Abstract: A synchronous rectifier, including an energy storage element having a terminal; a power supply input, connected to the terminal of the storage element in a first time interval; a reference line connected to the terminal of the storage element in a second time interval; and a zero comparator, coupled to the terminal of the storage element to detect a current flowing in the energy storage element and disconnect the terminal of the storage element from the reference line upon detecting a zero current, the zero comparator having an offset and a propagation time; the zero comparator further having an offset control input and an output. An offset regulating loop is coupled between the output of the zero comparator and the offset control input and regulates the offset of the zero comparator to compensate the propagation time.

Abstract: An electronic integrated device may include a signal generation stage arranged to generate a first signal representative of an under voltage lockout logic signal. The signal generation stage may include a voltage divider block arranged to provide an internal reference voltage signal to a bandgap core group based upon a reference signal. The bandgap core group may generate the first signal based upon the internal reference voltage signal. The bandgap core group may further include a first generation module arranged to generate a output regulated reference voltage signal based upon the internal reference voltage signal, and a second generation module arranged to generate the first signal based upon the internal reference voltage signal and a driving signal obtained by a preliminary processing of the internal reference voltage signal by a bandgap core module included within the band gap core group.

Abstract: An electronic amplifier for driving a capacitive load may include first and second differential input terminals to receive an input signal, and first and second differential output terminals to provide a differential output signal. The amplifier may further include a first operational device having first and second differential inputs connected to the first and second differential input terminals, respectively, and an output connected to the first differential output terminal, and a second operational device having first and second differential inputs connected to the first and second differential input terminals, respectively, and an output connected to the second differential output terminal. The first and second operational devices may be operatively configured so that both the first and the second output terminals are at a same reference potential during periods in which a module of differential output signal amplitude decrease.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention relates to a voltage converter for supplying a semiconductor light source and having at least an input terminal connected to a power supply reference, namely an AC mains voltage reference, and an output terminal providing a current signal to said semiconductor light source, the converter being also connected to a voltage reference and comprising at least a step-down block inserted between a switching node and to the output terminal and connected to the voltage reference and an input block connected to the input terminal, as well as to a first input node and to a first output node of a control circuit, in turn connected to the switching node and to the voltage reference.

Abstract: A startup circuitry connected to a main circuit which has at least an output terminal connected to its feedback terminal by a feedback loop. The startup circuitry is connected to the main circuit in such a manner to break the feedback loop, by having a first circuit node connected to said output terminal of said main circuit and a second circuit node connected to its feedback terminal, said startup circuitry providing a correct output voltage value during the startup phase of said main circuit.

Abstract: A control device for regulating the constant output current of a flyback converter, the control device adapted to control the on time period and the off time period of a primary winding switch and including a first circuit adapted to multiply a first signal representative of current flowing through the primary winding and a second signal representative of an input voltage and outputting a signal representative of the multiplication, a second circuit adapted to compare the output signal of the first circuit and a third signal representative of the direct output voltage, the control device determining, on the basis of the output signal of the second circuit, the on time period and the off time period of the switch so that the output signal of the first circuit is equal to the signal representative of the direct output signal to have the output current of the flyback converter constant.

Abstract: An amplifier with an output protection having an input stage defining a feedback node, an output stage connected to the feedback node and defining an output node supplying an output voltage, and a feedback stage connected between the output and the feedback nodes. A mirror stage is connected to the feedback node and has the same structure as the output stage, the mirror stage defining a reference node connected to the feedback stage for generating a reference voltage to be compared to the output voltage by the feedback stage. The feedback stage generates a current limitation signal fed to the feedback node when a difference between the output and the reference voltages is higher than a threshold.

Abstract: A state machine for generating signals configured for generating different signals according to the current state of the machine. The state machine is configured to change state both as a function of an internal timer and as a function of signals representative of events external to the state machine.

Abstract: A logic level converter includes two first electronic switches coupled in a bi-stable flip-flop arrangement having at least one output line, and a forcing circuitry including two second electronic switches to force switching of the first electronic switches in the flip-flop arrangement. The forcing circuitry has an input terminal to receive a logic input signal having a given level to produce switching of the flip-flop arrangement and generate at the output line(s) of the flip-flop arrangement, a logic output signal(s) whose voltage level is converted with respect to the level of the logic input signal. The converter includes, interposed between each of the two first electronic switches in the flip-flop arrangement and a respective one of the second electronic switches in the forcing circuitry, at least one respective cascode electronic switch to limit the voltage across the two first electronic switches in the flip-flop arrangement.

Abstract: A low-dropout linear regulator includes an error amplifier comprising a cascaded arrangement of a differential amplifier and a gain stage having interposed therebetween a frequency compensation network for a loading current to flow therethrough. The regulator includes a current limiter inserted the flow-path of the loading current for the compensation network to increase the slew rate of the output of the differential amplifier by dispensing with the capacitive load in the frequency compensation network during load transients in the regulator.

Abstract: A microelectronic device includes a first circuit and a second circuit, coupled to the first circuit for selectively preventing operation of the first circuit when a device temperature is higher than a temperature threshold. The second circuit is provided with a temperature responsive element, thermally coupled to the first circuit for providing a shutdown signal correlated to the device temperature. The temperature responsive element includes a reverse-biased junction element and the shutdown signal is correlated to a reverse leakage current of the reverse-biased junction element.

Abstract: Integrated mask-programmable device, having a plurality of metal levels including a top metal level, a bottom metal level and a first intermediate metal level formed between the top and bottom metal levels, and a plurality of via levels arranged between the bottom and the first intermediate metal levels and between the first intermediate and the top metal levels and connecting each metal level to adjacent metal levels. The plurality of metal levels forms a first, a second and at least a third terminal, the top and bottom metal levels having at least two metal regions, and the first intermediate metal level having at least three metal regions. The first terminal is connected to third terminal or the second terminal is connected to the third terminal by modifying a single metal or via level.

Abstract: A circuit including a first sensitive node, a first component connected between the first sensitive node and a first terminal of a first switch, said first switch controlled by a first control signal variable between a supply voltage level and a second voltage level, and a second switch including a first terminal connected to the first terminal of said first switch, and a second terminal connected to a clean voltage supply, said second switch controlled to connect the first node of said first switch to said clean voltage supply when said first switch is in a non-conducting state.

Abstract: An amplifier with an output protection having an input stage defining a feedback node, an output stage connected to the feedback node and defining an output node supplying an output voltage, and a feedback stage connected between the output and the feedback nodes. A mirror stage is connected to the feedback node and has the same structure as the output stage, the mirror stage defining a reference node connected to the feedback stage for generating a reference voltage to be compared to the output voltage by the feedback stage. The feedback stage generates a current limitation signal fed to the feedback node when a difference between the output and the reference voltages is higher than a threshold.

Abstract: A synchronous rectifier, including an energy storage element having a terminal; a power supply input, connected to the terminal of the storage element in a first time interval; a reference line connected to the terminal of the storage element in a second time interval; and a zero comparator, coupled to the terminal of the storage element to detect a current flowing in the energy storage element and disconnect the terminal of the storage element from the reference line upon detecting a zero current, the zero comparator having an offset and a propagation time; the zero comparator further having an offset control input and an output. An offset regulating loop is coupled between the output of the zero comparator and the offset control input and regulates the offset of the zero comparator to compensate the propagation time.

Abstract: A system and method to optimize the quality of a modulated signal. In one aspect, an AM demodulator is used in conjunction with proper bandwidth selection of an FM signal. For example, the AM demodulator can be used to generate an instantaneous absolute value of the FM signal. The average value of the FM signal over a period of time is subtracted from the instantaneous absolute value in order to determine a variance in amplitude in the FM signal. In another aspect, several filters may be tested and the one having the lowest variance in amplitude may be used in order to select the filter having the desirable bandwidth.

Abstract: A compressor control device includes a driving circuit, for controllably supplying a coil of an electric motor of a compressor. A temperature sensor is thermally coupled to the driving circuit and provides a temperature sensing signal correlated to a temperature in the driving circuit. A control stage, coupled to the driving circuit and to the temperature sensor, selectively prevents the driving circuit from supplying the coil, in response to a minimum temperature increment being detected by the temperature sensor within a pre-determined control time window.

Abstract: A switch including a first transistor including a first main terminal connected to a first switch node, a second main terminal connected to a second switch node and a control terminal, the second switch node being connected to a first clean voltage supply, and first control circuitry connected to the control terminal of the first transistor, including a first node connected to the first clean voltage supply, a second node connected to a second voltage level, and a control input node for receiving a first input control signal variable between a supply voltage level and a third voltage level, the first control means arranged to selectively connect the control terminal of the first transistor to one of the first node and the second node based on the first input control signal.

Abstract: A circuit including a first sensitive node, a first component connected between the first sensitive node and a first terminal of a first switch, said first switch controlled by a first control signal variable between a supply voltage level and a second voltage level, and a second switch including a first terminal connected to the first terminal of said first switch, and a second terminal connected to a clean voltage supply, said second switch controlled to connect the first node of said first switch to said clean voltage supply when said first switch is in a non-conducting state.