Abstract: A method for carrying out nucleic acid amplification, includes providing a reaction chamber (31), accommodating an array (36) of nucleic acid probes (37) at respective locations; for hybridizing to respective target nucleic acids; and introducing a solution (50) into the reaction chamber (31), wherein the solution (50) contains primers, capable of binding to target nucleic acids, nucleotides, nucleic acid extending enzymes and a sample including nucleic acids. The structure of the nucleic acid probes (37) and of the primers is selected so that a hybridization temperature (TH) of the probes (37) is higher than an annealing temperature (TA) of the primers, whereby hybridization and annealing take place in respective separate (non-overlapping) temperature ranges (RH, RA).

Abstract: A driving circuit for an electric motor including multiple windings includes a sensing circuit to sense motor winding currents. A motor rotation angle signal is generated from the sensed currents and motor control voltages are generated as a function of the motor rotation angle signal. The motor windings are driven with motor drive voltages obtained by injecting into the motor control voltages injection pulses. The sensed currents include both torque components and injection components. The motor rotation angle signal is generated as a function of the injection components of the sensed currents.

Abstract: A programmable-gain amplifier includes: two complementary cross-coupled transistor pairs mutually coupled with each transistor in one pair having a current flow path cascaded with a current flow path of a respective one of the transistors in the other pair. First and second coupling points are formed between the pairs; with first and second sampling capacitors coupled thereto. First and second input stages have input terminals to input signals for sampling by the first and second sampling capacitors. Switching means couple the first and second input stages to the sampling capacitors so the input signals are sampled as sampled signals on the sampling capacitors. The switching means energizes the complementary cross-coupled transistor pairs so the signals sampled on the sampling capacitors undergo negative resistance regeneration growing exponentially over time to thereby provide an exponential amplifier gain.

Abstract: An embodiment of a non-volatile memory device is proposed. Said memory device comprises a matrix of memory cells; each memory cell is individually programmable to at least a first logic level and individually erasable to a second logic level. The memory device further comprises partition means for logically subdividing the matrix into a plurality of subspaces; each subspace comprises at least one respective memory cell. The memory device further comprises selection means for selecting a subspace, operative means for performing an operation on all the memory cells of the selected subspace, and means for dynamically modifying the number of subspaces and/or the number of memory cells included in each subspace.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a device for ejecting a fluid, including producing a nozzle plate including: forming a first nozzle cavity, having a first diameter, in a first semiconductor body; forming a hydrophilic layer at least in part in the first nozzle cavity; forming a structural layer on the hydrophilic layer; etching the structural layer to form a second nozzle cavity aligned to the first nozzle cavity in a fluid-ejection direction and having a second diameter larger than the first diameter; proceeding with etching of the structural layer for removing portions thereof in the first nozzle cavity, to reach the hydrophilic layer and arranged in fluid communication the first and second nozzle cavities; and coupling the nozzle plate with a chamber for containing the fluid.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods to perform absolute rotation estimation including outlier detection via low-rank and sparse matrix decomposition. One example method includes obtaining a relative rotation estimates matrix that includes a plurality of relative rotation estimates. The method includes determining values for a low-rank matrix that result in a desirable value of a cost function that is based on a low-rank and sparse matrix decomposition of the relative rotation estimates matrix. The cost function includes the low-rank matrix and a sparse matrix that is nonzero in correspondence of one or more outliers of the plurality of relative rotation estimates. The method includes determining an absolute rotations matrix that includes a plurality of absolute rotations based at least in part on the values of the low-rank matrix that result in the desirable value of the cost function.

Abstract: A device for detecting obstacles that is wearable by a subject, for example integrated in an item of footwear. The device includes an ultrasound source for emitting an ultrasound transmission signal and an ultrasound receiver for receiving a corresponding ultrasound signal reflected by an obstacle, a control module for measuring a time of flight between emission of the ultrasound transmission signal and reception of the corresponding ultrasound signal reflected by the obstacle and calculating, on the basis of the aforesaid time of flight, the distance at which the obstacle is located. The device comprises an inertial sensor, in particular an acceleration sensor, designed to measure acceleration of the foot along three axes, and a control module configured for enabling operation of the ultrasound source if the aforesaid acceleration values measured by the inertial sensor respect a given condition for enabling measurement of the time of flight.

Abstract: A MEMS pressure sensor includes a resistive sensing bridge with a first sensing resistor and a second sensing resistor, each having variable resistance values in response to change in a sensed physical variable. An oscillator generates an oscillation signal with a frequency or period that is a function of an oscillator control signal. A sensor reference module generates the oscillator control signal as a function of the resistance value of a resistor coupled therewith. This sensor reference module is couplable with the first sensing resistor or second sensing resistor. A processing circuit coupled to the oscillator provides a sensor signal indicative of the frequency or period of the oscillation signal. The sensor signal has first and second values with the sensor reference module coupled with the first sensing resistor and with the second sensing resistor, respectively, the first and second values being thus jointly indicative of the physical variable sensed.

Abstract: A galvanic isolation is provided between a first circuit and a second circuit. A first galvanically isolated link is configured to transfer power from a first circuit to a second circuit across the galvanic isolation. A second galvanically isolated link is configured to feed back an error signal from the second circuit to the first circuit across the galvanic isolation for use in regulating the power transfer and further configured to support bidirectional data communication between the first and second circuits across the galvanic isolation.

Abstract: A sensor of volatile substances including: a sensitive layer, of a sensitive material that is permeable to a volatile substance and has an electrical permittivity depending upon a concentration of the volatile substance absorbed; a first electrode structure and a second electrode structure capacitively coupled together and arranged so that a capacitance between the first electrode structure and the second electrode structure is affected by the electrical permittivity of the sensitive material; and a supply device, configured to supply a heating current through one between the first electrode structure and the second electrode structure in a first operating condition, so as to heat the sensitive layer.

Abstract: Provided is an acoustic transducer including: a semiconductor substrate; a vibrating membrane provided above the semiconductor substrate, including a vibrating electrode; and a fixed membrane provided above the semiconductor substrate, including a fixed electrode, the acoustic transducer detecting a sound wave according to changes in capacitances between the vibrating electrode and the fixed electrode, converting the sound wave into electrical signals, and outputting the electrical signals. At least one of the vibrating electrode and the fixed electrode is divided into a plurality of divided electrodes, and the plurality of divided electrodes outputting the electrical signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a heart rate of a biological body are disclosed. In the method and apparatus, light having a first wavelength and light having a second wavelength are emitted at the biological body. The first wavelength is associated with a first absorption coefficient for blood components and the second wavelength is associated with a second absorption coefficient for the blood components that is less than the first absorption coefficient. A first reflected signal is captured as a result of the light having the first wavelength being reflected from the biological body and a second reflected signal is captured as a result of the light having the second wavelength being reflected from the biological body. A heart rate signal is obtained based on the first and second reflected signals. A heart rate of the biological body is determined based on the heart rate signal.

Abstract: A surface mounting device has one body of semiconductor material such as an ASIC, and a package surrounding the body. The package has a base region carrying the body, a cap and contact terminals. The base region has a Young's modulus lower than 5 MPa. For forming the device, the body is attached to a supporting frame including contact terminals and a die pad, separated by cavities; bonding wires are soldered to the body and to the contact terminals; an elastic material is molded so as to surround at least in part lateral sides of the body, fill the cavities of the supporting frame and cover the ends of the bonding wires on the contact terminals; and a cap is fixed to the base region. The die pad is then etched away.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image display system, including a television having a screen, a sound projector, a control unit in signal communication with said screen and said sound projector, said control unit being configured for said sound projector to project one or more audible beams in a room towards one or more target paths. The system includes an optical instrument having a frame and a pair of lenses, detection means and transmission means, said detection means being designed to receive at their input an audio signal having a frequency falling in a 20-20 kHz frequency band and to output a processed signal, said transmission means being designed to receive at their input said processed signal, and to output a calibration signal. The control unit calibrates said sound projector according to said calibration signal generated by said optical instrument.

Abstract: A MEMS device includes a fixed structure and a mobile structure with a reflecting element coupled to the fixed structure through at least a first deformable structure and a second deformable structure. Each of the first and second deformable structures includes a respective number of main piezoelectric elements, with the main piezoelectric elements of the first and second deformable structures configured to be electrically controlled for causing oscillations of the mobile structure about a first axis and a second axis, respectively. The first deformable structure further includes a respective number of secondary piezoelectric elements configured to be controlled so as to vary a first resonance frequency of the mobile structure about the first axis.

Abstract: A method of controlling a switching voltage regulator includes detecting current-limit events indicating a maximum inductor current threshold has been exceeded. A compensation voltage that determines a duty cycle and thereby an inductor current is controlled to reduce the inductor current and eliminate the occurrence of current-limit events. The method detects whether a time for which no current-limit events have been detected exceeds a time step threshold. The compensation voltage is controlled to increase the duty cycle and thereby the inductor current in response to the time exceeding the time step threshold. The time step threshold may be an integer number of switching cycles of the voltage regulator.

Abstract: A mirror micromechanical structure has a mobile mass carrying a mirror element. The mass is drivable in rotation for reflecting an incident light beam with a desired angular range. The mobile mass is suspended above a cavity obtained in a supporting body. The cavity is shaped so that the supporting body does not hinder the reflected light beam within the desired angular range. In particular, the cavity extends as far as a first side edge wall of the supporting body of the mirror micromechanical structure. The cavity is open towards, and in communication with, the outside of the mirror micromechanical structure at the first side edge wall.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a microfluidic die that includes a plurality of heaters above a substrate, a plurality of chambers and nozzles above the heaters, a plurality of first contacts coupled to the heaters, and a plurality of second contacts coupled to the heaters. The plurality of second contacts are coupled to each other and coupled to ground. The die includes a plurality of contact pads, a first signal line coupled to the plurality of second contacts and to a first one of the plurality of contact pads, and a plurality of second signal lines, each second signal line being coupled to one of the plurality of first contacts, groups of the second signal lines being coupled together to drive a group of the plurality of heaters with a single signal, each group of the second signal lines being coupled to a remaining one of the plurality of contact pads.

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 load-sensing device is arranged in a package forming a chamber. The package has a deformable substrate configured, in use, to be deformed by an external force. A sensor unit is positioned in direct contact with the deformable substrate and is configured to detect deformations of the deformable substrate. An elastic element within of the chamber is arranged to act between the package and the sensor unit to generate, on the sensor unit, a force keeping the sensor unit in contact with the deformable substrate. The deformable substrate may be a base of the package, and the elastic element may be a metal lamina arranged between the lid of the package and the sensor unit. The sensor unit may be a semiconductor die integrating piezoresistors.