Abstract: A bootstrap circuit for switching power supplies (SMPS), a switching power supply including a bootstrap circuit, and an integrated circuit of a switching power supply, are provided. The bootstrap circuit (13) for switching power supplies includes a first supply voltage (Vin) coming from a first terminal and a second supply voltage (Vcc) coming from a second terminal and a third terminal (30). The bootstrap circuit includes: a first current path between the first terminal and the third terminal (30); a second current path between the first terminal and the second terminal; a third current path between the second terminal and the third terminal (30); and a two-way voltage regulator (M3, Dz2, R5, R6) placed along the second current path.

Abstract: A DC/DC converter includes a first switchcoupled to an input voltage and to a reference voltage. The first switch is suitable for driving a load connected to the output terminal of the DC/DC converter. The DC/DC converter includes an inductor having an intrinsic resistance and being connected to a terminal of the first switch, and a control circuit suitable for generating a driving signal of the first switch at a switching pulse. The control circuit has a first input terminal connected to the output terminal of the DC/DC converter. The DC/DC converter comprises a resistive element and a capacitor connected between the terminal of the first switch and the reference voltage. The control circuit has a second input terminal connected with the terminal in common of the capacitor and of the resistance.

Abstract: A two-phase charge pump is provided that is capable of being controlled by first and second clock signals that are out-of-phase and take alternatively a first value and a second value during consecutive phases. The charge pump includes a sequence of cascade-connected stages that each have a first section and a second section. Each section includes an input terminal and an output terminal, a capacitive element, and a controlled switch coupling the input terminal of the section with the output terminal of the section. The input terminals in each stage other than the first stage are cross-coupled with the output terminals in a preceding stage. The capacitive element has first and second terminals. The first terminals in the first and second sections receive the first and second clock signals, respectively, and the second terminal is coupled with the output terminal of the section. The controlled switch has a control terminal. In each stage, the control terminals are coupled to each other.

Abstract: A method and circuit for programming a multilevel memory of a flash EEPROM type having a matrix of cells grouped in memory words. The method provides for the simultaneous generation of a first programming voltage value and a second verify voltage value to bias word lines of the memory matrix during programming and verify operations, respectively, of the memory itself. A circuit implementing the above method is also provided.

Abstract: A feedback generator of a reference current may include a differential amplifier having a first input for a reference voltage, and a second input for a feedback voltage and generating an output voltage. The feedback generator may also include a first conduction path including a feedback resistor with the feedback voltage applied thereon, and a first transistor controlled by the output voltage and forcing through the feedback resistor the reference current. The feedback generator may also include a second conduction path coupled to the differential amplifier and biasing the differential amplifier based upon the reference current.

Abstract: A method of preventing concurrent or quasi-concurrent commutations of a pair of phase shift modulation (PSM) drive signals of an output bridge stage driving an electrical load includes establishing a threshold level of a programmed current level to be transmitted though the electrical load. The method also includes, if the programmed current level is lower than the threshold level, enhancing a time offset between commutation edges of the pair of PSM drive signals by a minimum time.

Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device implements a program routine followed by a program-verify routine when recording or modifying stored data. The nonvolatile memory device may include an array of memory cells for storing data, a sense node, and a gating circuit for selectively connecting a bitline of the array of memory cells to the sense node. The nonvolatile memory device may also include a page buffer coupled to the sense node. The page buffer may include a main latch for storing data to be written in the nonvolatile memory device, a cache latch for storing data supplied on an input line of the nonvolatile memory device to be transferred in the main latch through a source liner and a temporary static latch connected to the main latch through the source line and to the cache latch through an auxiliary switch and for transferring data between the main latch and the cache latch. The cache latch may be isolated from the source line during execution of the program routine and of the program-verify routine.

Abstract: A data stream (b(t)) including high (“1”) and low (“0”) logical states is transmitted over an optical link by means of an optical source adapted to be driven via the data strema, to generate an optical signal for transmission over the optical link. The optical signal includes optical pulses generated at the occurrence of high logical states in the data stream b(t). The input data stream b(t) is coded into a coded data stream B(t) prior to the transmission over the optical link. The coding step minimizes the logical high states in the coded data stream, and the optical source is driven by means of the coded data stream wherein the number of logical high states has been minimized.

Abstract: An optical radiation coupling module includes a waveguide for the propagation of optical radiation, an optoelectronic device arranged on a substrate, and a mechanism for coupling the radiation between the waveguide and the optoelectronic device. The coupling mechanism includes a guiding element moulded and tapered in a radiation propagation direction.

Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical sensor includes a microstructure having a mass which is movable with respect to a rest position, according to a predetermined degree of freedom, and a displacement-detecting device for detecting a displacement of the mass according to the predetermined degree of freedom. The displacement-detecting device includes a force feedback loop of a purely analog type, which supplies electrostatic forces tending to restore the mass to the rest position in response to a displacement of the mass according to the predetermined degree of freedom.

Abstract: An analog transconductance amplifier includes an input stage including a first transistor and a second transistor connected in series to the first transistor. The first and second transistors are connected between positive and negative voltages and are respectively controlled by an input voltage and a first control voltage for generating a normalized drive voltage. An amplification stage includes a first conduction path including an amplification transistor controlled by the normalized drive voltage. A first load transistor is connected in series to the amplification transistor and is controlled by a second control voltage. A second conduction path includes at least one second load transistor controlled by a third control voltage. A current mirror forces through the second conduction path a replica of current flowing through the first conduction path. An output stage transistor delivers an output current, and is controlled by a voltage on the second load transistor.

Abstract: An architecture of an ignition and/or injection managing system for an internal combustion engine, of the type structured to cooperate with an electronic engine control unit. Also included is an electronic device architecture for determining the operating phase of an internal combustion motor, based on an input signal issued from a sensor of a phonic wheel associated with the motor camshaft, so as to release the electronic motor control unit from monitoring the phonic wheel signal, in order to lighten its computational load, and to enable the processing of the signal issuing from a variety of the phonic wheels. The device has the task of calculating the angular position of the drive shaft by analyzing the signal transmitted by the tone wheel of the drive shaft. A module is provided that is capable of emitting an interrupt signal toward the control unit on the basis of received signals.

Abstract: Circuitry for encrypting at least a part of an input data flow and generating a tag based on the input data flow with the same ciphering algorithm and the same key including a first ciphering branch arranged to encrypt the at least part of the input data; a second ciphering branch arranged to generate the tag; and a single key schedule unit arranged to receive the key, to generate at least one sub-key based on the key and to provide the at least one sub-key to the first and second ciphering branches.

Abstract: Electrically non-active structures are formed for an electronic circuit to make uniform a surface above a semiconductor substrate. The electronic circuit includes first electrically active structures comprising conductive elements of a first height projecting from the semiconductor substrate, and second electrically active structures comprising conductive elements of a second height projecting from the semiconductor substrate. The first height is different from the second height. The electrically non-active structures are formed by identifying, among the electrically non-active structures, a first group of electrically non-active structures formed within areas that substantially extend for a radius around each electrical component belonging to the second electrically active structures. The method further includes identifying, among the electrically non-active structures, a second group of electrically non-active structures not belonging to the first group of electrically non-active structures.

Abstract: A graphic system includes a pipelined graphic engine for generating image frames for display. The pipelined graphic engine includes a geometric processing stage for performing motion extraction, and a rendering stage for generating full image frames at a first frame rate for display at a second frame rate. The second frame rate is higher than the first frame rate. A motion encoder stage receives motion information from the geometric processing stage, and produces an interpolated frame signal representative of interpolated frames. A motion compensation stage receives the interpolated frame signal from the motion encoder stage, and the full image frames from the rendering stage for generating the interpolated frames. A preferred application is in graphic systems that operate in association with smart displays through a wireless connection, such as in mobile phones.

Abstract: Circuitry for encrypting at least a part of an input data flow and generating a tag based on the input data flow with the same ciphering algorithm and the same key, the algorithm including iterative computations by at least two operation units, the circuitry including a pipeline including an input selection unit arranged to receive first data values to generate encryption sequences with the ciphering algorithm, second data values to generate temporary tags with the ciphering algorithm and an output of the pipeline; a first stage arranged to receive an output of the input selection unit and including at least a first operation unit; and a second stage arranged to receive an output of the first stage, including at least a second operation unit and providing the output of the pipeline.

Abstract: A transition mode operating device for the correction of the power factor in switching power supply units includes a converter for receiving an input voltage and for providing a regulated output voltage, and a coupled control device. The converter includes a power transistor, a rectifier, and an inductor and auxiliary winding arranged between the rectifier and a power transistor. The control device includes a circuit for generating an error signal, a multiplier for receiving the error signal, and a driving circuit coupled to the multiplier to determine the on time period and the off time period of the power transistor. The control device includes circuitry coupled to the auxiliary winding of the inductor to generate a signal proportional to the input voltage during the on time of said power transistor.

Abstract: A resonant micro-electro-mechanical system includes a microstructure having a mass which is free to oscillate in accordance with a predetermined degree of freedom, and a driving device coupled to the mass for maintaining the mass in oscillation at a resonance frequency. The driving device includes a differential sense amplifier supplying first signals indicative of a velocity of oscillation of the mass, and an actuation and control stage supplying second signals for driving the mass on the basis of the first signals. The driving device moreover includes a filtering circuit of a high-pass type, which is connected between the differential sense amplifier and the actuation and control stage, and has a bandpass that includes the resonance frequency.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a Field Programmable Gate Array device comprising a plurality of configurable electrical connections, a plurality of controlled switches, each one adapted to activating/de-activating at least one respective electrical connection in response to a switch control signal and a control unit including an arrangement of a plurality of control cells. Each control cells controls at least one of said controlled switches by the respective switch control signal, each control cell including a volatile storage element adapted to storing in a volatile way a control logic value corresponding to a preselected status of the at least one controlled switch, and providing to the controlled switch said switch control signal corresponding to the stored logic value. Each control cell further includes a non-volatile storage element coupled to the volatile storage element, the non-volatile storage element being adapted to storing in a non-volatile way the control logic value.

Abstract: A luminance intensity of pixels of an input digital image is corrected for generating a corrected digital image. A luminance of each pixel is calculated as a function of the luminance of a corresponding pixel in an original image according to a parametric function. A mask of the input digital image to be corrected is generated according to a bilateral filtering technique. For each pixel of the input digital image, a respective value of at least one parameter of the parametric function is established based upon the luminance of a corresponding pixel of the mask.