Abstract: Disclosed herein is an low power output stage coupled between a supply node and a ground node, configured to drive an output, and controlled by first, second, and third control nodes. A current sinking circuit controlled by an input signal and configured to sink current from the first and second control nodes when the input signal transitions to a first logic level, thereby resulting in decoupling of the output stage from the ground node and sourcing of current to the output by the output stage. When the input signal transitions to a second logic level different than the first logic level, the current sinking circuit sinks current from a third control node, thereby resulting in decoupling of the output stage from the supply node and sinking of current from the output by the output stage.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electronic device including a substrate, with an active layer stack on the substrate. A cover is on the active layer stack and has a surface area greater than that of the active layer so as to encapsulate the active layer stack. A conductive pad layer is on the cover. At least one conductive via extends between the active layer stack and the conductive pad layer.

Abstract: Searches performed in a data base using image descriptors of query images are managed via a mobile communication device, such as a smartphone, a tablet, etc., by: extracting at the mobile device grayscale and color descriptors of query images, sending the grayscale descriptors as compressed grayscale descriptors of query images from the mobile device to a server for searching in the data base, receiving at the mobile device results of the search, using color descriptors of query images in disambiguating the results by: i) sending the color descriptors as compressed color descriptors of query images from the mobile device to the server and receiving at the mobile device disambiguated search results from the server, or ii) receiving at the mobile device non-disambiguated search results from the server and disambiguating the search results by means of the color descriptors extracted at the mobile device to produce disambiguated search results.

Abstract: Process for manufacturing a semiconductor power device, wherein a trench is formed in a semiconductor body having a first conductivity type; the trench is annealed for shaping purpose; and the trench is filled with semiconductor material via epitaxial growth so as to obtain a first column having a second conductivity type. The epitaxial growth is performed by supplying a gas containing silicon and a gas containing dopant ions of the second conductivity type in presence of a halogenide gas and occurs with uniform distribution of the dopant ions. The flow of the gas containing dopant ions is varied according to a linear ramp during the epitaxial growth; in particular, in the case of selective growth of the semiconductor material in the presence of a hard mask, the flow decreases; in the case of non-selective growth, in the absence of hard mask, the flow increases.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a substrate with first and second cells having first and second FDSOI field-effect transistors. There are first and second ground planes, a buried oxide layer and first and second wells, under the ground planes. The first well and the first ground plane have the same doping and the second well and the second ground plane have the same doping. The first and second cells are adjoined and their transistors are aligned in a first direction. The wells of the first cell and the first well of the second cell are doped opposite of the second well. A control device applies a first electrical bias to the wells with the first doping and a second electrical bias to the well with the second doping. The transistors of the first cell and second cell have different threshold voltage levels.

Abstract: A method of fabrication, including the steps for supplying a substrate including a layer of semiconductor material covered by a sacrificial gate including a sacrificial gate insulator including a middle part, and edges covered by sacrificial spacers and having a thickness tox; removal of the sacrificial gate insulator and the sacrificial gate material; formation of a conformal deposition of thickness thk of dielectric material inside of the groove formed in order to form a gate insulator, with tox>thk?tox/2; formation of a gate electrode within the groove; removal of the sacrificial spacers so as to open up edges of the gate insulator layer; formation of spacers on the edges of the gate insulator layer on either side of the gate electrode, these spacers having a dielectric constant at the most equal to 3.5.

Abstract: A method for managing the operation of an object capable of contactless communication with a reader, magnetically coupled to the object, includes at least one phase for transmission of information from the object to the reader, including a modulation of the impedance of a load connected across the terminals of the antenna of the object. The method furthermore comprises a control phase that includes an estimation of the distance between the object and the reader and an adjustment of the impedance of the load as a function of the estimated distance.

Abstract: A primary-side controlled high power factor, low total harmonic distortion, quasi resonant converter converts an AC mains power line input to a DC output for powering a load, such as a string of LEDs. The AC mains power line input is supplied to a transformer that is controlled by a power switch. A device for controlling a power transistor of a power stage includes a shaper circuit including a first current generator configured to output a first current responsive to a bias voltage signal and to generate a reference voltage signal based on the first current. A bias circuit includes a second current generator configured to output a second current responsive to a compensation voltage signal and to generate the bias voltage based on the second current. An error detection circuit includes a third current generator configured to output a third current responsive to the reference voltage signal and to generate the compensation voltage signal based on the third current.

Abstract: A diode comprising a semiconductor body delimited by a front surface and including: a first semiconductor region having a first type of conductivity, facing at least in part the front surface; and a second semiconductor region having a second type of conductivity, the second semiconductor region facing at least in part the front surface and surrounding, at a distance, at least part of the first semiconductor region. The diode further includes: a trench, which extends in the semiconductor body starting from the front surface, for surrounding at least part of the second semiconductor region; and a lateral insulation region, which is arranged within the trench, is formed by dielectric material and contacts at least in part the second semiconductor region.

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(Y).

Abstract: A beamforming method employs a plurality of microphones arranged in an array with respect to a reference point. The method includes acquiring microphone signals from the microphones and combining the microphone signals (x1 . . .

Abstract: A biosensor includes a flexible foil with an electrode layer positioned on the foil. An adhesive layer is positioned on the foil layer, and a first photo-definable hydrogel membrane is positioned over the electrode layer and the adhesive layer. A second photo-definable hydrogel membrane with an immobilized bio-recognition element is positioned over the first hydrogel membrane in contact with the electrode layer through an opening in the first hydrogel membrane.

Abstract: A network interface for a first network on chip resource capable of interfacing a data processing unit in the first resource with the network, the network interface including an output communication controller including a mechanism detecting an indicator marking an end of communication between the first resource and at least one second resource with which a communication link is set up, and a mechanism outputting a signal indicating closure of the link to be sent to the second resource, after detection of an end of communication indicator.

Abstract: A method for managing the lifetime of a battery is disclosed herein. An ambient temperature is measured near a battery. The ambient temperature rises above a first threshold and, in response to detecting that the ambient temperature has risen above the first threshold, the battery is discharged. A battery system and a device operable with a battery are also disclosed.

Abstract: A rectifying circuit including: between a first terminal of application of an AC voltage and a first rectified voltage delivery terminal, at least one first diode; and between a second terminal of application of the AC voltage and a second rectified voltage delivery terminal, at least one first anode-gate thyristor, the anode of the first thyristor being connected to the second rectified voltage delivery terminal; and at least one first stage for controlling the first thyristor, including: a first transistor coupling the thyristor gate to a terminal of delivery of a potential which is negative with respect to the potential of the second rectified voltage delivery terminal; and a second transistor connecting a control terminal of the first transistor to a terminal for delivering a potential which is positive with respect to the potential of the second rectified voltage delivery terminal, the anode of the first thyristor being connected to the common potential of voltages defined by said positive and negative p

Abstract: A device for driving a power supply start-up circuit may include a logic unit for storing an operating state of equipment, where the logic unit is activatable by a start-up signal reaching a start-up threshold. The device may also include a detector, where the detector provides a signal to the logic unit indicating a drop in the signal below a drop threshold. The detector may enable the logic unit to continue operating in the presence of a failure of a power supply to store the operating state of the equipment upon occurrence of the failure of the power supply. In addition, the device may include a start-up circuit sensitive to a power supply signal, where the start-up circuit is activatable by the power supply signal as restored after the failure, and the start-up circuit may provide the start-up signal reaching the start-up threshold upon the power supply signal being restored.

Abstract: One or more embodiments are directed to system in package (SiP) for optical devices, including proximity sensor packaging. One embodiment is directed to optical sensor that includes a substrate, an image sensor die and a light-emitting device. A first surface of the image sensor die is coupled to the substrate, and a recess is formed extending into the image sensor die from the first surface toward a second surface of the image sensor die. A light transmissive layer is formed in the image sensor die between the recess and the first surface. The optical sensor further includes a light-emitting device that is coupled to the substrate and positioned within the recess formed in the image sensor die.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a micro-electro mechanical (MEMS) device including a substrate, and a MEMS mirror stack on the substrate. A first bonding layer seals against ingress of environmental contaminants and mechanically anchors the MEMS mirror stack to the substrate. A cap layer is formed on the MEMS mirror stack. A second boding layer seals against ingress of environmental contaminants and mechanically anchors the cap layer to the MEMS mirror stack.

Abstract: A galvanic isolation circuit is formed by a differential transformer having primary and secondary windings for transmission of signals over a carrier between the primary and the secondary windings of the transformer. A galvanic isolation oxide layer is provide between the primary and secondary windings. Each winding includes include a center tap providing a low-impedance paths for dc and low frequency components of common-mode currents through the differential transformer. A pass-band stage is coupled to the secondary winding of the transformer and configured to permit propagation of signals over said carrier through the pass-band amplifier stage while providing for a rejection of common-mode noise.

Abstract: A power stage in an electronic fuse circuit is driven by controller. The controller includes a first comparator set for output voltage control and a second comparator set for output current control. Each comparator set includes at least one comparator having a reference input, a feedback input, and one or more outputs. A driver circuit includes output terminals for driving the power stage. The driver circuit includes a switch that is selectively activated in response to outputs from the first and second comparator sets to clamp the voltage across the output terminals of the driver circuit. The clamp operation is made in response to feedback input to either of the first and second comparator sets having exceeded a certain reference.