Abstract: An embodiment of an integrated electronic device formed in a semiconductor body delimited by a lateral surface, which includes: a substrate made of a first semiconductor material; a first epitaxial region made of a second semiconductor material, which overlies the substrate and defines a first surface; a second epitaxial region made of a third semiconductor material, which overlies the first surface and is in contact with the first epitaxial region, the third semiconductor material having a bandgap narrower than the bandgap of the second semiconductor material; an active area, extending within the second epitaxial region and housing at least one elementary electronic component; and an edge structure, arranged between the active area and the lateral surface, and including a dielectric region arranged laterally with respect to the second epitaxial region, which overlies the first surface and is in contact with the first epitaxial region.

Abstract: An embodiment of an integrated electronic device formed in a body of semiconductor material, which includes: a substrate of a first semiconductor material, the first semiconductor material having a first bandgap; a first epitaxial region of a second semiconductor material and having a first type of conductivity, which overlies the substrate and defines a first surface, the second semiconductor material having a second bandgap wider than the first bandgap; and a second epitaxial region of the first semiconductor material, which overlies, and is in direct contact with, the first epitaxial region. The first epitaxial region includes a first buffer layer, which overlies the substrate, and a drift layer, which overlies the first buffer layer and defines the first surface, the first buffer layer and the drift layer having different doping levels.

Abstract: A step-detection device for detecting the steps taken by a user (for counting) includes a transducer that generates an electrical transduction signal as a function of step mechanical activity. An energy scavenging system, coupled to the transducer, generates electrical energy starting from the mechanical activity in order to supply an output supply signal in response to the electrical transduction signal. A voltage-regulator generates a regulated supply signal from the output supply signal. A transmission stage, supplied by the voltage-regulating stage, initiates a wireless transmission indicative of step detection, that wireless transmission causing an increment of a step count at a remote location. The transmission stage makes the wireless transmission when the regulated supply signal exceeds a first threshold. Completion of the wireless transmission is indicative of the occurrence of a step.

Abstract: A sensing structure for use in testing integrated circuits on a substrate. The sensing structure includes at least two sensing regions connectable to a probe and at least one first sensing element. Each of the at least one first sensing elements is directly connected to two sensing regions such that for each sensing region a different value of an electrical parameter is measurable between the sensing region and a first reference potential so as to reliably determine a drift direction of a probe.

Abstract: A solar light concentration photovoltaic conversion system, uses a solar light collector to focus collected light onto a termination of at least one multi-fiber cable. A wavelength splitter is optically coupled to the other termination of the multi-fiber cable for producing light beams of different wavelengths, each illuminating the optical termination of one or more lambda-dedicated tap fibers or multi-fiber cables. From the wavelength splitter depart a number of lambda-dedicated groups of tap fibers adapted to convey the radiation to remotely arranged lambda-specific photovoltaic cells, configured for efficiently converting light energy of the specific wavelength spectrum carried along respective fiber or group of fibers into electrical energy. The lambda-specific photovoltaic cells are formed onto light spreading structures optically coupled to a respective tap fiber or multi-fiber cable, adapted to trap the injected light and convert it into electricity.

Abstract: An embodiment of a micro-electro-mechanical system of the MEMS type comprising at least one micro-electro-mechanical device of the MEMS type and one junction with a duct suitable to being associated with an external apparatus. Said junction being a printed circuit board PCB comprising at least two layers with juxtaposed faces, a channel being present in at least one face of at least one of said at least two layers suitable for realizing the duct with the juxtaposition of the other face of at least another one of at least two layers.

Abstract: An embodiment of a method for reducing chroma noise in digital image data and of a corresponding image processor. Chrominance components are subjected to low-pass filtering. The strength of the low-pass filtering is modulated in accordance with the dynamic range of the luminance signal and the dynamic range of each of the two chrominance signals in order to avoid color bleeding at image-object edges. Moreover, the low-pass filtering is selectively applied to pixels with similar luminance and chrominance values only. A combination of down-sampling and up-sampling units is employed so that comparatively small filter kernels may be used for removing chroma noise with low spatial frequency.

Abstract: A MOS transistor includes a semiconductor layer with a drain region and a body region. A first insulating layer is disposed over the semiconductor layer, a gate-precursor layer is disposed over the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer disposed over the first insulating layer and a third insulating layer disposed over the second insulating layer. A source opening extends through the third insulating layer, the second insulating layer, the gate-precursor layer, and the first insulating layer. An implant through the source opening forms a source-precursor region in the semiconductor layer. The source opening is then lined and an body contact opening is made through the liner, the source-precursor region and into the body region. An implant through the body contact opening forms the body contact region below the source-precursor. The body contact opening is then filled with a metal.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments are directed to methods, systems, and circuits of generating compact descriptors for transmission over a communications network. A method according to one embodiment includes receiving an uncompressed descriptor, performing zero-thresholding on the uncompressed descriptor to generate a zero-threshold-delimited descriptor, quantizing the zero-threshold-delimited descriptor to generate a quantized descriptor, and coding the quantized descriptor to generate a compact descriptor for transmission over a communications network. The uncompressed and compact descriptors may be 3D descriptors, such as where the uncompressed descriptor is a SHOT descriptor. The operation of coding can be ZeroFlag coding, ExpGolomb coding, or Arithmetic coding, for example.

Abstract: An embodiment is directed to extended test coverage of complex multi-clock-domain integrated circuits without forgoing a structured and repeatable standard approach, thus avoiding custom solutions and freeing the designer to implement his RTL code, respecting only generally few mandatory rules identified by the DFT engineer. Such an embodiment is achieved by introducing in the test circuit an embodiment of an additional functional logic circuit block, named “inter-domain on chip clock controller” (icOCC), interfaced with every suitably adapted clock-gating circuit (OCC), of the different clock domains. The icOCC actuates synchronization among the different OCCs that source the test clock signals coming from an external ATE or ATPG tool and from internal at-speed test clock generators to the respective circuitries of the distinct clock domains. Scan structures like the OCCs, scan chain, etc., may be instantiated at gate pre-scan level, with low impact onto the functional RTL code written by the designer.

Abstract: A solid state memory including a processor and a method for protecting the digital contents of the solid state memory. The microprocessor inserts at least an interruption during a copying or a reading of the digital contents and proceeds with the copying or reading only subsequent to a verification of a PIN or other user action. In particular, the verification provides control to ensure that the PIN is inserted manually. Access may be prevented if a time elapsed between the interruption and inputting of a PIN is shorter than a threshold time representing a speed of manual input, or if the PIN does not correspond to a sequence of requests for access to selectable files, which may be virtual files. The interruption may comprise substituting altered or cryptographic data if verification fails, or reproduction of an audio or visual message to be understood by the user.

Abstract: An electronic system to discharge a transformer in case of a failure during a charging phase of the transformer. The system includes the transformer having a primary winding with a first terminal connected to a battery voltage and with a second terminal for generating a primary voltage signal, includes a switch serially connected to the primary winding and having a control terminal carrying a control voltage signal for opening or closing the switch and includes an electronic circuit. The electronic circuit further includes a current generator and a voltage clamping.

Abstract: Capacitance sensing circuits and methods are provided. The capacitance sensing circuit includes a capacitance-to-voltage converter configured to receive a signal from a capacitance to be sensed and to provide an output signal representative of the capacitance, an output chopper configured to convert the output signal of the capacitance-to-voltage converter to a sensed voltage representative of the capacitance to be sensed, an analog accumulator configured to accumulate sensed voltages during an accumulation period of NA sensing cycles and to provide an accumulated analog value, an amplifier configured to amplify the accumulated analog value, and an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the amplified accumulated analog value to a digital value representative of the capacitance to be sensed. The analog accumulator may include a low pass filter having a frequency response to filter wideband noise.

Abstract: A multi-pixel photodetector array may include a semiconductor substrate having a back side and a front side, Geiger mode avalanche photodiodes (GM-APDs) on the semiconductor substrate, each including an anode contact, and a common cathode for the GM-APDs and having a first connection lead on the backside of the semiconductor substrate. The multi-pixel photodetector array may include a second connection lead, and a common anode on the front side of the semiconductor substrate and configured to couple in common the anode contacts of the GM-APDs to the second connection lead. Each GM-APD may be configured to generate, when a photon impinges thereon, a current pulse of different shape for discrimination by an external circuit connected to the common cathode and the common anode.

Abstract: An electronic system includes an electronic device of through-hole mounting type comprising an insulating body for embedding at least a chip on which electronic components are integrated, a plurality of conductive leads projecting from the insulating body for said mounting, and a dissipation plate exposed from the insulating body for transferring heat from said electronic component in operation towards the outside of the insulating body. The electronic system includes a heat sink in contact with said dissipation plate for dissipating said heat. The heat sink comprises a first dissipation element, a second dissipation element, and clamping means for clamping the first dissipation element and the second dissipation element together against the insulating body of said electronic device.

Abstract: QCA assemblies, in which basic cells are formed on the basis of graphene in order to provide a coupling field distribution in the form of an electrostatic field, a magnetic field, and the like which allows a unique association between field distribution and logic state. Moreover, the corresponding energy structure may be selected so as to allow operation of the QCA assemblies at ambient temperature. Hence, the signal processing capabilities of QCA assemblies may be obtained at significantly reduced complexity compared to conventional quantum-based QCA assemblies, which typically operate at very low temperatures.

Abstract: A power supply circuit for an electrical appliance, including a turning-on stage configured for determining a transition from a turned-off state, in which the power supply circuit is off and does not supply electric power, to a turned-on state of the power supply circuit. The turning-on stage includes a transducer of the remote-control type configured for triggering the transition in response to the reception of a wireless signal. In some embodiments, operating power is transmitted from a remote controller to a control circuit of the electronic equipment, such that the electronic equipment can be turned on remotely but draws zero standby power.

Abstract: A high voltage comparison circuit includes an input stage generating an intermediate signal as a result of a comparison between an input signal and a first voltage reference and an output stage configured to generate an output signal referenced to a second voltage reference (different from the first voltage reference) in response to the intermediate signal.

Abstract: An energy harvesting interface receives an electrical signal from an inductive transducer and supplies a supply signal. The interface includes an input branch with a first switch and a second switch connected together in series between a first input terminal and an output terminal. The interface further includes a third switch and a fourth switch connected together in series between a second input terminal and the output terminal. A first electrical-signal-detecting device, coupled across the second switch, detects a first threshold value of an electric storage current in the inductor of the transducer. A second electrical-signal-detecting device, coupled across the fourth switch, detects whether the electric supply current that flows through the fourth switch reaches a second threshold value lower than the first threshold value. The second threshold is derived from the electric storage current.

Abstract: An electronic device includes an integrated circuit chip mounted to a heat slug. The heat slug has a peripheral region having first thickness along a first direction, the peripheral region surrounding a recess region (having a second, smaller, thickness along the first direction) that defines a chip mounting surface along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The recess region defines side borders and a nook extends into the heat slug along the side borders. An insulating body embeds the integrated circuit one chip and heat slug. Material of the insulating body fills the nook.