Abstract: A method of resetting a photosite is disclosed. Photogenerated charges accumulated in the photosite are reset by recombining the photogenerated charges with charges of opposite polarity.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with vertical current flow includes a body having a substrate made of semiconductor material. At least one electrical contact on a first face of the body. A metallization structure is formed on a second face of the body, opposite to the first face. The metallization structure is provided with metal vias, which project from the second face within the substrate so as to form a high-conductivity path in parallel with portions of said substrate.

Abstract: A method manufactures a gas sensor integrated on a semiconductor substrate. The method includes: realizing a first plurality of openings in the semiconductor substrate; realizing a crystalline silicon membrane suspended on the semiconductor substrate, forming an insulating cavity buried in the substrate; realizing a second plurality of openings in the semiconductor substrate, so as to totally suspend on the semiconductor substrate the crystalline silicon membrane; realizing, through a thermal oxidation process of the totally suspended crystalline silicon membrane, a suspended dielectric membrane; realizing, through selective photolithography, a heating element; realizing, through selective photolithography, electrodes and a pair of electric contacts; and selectively realizing, above the electrodes, a sensitive element by compacting layers of metallic oxide through a sintering process generated in the gas sensor by connecting the electrodes to a voltage generator.

Abstract: An equalizer for a multi carrier signal for carrying out equalization adapted to each carrier or group of carriers, Fourier transforms the multi carrier signal, and obtains difference terms of the multi carrier signal. Both are input to an adaptive filter, to output equalized signals, wherein decimation is applied to at least some of the difference terms input to the filter. This enables the complexity to be reduced for a given performance level. In particular since only non-zero filter taps need to be stored and updated, coefficient memory and coefficient calculation capacity can be reduced. Another way to reduce complexity involves measuring noise for at least some of the carriers, and dynamically adapting the size of the filter on a per carrier basis according to global optimizion heuristic algorithms which adapt this filter size based on the comparison between this noise and an optimal performance figure achieved in a previous ISI-ICI free measurement phase.

Abstract: A processor for executing a Rijndeal algorithm which applies a plurality of encryption rounds to a data block array in order to obtain an array of identical size, each round involving a key block array and a data block substitution table, wherein said processor comprises: a first input register (102) containing an input data block column; an output register (111) containing an output data block column or an intermediate block column; a second input register (101) containing a key block column or the intermediate data blocks; a block substitution element (104) receiving the data one block at a time following the selection (103) thereof in the first register and providing, for each block, a column of blocks; an element (109) applying a cyclic permutation to the substitution circuit column blocks; and an Exclusive-OR combination element (110) combining the permutation circuit column blocks with the content of the second register, the result of said combination being loaded into the output register.

Abstract: A method is provided for obtaining an image with a large dynamic range. An image is acquired such that each image pixel is represented by a plurality of values obtained at the same time but for different integration levels (effective exposures). For each pixel, a representative value is selected among those available, such that it is neither saturated nor blackened.

Abstract: A system and method of locating the position of a satellite or a user using a satellite positioning system. The system and method includes receiving, at a terminal, satellite positioning data for at least one specified time period over a communications channel. In addition, the system includes storing, at the terminal, the satellite positioning data for the at least one specified time period. Responsive to an event at a later time, the system generally calculates, at the terminal, the satellite position at the later time based only on the satellite positioning data for the at least one specified time period.

Abstract: A voltage-controlled vertical bi-directional monolithic switch, referenced with respect to the rear surface of the switch, formed from a lightly-doped N-type semiconductor substrate, in which the control structure includes, on the front surface side, a first P-type well in which is formed an N-type region, and a second P-type well in which is formed a MOS transistor, the first P-type well and the gate of the MOS transistor being connected to a control terminal, said N-type region being connected to a main terminal of the MOS transistor, and the second main terminal of the MOS transistor being connected to the rear surface voltage of the switch.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is configured to receive a test clock input and includes circuitry configured to generate test clocks from the test clock input, and test circuitry configured to use the test clocks in a test mode.

Abstract: Image sensor, comprising a matrix of active pixels having several columns for delivering at least one information signal of an active pixel, the sensor comprising means for processing the information signals delivered by the said active pixels which comprise at least one amplification stage biased by a current source, the processing means comprising a device for voltage-limiting the signal delivered on an output terminal of the said at least one amplification stage comprising an input terminal connected to the output terminal, a first transistor connected between the input terminal and a reference terminal connected to a reference power supply source, a gain device comprising an input connected to the input terminal, an output connected to the gate of the first transistor and configured so as to decrease the voltage span necessary to cause the first transistor to toggle from its off state to a state in which it absorbs the current provided by the said current source.

Abstract: A level shifter includes an output stage transistor and a level controller. The level controller receives a selection signal and provides a reference voltage at a gate terminal of the output stage transistor based on the selection signal. The output stage transistor, on being enabled by the reference voltage, provides a first level shifted output based on a first output reference voltage.

Abstract: An integrated power adapter system for a portable computer may include a power adapter for providing power to the portable computer, extractable elements for connection to an external socket, and a dissipation grid for reducing the temperature of the cover screen. The power adapter system may be a slim power adapter system being removable from and integrated with the cover screen of the portable computer.

Abstract: An electronic device includes an electronic component and a protection circuit configured to protect the component from overvoltages. A control circuit is configured to inhibit a part of the protection circuit in the presence of a test voltage across terminals of the component.

Abstract: A camera module characterization method is presented. An object is imaged with the camera module. The object may be a test chart including a pattern that defines edges and markers. A resolution metric is measured from the obtained image, and at least one point where the resolution metric is maximized is identified (indicative of a measured in-focus position). The measured in-focus position is then used to derive optical aberration parameters. With respect to the test chart, the markers in the image are located and compared with known theoretical marker positions. A difference between the theoretical and actual marker positions is calculated and used to determine edge locations. A measurement of a resolution metric is then made from the obtained image at the determined edge locations.

Abstract: A voltage booster for generating a boosted voltage, including a charge pump adapted to generate the boosted voltage starting from a supply voltage by a transfer of electric charge controlled by at least one oscillating signal having an oscillation frequency; an oscillator for providing the oscillating signal; and a regulation circuit arranged to receive and perform a comparison of a voltage related to the boosted voltage and a reference voltage, and adapted to provide at least one regulation signal indicative of a result of said comparison, wherein said regulation signal is fed to the oscillator to control said oscillation frequency. The regulation circuit is adapted to cause the at least one regulation signal take one among a plurality of discrete values, depending on the result of the comparison, so that the oscillation frequency of the at least one periodical signal accordingly can take one among a plurality of discrete oscillation frequency values.

Abstract: A shared diagnosis method may be for an electronic integrated system embedding a plurality of memory units associated with Built In Self Test (BIST) hardware portions for executing a test on memory locations of the memory units. A FAIL signal may be provided from the hardware portions, together with the memory locations of the memory units on which the test is executed. The method may include loading of address, state and data signals, generated during the test on the memory locations, in a series of bitmapping registers and supplied by multiplexer devices, which receive as inputs the address, state, and data signals from the memory units and from the hardware portions. The enabling for the loading of the bitmapping registers is through the processing of a Fail signal in a counter supplied by a multiplexer device receiving the Fail signals from the hardware portions.

Abstract: A focusing device for a lens, including a frame, a lens carrier movable relative to the frame from a first position along an optical axis, a motor for driving the lens carrier along the optical axis, and at least one biasing member adapted to bias the lens carrier towards the first position. The biasing member may include one or more bending members.

Abstract: A database stores updated information concerning protected communications services. A base station for a coexisting, and potentially co-channel, non-protected communications service makes an inquiry of the database requesting an identification of geographically relevant protected services along with the database stored information pertinent to each of those identified protected services. The returned information is processed by the base station to determine what channels are available for use by the non-protected service. An available channel is identified by the base station as the working channel for the non-protected service and the base station initiates a process to establish a communications network using the non-protected service and the selected working channel.

Abstract: A galvanic optocoupler of the type monolithically integrated on a silicon substrate and having at least one luminous source and a photodetector interfaced by means of a galvanic insulation layer. The photodetector can be a phototransistor realized in the silicon substrate, and the galvanic insulation layer (40) is a passivation layer of this phototransistor. The luminous source, above the galvanic insulation layer includes an integrated LED having a first and second polysilicon layer with function of cathode and anode, respectively, these first and second layers enclosing at least one light emitter layer, in particular a silicon oxide layer enriched with silicon (SRO). An integration process of a galvanic optocoupler thus made, in particular in BCD3s technology is provided.

Abstract: A method detects multipath propagation in a modulated digital signal. The method provides a first value of channel frequency, representing the modulated digital signal free of multipath propagation, providing a second value of said channel frequency, representing the modulated digital signal with multipath propagation, and comparing the first and second values. A method detects adjacent channel interference in a modulated digital signal by comparing first and second values of a characteristic parameter of the digital signal, respectively representing the digital signal free of adjacent channel interference and the digital signal affected by adjacent channel interference.