Abstract: A controller circuit for an AC-DC converter includes a first controller circuit block configured to drive one or more switches at the primary side of a transformer in the AC-DC converter. A second controller circuit block is configured to sense, at a secondary side of the transformer in said AC-DC converter, a secondary side signal indicative of the output signal from said AC-DC converter. The second controller circuit block generates switching control signals for the first controller circuit block as a function of the secondary side signal. An isolator circuit block between the first controller circuit block and the second controller circuit block includes an isolated transmission channel of the switching control signals from the second controller circuit block to the first controller circuit block.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide an optical image stabilization circuit that synchronizes its gyroscope and drive circuit using gyroscope data ready signals and gyroscope reset signals. In response to a gyroscope data ready signal, the optical image stabilization circuit synchronously obtains position measurements of a camera lens when power drive signals are not transitioning from one power level to another power level, and synchronously transitions the power drive signals simultaneously with gyroscope reset signals. By synchronizing the gyroscope and the drive circuit, the gyroscope and other onboard sensing circuits are isolated from noise generated by the drive circuit.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory includes cells arranged in rows and columns. Each memory cell includes an access portion and a control portion. The access and control portions share an electrically floating layer of conductive material defining a first capacitive coupling with the access portion and a second capacitive coupling with the control portion. The first capacitive coupling defines a first capacity lower than a second capacity defined by the second capacitive coupling. The control portion is configured so that an electric current extracts charge carriers from the electrically floating layer through Fowler-Nordheim tunneling to store a first logic value in the memory cell. The access portion is configured so that an electric current injects charge carriers in the electrically floating layer by injection of band-to-band tunneling-induced hot electrons to store a second logic value, respectively, in the memory cell.

Abstract: A communications device includes a transmission chain coupled to an antenna a receiver chain coupled to the antenna. The receiver chain includes an amplifier device having an input coupled to the antenna. A controlled switching circuit is included in the amplifier device and is operable to selectively disconnect conduction terminals of an amplifying transistor from power supply terminals when the transmission chain is operating to pass a transmit signal to the antenna.

Abstract: A method of controlling a power field-effect transistor includes controlling a plurality of different phases of a gate-to-source voltage of the power field-effect transistor. Without comparing the gate-to-source voltage of the power field effect transistor to a plurality of reference voltages, the method includes discriminating between the different phases of the gate-to-source voltage based on the plurality of reference voltages. At least one of the plurality of reference voltages is based on a threshold voltage of at least one field-effect transistor.

Abstract: A strip made of a semiconductor material is formed over a substrate. Longitudinal portions of the strip having a same length are covered with sacrificial gates made of an insulating material and spaced apart from each other. Non-covered portions of the strip are doped to form source/drain regions. An insulating layer followed by a layer of a temporary material is then deposited. Certain ones of the sacrificial gates are left in place. Certain other ones of the sacrificial gates are replaced by a metal gate structure. The temporary material is then replaced with a conductive material to form contacts to the source/drain regions.

Abstract: An electric motor is controlled by means of pulse-width modulated control signal having edge transitions occurring at certain transition count values of the pulses of a clock signal which is frequency-modulated with a step-wise frequency modulation (e.g., SSCG or Spread Spectrum Clock Generation). A frequency unmodulated clock signal is provided having a fixed period indicative of the period of the pulse-width modulated control signals. The transition count values are set as a function of a predicted count value and/or a predicted frequency value for the frequency-modulated clock signal. Prediction occurs as a function of the frequency unmodulated clock signal, so that the transition count values are compensated against the step-wise (e.g., SSCG) frequency modulation.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical gyroscope, includes: a supporting body; a first movable mass and a second movable mass, which are oscillatable according to a first driving axis and tiltable about respective a first and second sensing axes and are symmetrically arranged with respect to a center of symmetry; first sensing electrodes and a second sensing electrodes associated with the first and second movable masses and arranged on the supporting body symmetrically with respect to the first and second sensing axis, the first and second movable masses being capacitively coupled to the respective first sensing electrode and to the respective second sensing electrode, a bridge element elastically coupled to respective inner ends of the first movable mass and of the second movable mass and coupled to the supporting body so as to be tiltable about an axis transverse to the first driving axis.

Abstract: An analog multiplexer includes inputs and one output. A switching circuit is coupled between each input and the output. Each switching circuit includes an NMOS switching module, having an on state and an off state, and a control module supplied by a first supply voltage and operating to reduce leakage currents of the NMOS switching module when in the off state. The control module further operates to make the first NMOS switching module bidirectional irrespective of voltages present at the input and at the output.

Abstract: An analog ping signal that is present at a secondary coil of a power receiving device operating within a wireless power transmission system is detected. The detection circuit includes a DC blocking circuit having an input directly connected to a terminal of the secondary coil. A comparator circuit has an input coupled to an output of the DC blocking circuit. A timer circuit is reset by a signal output by the comparator circuit to assert a ping detect signal in response to a resetting of the timer circuit. The ping detect signal is deasserted in response to a timing out of the timer circuit.

Abstract: A radio-frequency transceiver device includes a transmission circuit generating a transmission signal at a transmission pad connected to a transmission antenna by modulating a radio frequency signal as a function of a control signal. First and second reception circuits receive first and second signals at first and second reception pads connected to first and second reception antennas. The received first and second signals are demodulated via the radio frequency signal to generate first and second demodulated reception signals. A control circuit operates during a reception test phase to generate only the control signal in order to test, as a function of the first and second demodulated reception signals, whether the received first signal corresponds to the received second signal. A reception error signal indicating a reception error is generated when the test indicates that the received first and second reception signals do not correspond.

Abstract: A ring oscillator circuit is formed by series connected inverter circuits with a feedback loop. The inverter circuits are source biased with an oscillator voltage. A resistor-less bias current generator circuit generates a bias current for application to a replica inverter circuit to generate a bias voltage. A scaling circuit operates to scale the bias voltage by a selectable scaling factor to generate the oscillator voltage in a manner which balances a mobility effect of the inverter circuits within the ring oscillator circuit against a threshold voltage effect of the inverter circuits within the ring oscillator circuit. The clock signal output from the ring oscillator circuit has a frequency which is independent of process, voltage and temperature (PVT) spread.

Abstract: A power transistor generates an output current and a sense transistor generates a proportional sense current. A differential amplifier generates a gate voltage applied to the power and sense transistors in response to first and second input signals. A comparator circuit compares the gate voltage to a switching reference to detect whether the power and sense transistors are operating in a triode mode of operation or in a saturation mode of operation. At least one of the first and second input signals is modified in response to the detection made by the comparator circuit. In one instance, different reference voltages are applied to an input of the amplifier depending on the detected mode of operation. In another instance, different resistances are used to convert the sense current to a voltage for application to an input of the amplifier in response to the detected mode of operation.

Abstract: A PLL includes a phase frequency detector (PFD) receiving an input signal and feedback signal, and producing a control signal. A charge pump receives the control signal and produces an initial VCO control. A loop filter generates a fine VCO control and intermediate output based upon the initial VCO control. A coarse control circuit includes an integrator having a first input receiving the intermediate output, a second input, and generating a coarse VCO control, a first switch coupling a reference voltage to the second input, a buffer buffering output of the integrator, and a second switch coupling output of the integrator to the second input of the integrator. A VCO receives the fine VCO control and the coarse VCO control, and generates an output signal having a frequency based thereupon. A feedback path receives the output signal and produces the feedback signal.

Abstract: A JTAG interface in an IC includes a test mode select (TMS) pin receiving a TMS signal, a testing test access port (TAP) having a TMS signal input, a debugging test access port (TAP) having a TMS signal and glue logic coupled to receive a first output from the testing TAP and a second output from the debugging TAP. A flip-flop receives input from the testing TAP and the debugging TAP through the glue logic. A first AND gate has output coupled to the TMS signal input of the debugging TAP, and receives input from an output of the flip-flop and the TMS signal. An inverter has an input coupled to receive input from the flip-flop. A second AND gate has output coupled to the TMS signal input of the testing TAP, and receives input from the TMS signal and output of the inverter.

Abstract: An avalanche photodiode for detecting ultraviolet radiation, including: a silicon carbide body having a first type of conductivity, which is delimited by a front surface and forms a cathode region; an anode region having a second type of conductivity, which extends into the body starting from the front surface and contacts the cathode region; and a guard ring having the second type of conductivity, which extends into the body starting from the front surface and surrounds the anode region.

Abstract: A semiconductor package formed utilizing a removable backside protective layer includes a leadframe, a die pad, leads and a molding compound around them. The first surface of the die pad and leads are exposed to an external environment by the plurality of recesses. The recesses are formed by coupling a removable backside protective layer to the leadframe before applying the molding compound. After the molding compound is applied and cured, the backside protective layer is removed to expose the first surface of the die pad and the first surfaces of the leads so the semiconductor package may be mounted within an electronic device. The removable backside protective layer protects the die pad and the leads from mold flashing and residue when forming the semiconductor package during the fabrication process.

Abstract: An apparatus has a pixel array arrangement having a number of photosensitive detectors. Processing circuitry is configured to process data captured by at least one pixel of the array to provide image information and detect data on an encoded pulsed light signal. In a specific embodiment, data is captured at a vehicle. Information for the vehicle is determined based on the encoded pulsed light signal.

Abstract: A magnetic energy harvesting and scavenging circuit includes a first substrate having first and second surfaces and at least one energy harvesting and scavenging coil formed adjacent the first surface. An electromechanical systems device includes a moveable mass extending over the first surface and is displaced relative to the first substrate in three dimensions responsive to an external force applied to the moveable mass. The movable mass includes a magnet support layer and a number of permanent magnet segments attached to the magnet support layer. The permanent magnet segments are magnetically coupled to the at least one energy harvesting and scavenging coil. Energy harvesting and scavenging circuitry is electrically coupled to the at least one energy harvesting and scavenging coil and generates electrical energy due to magnetic flux variation through the at least one energy harvesting and scavenging coil responsive to movement of the moveable mass.

Abstract: A micromechanical detection structure includes a substrate of semiconductor material and a driving-mass arrangement is coupled to a set of driving electrodes and driven in a driving movement following upon biasing of the set of driving electrodes. A first anchorage unit is coupled to the driving-mass arrangement for elastically coupling the driving-mass arrangement to the substrate at first anchorages. A driven-mass arrangement is elastically coupled to the driving-mass arrangement by a coupling unit and designed to be driven by the driving movement. A second anchorage unit is coupled to the driven-mass arrangement for elastically coupling the driven-mass arrangement to the substrate at second anchorages. Following upon the driving movement, the resultant of the forces and of the torques exerted on the substrate at the first and second anchorages is substantially zero.