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 system includes a multi-conductor bus, a master device coupled to the multi-conductor bus, and at least one slave device coupled to the multi-conductor bus. The multi-conductor bus has a clock line and a data line. The master device is arranged to transmit an address configuration sequence, and the at least one slave device is arranged to configurably determine its own address based on at least one portion of the address configuration sequence. The at least one slave device has a physical address configuration input coupled to either a fixed voltage potential or a changing voltage potential. The at least one slave device is arranged with a first address during a pre-initialization state and arranged with a second address during a post-initialization state.

Abstract: A voltage doubler circuit supports operation in both a positive voltage boosting mode to positively boost voltage from a first node to a second node and a negative voltage boosting mode to negatively boost voltage from the second node to the first node. The voltage doubler circuit is formed by transistors of a same conductivity type that share a common bulk that is not tied to a source of any of the voltage doubler circuit transistors. A bias generator circuit is coupled to receive a first voltage from the first node and second voltage from the second node. The bias generator circuit operates to apply a lower one of the first and second voltages to the common bulk.

Abstract: An encapsulated pressure sensor includes a pressure sensor having a pressure sensing surface and a mounting surface. The mounting surface is attached to a mounting substrate. A fluid contacts the pressure sensing surface of the pressure sensor. A deformable encapsulating member is attached to the mounting substrate and encapsulates the pressure sensor and the fluid.

Abstract: A control device controls a switching converter having an input alternating supply voltage and a regulated direct voltage at the output terminal. The converter comprises a switch and the control device is adapted to control the on time period and the off time period of said switch for each cycle. The control device has a first input signal representative of the current flowing through at least one element of the converter and comprises a zero crossing detector adapted to detect at least one pair of first and second zero crossings of said first signal for each switching cycle, said second zero crossing immediately following the first zero crossing and occurring in opposite direction with respect to the first zero crossing. The control device comprises a synchronizer adapted to synchronize the start of the on period with each second zero crossing of said first signal.

Abstract: A powerline communications apparatus includes a transceiver communicating over an electrical power distribution wiring of a vehicle and a communications interface carrying a first and second PLC message in a first communication protocol having a PLC automotive network delimiter type, a PLCAN variant field comprising a number of users, user identifications, payload length, payload data, and a repetition number corresponding to a number of times the first PLC message is transmitted over the electrical power distribution wiring, and a first payload for a first user. The PLC apparatus also includes a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing programming for execution by the processor. The programming includes instructions for transmitting the first PLC message using the transceiver, determining if the vehicle is in motion, and switching between the first and the second communication protocol based on whether the vehicle is determined to be in motion.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge protection circuit includes a diode bridge in parallel with a thyristor and a first avalanche diode. The diode bridge is coupled between first and second nodes. The thyristor has an anode coupled to the first node and a cathode coupled to the second node. The first avalanche diode has a cathode coupled to the first node and an anode coupled to the second node. A second avalanche diode has a cathode coupled to the first node and an anode coupled to a gate of the thyristor. When an electrostatic discharge occurs, current flows through the diode bridge, into the first node, and is first dissipated by the avalanche diode and is thereafter also dissipated by the thyristor once the thyristor turns on.

Abstract: A level shifting circuit receives a first input signal and complement of the first input signal as inputs and generates a level shifted first output signal and complement of the first output signal as outputs. The level shifting circuit includes a number of transistors that support body biasing. One set of body bias signals applied to certain ones of those transistors is generated as a function of the logical combination of the first input signal and the first output signal. Another set of body bias signals applied to certain other ones of those transistors is generated as a function of the logical combination of the complement of the first input signal and the complement of the first output signal. The conditional body bias applied to the transistors of the level shifting circuit makes the circuit operational for level shift at very low supply voltage levels.

Abstract: A gas measurement device measures gas using a gas sensor including a sense resistance exposed to the gas and a reference resistance not exposed to the gas. The gas measurement device applies a first current value and a second current value to the sensor. A detector functions to detect a first resistance variation and a second resistance variation of the sense resistance exposed to the gas with respect to the reference resistance as a function of the first current value and the second current value, respectively. The resistance variation dependent on relative humidity is then determined as a function of the first and second resistance variations and a first constant. The resistance variation dependent on gas content is then determined as a function of the first and second resistance variations and a second (different) constant.

Abstract: A device for monitoring a critical path of an integrated circuit includes a replica of the critical path formed by sequential elements mutually separated by delay circuits that are programmable though a corresponding main multiplexer. A control circuit controls delay selections made by each main multiplexer. A sequencing module operates to sequence each sequential element using a main clock signal by delivering, in response to a main clock signal, respectively to the sequential elements, secondary clock signals that are mutually time shifted in such a manner as to take into account the propagation time inherent to the main multiplexer.

Abstract: A packaged device has a die of semiconductor material bonded to a support. An electromagnetic shielding structure surrounds the die and is formed by a grid structure of conductive material extending into the support and an electromagnetic shield, coupled together. A packaging mass embeds both the die and the electromagnetic shield. The electromagnetic shield is formed by a plurality of metal ribbon sections overlying the die and embedded in the packaging mass. Each metal ribbon section has a thickness-to-width ratio between approximately 1:2 and approximately 1:50.

Abstract: An electronic integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate having a rear face. A device for detecting a thinning of the semiconductor substrate via its rear face is formed by a p-n junction that is biased into conduction. Thinning of the substrate is detected by monitoring a current flowing through the p-n junction, and comparing that current to a threshold. In the event the compared current indicates no thinning of the semiconductor substrate, the circuitry for biasing and comparing is deactivated.

Abstract: A triac has a vertical structure formed from a silicon substrate having an upper surface side. A main metallization on the upper surface side has a first portion resting on a first region of a first conductivity type formed in a layer of a second conductivity type. A second portion of the main metallization rests on a portion of the layer. A gate metallization on the upper surface side rests on a second region of the first conductivity type formed in the layer in the vicinity of the first region. A porous silicon bar formed in the layer at the upper surface side has a first end in contact with the gate metallization and a second end in contact with the main metallization.

Abstract: When communicating using active load modulation in a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system, a carrier signal having a carrier frequency is received from a reader device. In response, a modulated signal is generated and a burst of a sending signal is transmitted. The sending signal is decayed at the end of the burst.

Abstract: A near-field communication circuit includes an oscillating circuit having a controllable capacitor. A control circuit is coupled to the oscillating circuit to control the controllable capacitor. A battery is coupled to the control circuit to enable control when the near-field communication circuit is in a standby mode. The near-field communication circuit can be utilized by a mobile communication device.

Abstract: A bipolar transistor is supported by a single-crystal silicon substrate including a collector connection region. A first epitaxial region forms a collector region doped with a first conductivity type on the collector connection region. The collector region includes a counter-doped region of a second conductivity type. A second epitaxial region forms a base region of a second conductivity type on the first epitaxial region. Deposited semiconductor material forms an emitter region of the first conductivity type on the second epitaxial region. The collector region, base region and emitter region are located within an opening formed in a stack of insulating layers that includes a sacrificial layer. The sacrificial layer is selectively removed to expose a side wall of the base region. Epitaxial growth from the exposed sidewall forms a base contact region.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a flexible conductive member having a first length, and a battery substrate having a second length shorter or equal than the first length. There is an active battery on the battery substrate. An adhesive layer couples the active battery and the battery substrate to the flexible conductive member such that the active battery and the flexible conductive member are electrically coupled, and such that the flexible substrate encapsulates the active battery and the upper portion of the battery substrate without an intervening layer. The flexible conductive member includes an insulating flexible base layer having a conductive via formed therein. Upper and lower metallized layers are formed on the insulating flexible base layer and are electrically coupled to one another by the conductive via.

Abstract: A three dimensional (3D) device is formed from a first level and a second level that are attached together. The first level includes a backside illuminated two dimensional (2D) image sensor including an array of first pixels sensitive to visible light. The second level includes a frontside illuminated depth sensor including an array of second pixels sensitive to near infrared light. The first and second levels are attached in a manner such that radiation, in particular the near infrared light, received at the backside of the first level passes through the first level to reach the depth sensor in the second level.

Abstract: An image formed from pixels each having components defining a color is processed to implement an increase in the saturation of the image depending on a gain applied by a transfer function depending on the components of the color of each pixel. The gain of the transfer function is parameterized using at least one control parameter respectively dedicated to at least one type of reference image content. The value of the at least one control parameter is calculated depending on the actual content of the image by implementing calculations including determining colorimetric statistics of the pixels of the image and processing the statistics in accordance with at least one processing model respectively associated with the at least one type of reference image content.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a network device includes a network controller and at least one network interface coupled to the network controller that includes at least one media access control (MAC) device configured to be coupled to at least one physical layer interface (PHY). The network controller may be configured to determine a network path comprising the at least one network interface that has a lowest power consumption and minimum security attributes of available media types coupled to the at least one PHY.