Abstract: A control device for a switching power converter having an inductor element, a switch coupled to the inductor element, a storage element coupled to an output on which an output voltage is provided, and a diode element coupled to the storage element. The control device generates a command signal to control the switch and determine storage of energy in the inductor element in a first interval, and transfer of energy onto the storage element through the diode element in a second interval. A voltage shifter module generates a feedback voltage shifted relative to the output voltage. An amplification module has a first input receiving the feedback voltage, a second input receiving the reference voltage, and an output that supplies, as a function of the difference between the feedback and reference voltages, a control signal. A control unit receives the control signal and generates the command signal to control the switch.

Abstract: A rectifier bridge circuit includes a first SCR/IGBT switch and a second SCR/IGBT switch coupled to a circuit input to receive an ac input voltage. The first and second SCR/IGBT switches are alternatively switchable to generate a rectified voltage at a circuit output. Control currents coupled to control terminals of the first and second SCR/IGBT switches are power supply sourced from an auxiliary dc source generated by rectifying the ac input voltage. The control currents are generated by current sources coupled between the auxiliary dc source and the control terminals of the first and second SCR/IGBT switches. The current sources are selectively activatable to produce gating currents for switching on and off the first and second SCR/IGBT switches. A controller unit is provided to control the current sources via level shifter circuits. The control implements progressive conduction time of the first and second SCR/IGBT switches so as to provide inrush current limitation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a transistor comprising the preparation of a stack of layers of the semiconductor on insulator type comprising at least one substrate on which an insulating layer and an initial semiconductor layer are successively disposed. The method includes the formation of at least one oxide pad extending from a top face of the insulating layer, the formation of an additional layer made from semiconductor material covering the oxide pad and intended to form a channel for the transistor, the formation of a gate stack above the oxide pad, and the formation of a source and drain on either side of the gate stack.

Abstract: Groove analysis in a device having a tactile input surface suited to detect more than one tactile input at a time. Using groove analysis allows a touch screen device a more robust and efficient algorithm for distinguishing between two different tactile inputs. The touch screen device may include a touch screen controller that includes an analysis circuit for determining grooves between touch inputs. Generally, when a touch input is received at the surface of a touch screen device, the touch screen may register touch strength signals at each of a plurality of touch regions. A groove may be generally defined as a touch region that exhibits a touch strength signal that is less than surrounding touch regions. Once all touch regions are analyzed by a groove analysis, various touch regions determined to grooves may be eliminated from a further analysis to determine the XY coordinates of actual touch inputs.

Abstract: A voltage generator circuit uses a feedback loop to regulate an output voltage at an output node. A pair of opposite conductivity source-follower transistors are coupled to the output node. A first one of the source-follower transistors operates to provide a fast current transient for charging a capacitive load that is switchably connected to the output node. A second one of the source-follower transistor operate under feedback control to regulate the voltage level at the output node.

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 an embodiment, hand gestures, such as hand or finger hovering, in the proximity space of a sensing panel are detected from X-node and Y-node sensing signals indicative of the presence of a hand feature at corresponding row locations and column locations of a sensing panel. Hovering is detected by detecting the locations of maxima for a plurality of frames over a time window for a set of X-node sensing signals and for a set of Y-node sensing signals by recognizing a hovering gesture if the locations of the maxima detected vary over the plurality of frames for one of the sets of X-node and Y-node sensing signals while remaining stationary for the other of the sets of X-node and Y-node sensing signals.

Abstract: A method for compensating non-linearities of a read signal generated by a variable-capacitance inertial sensor including a first fixed electrode and a second fixed electrode and a mobile electrode, which is spatially arranged between the first and second fixed electrodes and is capacitively coupled to the first and second fixed electrodes, said method comprising the steps of: acquiring the read signal; identifying a first linear component and at least one first nonlinear component of the read signal; a generating a compensated output signal by subtracting the first nonlinear component from the read signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a converter are provided. In the method and apparatus, a converter is operated in accordance with a duty cycle and based on a difference between a feedback signal representing an output voltage of the converter and a reference signal. An overcurrent condition is detected in the converter. In response to detecting the overcurrent condition, the duty cycle used to operate the converter is limited and the reference signal is made to track the feedback signal to mitigate an output voltage overshoot at an end of the overcurrent condition.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a high power factor quasi resonant converter. The converter converts an AC power line input to a DC output to power a load, generally a string of LEDs. The power input is fed into a transformer being controlled by a power switch. The power switch is driven by a controller having a shaping circuit. The shaping circuit uses a current generator, switched resistor and capacitor to produce a sinusoidal reference voltage signal. The controller drives the power switch based on the voltage reference signal, resulting in a sinusoidal input current in a primary winding of the transformer, resulting in high power factor and low total harmonic distortion for the converter.

Abstract: A semiconductor electro-optical phase shifter may include a substrate, an optical waveguide segment (12) formed on the substrate, and first and second zones of opposite conductivity types configured to form a first bipolar junction perpendicular to the substrate. The phase shifter may also include a dynamic control structure configured to reverse bias the first junction and a static control structure configured to direct a quiescent current in the second zone, parallel to the first junction.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a leadframe package having a side solder ball contact and methods of manufacturing the same. A plurality of solder balls are coupled to recesses in a leadframe before encapsulation and singulation. After singulation, a portion of each solder ball is exposed on sidewalls of the package. This ensures that the sidewalls of the leads are solder wettable, which allows for the formation of stronger joints when the package is coupled to a substrate. This increased adhesion reduces resistance at the joints and also mitigates the effects of expansion of the components in the package such that delamination is less likely to occur. As a result, packages with a side solder ball contact have increased life cycle expectancies.

Abstract: A detector of an event includes an electrical energy generator formed by a flexible piezoelectric element with a weight fastened to the flexible piezoelectric element that is biased with the weight in a position with the piezoelectric element flexed. In response to detection of the event, a trigger releases the weight so as to cause a vibration of the piezoelectric element. This vibration is converted by the flexible piezoelectric element into electrical energy. An electronic system is power by the electrical energy and is operable to generate an electrical signal indicative of the detected event.

Abstract: A method can be used to measure a load driven by a switching amplifier having a differential input, an LC output demodulator filter and a feedback network between the amplifier output and the differential input. The amplifier is AC driven in a differential and in a common mode by applying a common. The feedback network provides feedback towards the differential input from downstream the LC demodulator filter by computing the impedance of the load as a function of the differential mode output current and the common mode output current. The feedback network provides feedback towards the differential input from upstream the LC demodulator filter by measuring the impedance value of the inductor of the LC demodulator filter, and computing the impedance of the load as a function of the differential mode output current, the common mode output current and the impedance value of the inductor of the LC demodulator filter.

Abstract: A level shifter circuit is designed to shift an input signal that switches within a first voltage range to supply an output signal that switches within a second voltage range, higher than the first voltage range. A first inverter stage has an input receiving the input signal and also has an output. A first capacitive element is connected between the output of the first input inverter stage and a first holding node. A latch stage is connected between the first holding node and a second holding node that is coupled to an output terminal, on which the output signal is present. The first input inverter stage is designed to operate in the first voltage range, and the latch stage is designed to operate in the second voltage range.

Abstract: A system and method for synchronizing two devices in communication with each other. When communication between the two devices is to be established, a synchronization process may be invoked. In an embodiment, a first device may initiate sending synchronization signals having rising edge and falling edge pairs. The second device may include a controller configured to receive the synchronization signals. However, noise may inhibit the ability of the controller to correctly receive and/or interpret the synchronization signals. Noise may cause detection components to falsely detect noise as a synchronization signal or may cause detection components to miss detection of an actual synchronization signal. A window generator may be used to generate comparison windows for the controller to detect synchronization signals.

Abstract: An embodiment for realizing a power device with trench-gate structure integrated on a semiconductor substrate, and including etching the semiconductor substrate to make a first trench having first side walls and a first bottom; and further etching said semiconductor substrate to make a second trench inside the first trench, realized in a self-aligned way and below this first trench, the first trench and the second trench defining the trench-gate structure with a bird beak-like transition profile suitable for containing a gate region.

Abstract: One or more embodiments are directed to a microfluidic delivery system that dispenses a fluid. The microfluidic delivery system may be provided in a variety of orientations. In one embodiment, the microfluidic delivery system is vertical so that fluid being expelled opposes gravity. In another embodiment, the microfluidic delivery system is orientated sideways so that fluid being expelled has a horizontal component. In yet another embodiment, the microfluidic delivery system faces downward.

Abstract: A power receiver includes a resonant circuit generating an internal supply voltage. A voltage rectification circuit receives the internal supply voltage and generate a corresponding rectified voltage. A voltage regulator receives the rectified voltage and a modulation signal and is configured to generate a corresponding regulated voltage. A controlled voltage-to-current converter receives the regulated voltage and the modulation signal. The converter operates to deliver, through an output line of the power receiver, an output current having a DC value corresponding to the DC value of said regulated voltage and having an AC value corresponding to said modulation signal.

Abstract: A voltage regulator provides an output voltage, the voltage regulator configured to receive one of a plurality of different regulator reference voltages and a controller configured to provide a selection signal, the selection signal being used to control which of the regulator reference voltages the voltage regulator receives.