Abstract: A device for detecting the concentration of biological materials, is formed in a body having a plurality of fluidic paths connectable to a multi-microbalance structure carrying a plurality of microbalances, each microbalance having a sensitive portion facing a reaction chamber. The body and the multi-microbalance structure are configured to be mechanically coupled together and each microbalance is configured to be coupled to a respective fluidic path. Each fluidic path includes an inlet, a duct and a liquid waste, each duct being configured to be coupled with a respective reaction chamber. The plurality of fluidic paths and microbalances form at least one first and one second reference cells and one first sample cell.

Abstract: A circuit includes a transformer with a primary, secondary, and auxiliary. A first control circuit actuates a first switch circuit based on a wake-up signal to cause the primary to transmit power to the secondary. A second control circuit actuates a second switch circuit based on an output voltage at the secondary being less than a threshold to generate the wake-up signal to the secondary for transmission to the auxiliary. The second switch circuit has a transistor with a source coupled to a reference node, a gate coupled to the second control circuit. A first diode has an anode coupled to the source and a cathode coupled to the drain, and blocks flow of current from the drain to the source. A second diode has an anode coupled to the substrate and a cathode coupled to the drain, and blocks flow of current from the drain to the substrate.

Abstract: A sensing structure is presented for use in testing integrated circuits on a substrate. The sensing structure includes a probe region corresponding to a conductive region for connecting to the integrated circuit. A first sensing region at least partially surrounds the probe region. A plurality of sensing elements connects in series such that a first of the plurality of sensing elements has two terminals respectively connected to the first sensing region and the probe region. And a second of the plurality of sensing elements has two terminals respectively connected to the probe region and a first reference potential.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a microelectromechanical device and a process for manufacturing same. One or more embodiments may include forming a semiconductor structural layer separated from a substrate by a dielectric layer, and opening a plurality of trenches through the structural layer exposing a portion of the dielectric layer. A sacrificial portion of the dielectric layer is selectively removed through the plurality of trenches in membrane regions so as to free a corresponding portion of the structural layer to form a membrane. To close the trenches, the wafer is brought to an annealing temperature for a time interval in such a way as to cause migration of the atoms of the membrane so as to reach a minimum energy configuration.

Abstract: A SIM card adapter assembly is to adapt a SIM card to a SIM slot. The adapter assembly includes a SIM card plastic support including a first portion of a predetermined thickness. The SIM card is removably attached and a second portion has an increased thickness wherein at least one adapter is removably attached.

Abstract: A method for indexing electronic devices includes: forming first chips in a first wafer, forming second chips in a second wafer, forming the electronic devices by coupling each first chip with a corresponding second chip, and forming an index on each electronic device. The index is indicative of a position of the corresponding first chip in the first wafer. The step of forming an index includes forming a first portion of the index on the first chip, and forming a second portion of the index on the second chip.

Abstract: An effective method enhances energy saving at low load in a resonant converter with a hysteretic control scheme for implementing burst-mode at light load. The method causes a current controlled oscillator of the converter to stop oscillating when a feedback control current of the output voltage of the converter reaches a first threshold value, and introduces a nonlinearity in the functional relation between the frequency of oscillation and said feedback control current or in a derivative of the functional relation, while the control current is between a lower, second threshold value and the first threshold value, such that the frequency of oscillation remains equal or smaller than the frequency of oscillation when the control current is equal to the second threshold value. Several circuital implementations are illustrated, all of simple realization without requiring any costly microcontroller.

Abstract: A rectifier circuit includes a first, second, third and fourth parasitic diodes electrically connected to form a full-wave diode-bridge rectifier. A first switch and a second switch are connected in parallel, respectively, to the first and second parasitic diodes, and a third switch and a fourth switch connected in parallel, respectively, to the third and fourth parasitic diodes. A first biasing network is configured to drive in conduction the first and second switches, during turning-on of the rectifier circuit, using a first turning-on signal that is a function of the input signal. A second biasing network is configured to close the third and fourth switches, during turning-on of the rectifier circuit, using a second turning-on signal that is a function of the input signal.

Abstract: A DSC type device manufacturing process includes placing a circuit assembly in a mold. The circuit assembly includes a first heat sink, a semiconductor chip mounted on the first heat sink, a second heat sink mounted on the semiconductor chip and a pin block electrically connected to the semiconductor chip. An outer surface of the first heat sink and an outer surface of the pin block are placed in contact with a first inner surface of the mold. A spacer insert is placed in contact with, and positioned between, a second inner surface of the mold and an outer surface of the second heat sink. The mold is filled with an insulating material that is subsequently hardened. After hardening, a resulting device is extracted from the mold with the outer surfaces of the first heat sink, the pin block and the second heat sink exposed.

Abstract: A memory includes an array of non-volatile memory cells. Each cell includes a select transistor in series connection with a floating gate transistor. The cells are configurable for operation in a programming mode and an erase mode. When in the programming mode, the gate terminal of the select transistor is driven with a negative bias voltage so as to bias that transistor in the accumulation region and eliminate sub-threshold leakage. When in the erase mode, the gate terminal of a pull-down transistor coupled to the memory cell is driven with a negative bias voltage so as to bias that transistor in the accumulation region and eliminate sub-threshold leakage.

Abstract: An electric transformer device (balun) is formed on a support plate having a first base face and an opposite second base face. The balun includes a first port (40) connectable to an electrical line for a differential signal and a second port connectable to an electrical line for a single-ended signal. A first printed conductive track is associated to the first base face of the support plate for connecting the first port to the second port. A printed conductive path is associated to the second base face of the support plate for connecting the first port to the second port. The printed conductive path is formed of a symmetric second and third printed conductive tracks.

Abstract: An embodiment of an apparatus, such as a circuit breaker, includes an input node, an output node, and a digital circuit. The input node is configured to receive an input voltage, and the output node is coupled to the input node and is configured to carry an output current. And the digital circuit is configured to uncouple the output node from the input node in response to a power drawn from the input node exceeding a threshold.

Abstract: A method for forming electrical-contact interface regions on a wafer including a silicon-carbide substrate having a surface with at least one conductive region facing the surface. The method includes forming a first and a second resist layer; forming; removing portions of the second resist layer to form a through opening partially aligned to the conductive region; removing, selective portions of the first resist layer to expose the surface of the substrate; removing portions of the first resist layer that extend laterally staggered with respect to the through opening; depositing a nickel layer on the wafer to form a nickel region on the substrate in an area corresponding to the conductive region; removing the first and second resist layers; and carrying out a step of thermal treatment of the wafer to form nickel-silicide regions in electrical contact with the conductive region.

Abstract: A battery charger includes an input supply terminal configured to receive a supply signal, a battery terminal configured to be connected to a battery and at least one output terminal, a switch arranged in the electrical path between the battery terminal and at least one output terminal, an element configured to store an information representative of an alarm condition of the battery and to open the switch when the alarm condition occurs, with the supply signal being absent and the battery supplying the at least one output terminal, and to close the switch when the supply signal is received at the input supply terminal.

Abstract: An embodiment is a method for detecting image features, the method including extracting a stripe from a digital image, the stripe including of a plurality of blocks; processing the plurality of blocks for localizing one or more keypoints; and detecting one or more image features based on the one or more localized keypoints.

Abstract: An electronic device is described comprising at least one chip enclosed in a package, in turn provided with a metallic structure or leadframe having a plurality of connection pins, this chip having at least one first contact realized on a first face and at least one second contact realized on a second and opposite face of this chip. The chip comprises at least one through via crossing the whole section of the chip as well as a metallic layer extending from the second contact arranged on the first face, along walls of the at least one through via up to the second and opposite face in correspondence with an additional pad. The electronic device comprises at least one interconnection layer for the electrical and mechanical connection between the chip and the metallic structure having at least one portion realized in correspondence with the at least one through via so as to bring the second contact placed on the second face of the chip back on its first face.

Abstract: A micro-electromechanical device includes a semiconductor substrate, in which a first microstructure and a second microstructure of reference are integrated. The first microstructure and the second microstructure are arranged in the substrate so as to undergo equal strains as a result of thermal expansions of the substrate. Furthermore, the first microstructure is provided with movable parts and fixed parts with respect to the substrate, while the second microstructure has a shape that is substantially symmetrical to the first microstructure but is fixed with respect to the substrate. By subtracting the changes in electrical characteristics of the second microstructure from those of the first, variations in electrical characteristics of the first microstructure caused by changes in thermal expansion or contraction can be compensated for.

Abstract: An embodiment concerns a method for encrypting a message through a cryptographic algorithm including a computation of a mathematical function including the computation of one or more modular multiplications. Such a cryptographic algorithm has a respective module. The method, carried out with an electronic device, includes: providing a first parameter; generating a random number; calculating a Montgomery parameter based on said first parameter and on a integer multiple of said random number; generating a representation of the message to be encrypted in a Montgomery domain through a Montgomery conversion function applied to the message and to the Montgomery parameter; carrying out the calculation of the mathematical function on the message represented in the Montgomery domain.

Abstract: A control device controls a switching converter. The converter has an input alternating supply voltage, a regulated direct voltage on the output terminal, and a switch connected to an inductor. The control device controls the closing and opening time period of said switch for each cycle and receives a first input signal representative of the current flowing through one element of the converter. The control device comprises a counter configured to count a time period, a comparator configured to compare said first input signal with a second signal, digital control block configured to control the closing and opening of said switch and to activate said counter to start the counting of said time period when the said first input signal crosses said second signal, with said switch being closed. The digital control block is configured to open the switch when the counter finishes the counting of said time period.

Abstract: A driving mass of an integrated microelectromechanical structure is moved with a rotary motion about an axis of rotation, and a sensing mass is connected to the driving mass via elastic supporting elements so as to perform a detection movement in the presence of an external stress. The driving mass is anchored to an anchorage arranged along the axis of rotation by elastic anchorage elements. An opening is provided within the driving mass and the sensing mass is arranged within the opening. The elastic supporting and anchorage elements render the sensing mass fixed to the driving mass in the rotary motion, and substantially decoupled from the driving mass in the detection movement. The detection movement is a rotation about an axis lying in a plane. The sensing mass has, in plan view, a non-rectangular shape; in particular, the sensing mass has a radial geometry and, in plan view, the overall shape of a radial annulus sector.