has a variable resistance as a function of the pressure. The high-pressure detecting element is sensitive to second values of pressure.

Abstract: In an integrated pressure sensor with a high full-scale value, a monolithic body of semiconductor material has a first and a second main surface, opposite and separated by a substantially uniform distance. The monolithic body has a bulk region, having a sensitive portion next to the first main surface, upon which pressure acts. A first piezoresistive detection element is integrated in the sensitive portion and has a variable resistance as a function of the pressure. The bulk region is a solid and compact region and has a thickness substantially equal to the distance.

Abstract: A force sensor to measure a force from a load. The force sensor includes a plunger, a flexible disc-shaped membrane, a support plate and a silicon die. The plunger is configured to receive the force from the load, and has a ring-shaped groove at the lower surface. The membrane has a ring-shaped upper bump at the upper surface, wherein the upper bump is configured to complementarily fit into the groove at the lower surface of plunger. Furthermore, the membrane has a ring-shaped lower bump at lower upper surface. The support plate has a ring-shaped groove that is configured so that the lower bump on the lower surface of the membrane can complementarily fit into. The silicon die is centrally mounted on the membrane, where the silicon die comprises piezo-resistors that vary their resistance when deformed by the force.

Abstract: The system carries out conversion of digital video signals organized in blocks of pixels from a first format to a second format. The second format is a format compressed via vector quantization. The vector quantization is performed by means of repeated application of a scalar quantizer to the pixels of said blocks with a quantization step (Q) determined in an adaptive way according to the characteristics of sharpness and/or brightness of the pixels and representing said vector quantization in a n-dimensional space indicative of the characteristics on n of said pixels in the block partitioned into cells of size proportional to said quantization step, each cell being assigned to an appropriate binary code, wherein said process further includes identifying at least one symmetry element in said n-dimensional space suitable for separating at least two symmetrical set of cells, and selecting one of said at least two symmetrical set of cells for the assignment of said binary codes.

Abstract: The system carries out conversion of digital video signals organized in blocks of pixels from a first format to a second format. The second format is a format compressed via vector quantization. The vector quantization is performed by means of repeated application of a scalar quantizer to the pixels of said blocks with a quantization step (Q) determined in an adaptive way according to the characteristics of sharpness and/or brightness of the pixels.