Abstract: An embodiment non-volatile memory device includes an array of memory cells in rows and columns; a plurality of local bitlines, the memory cells of each column being coupled to a corresponding local bitline; a plurality of main bitlines, each main bitline being coupleable to a corresponding subset of local bitlines; a plurality of program driver circuits, each having a corresponding output node and injecting a programming current in the corresponding output node, each output node coupleable to a corresponding subset of main bitlines. Each program driver circuit further includes a corresponding limiter circuit that is electrically coupled, for each main bitline of the corresponding subset, to a corresponding sense node whose voltage depends, during writing, on the voltage on the corresponding main bitline. Each limiter circuit turns off the corresponding programming current, in case the voltage on any of the corresponding sense nodes overcomes a reference voltage.

Abstract: A method includes: receiving IR radiation with a plurality of IR sensors; producing a plurality of output signals with the plurality of IR sensors based on the received IR radiation, where each of the plurality of output signals is indicative of an intensity of the IR radiation received by a respective IR sensor of the plurality of IR sensors; detecting an IR source based on the plurality of output signals; generating a candidate alarm in response to detecting the IR source; determining whether the detected IR source matches any reference IR source of a set of reference IR sources; when the detected IR source matches one reference IR source of the set of reference IR sources, issuing a user alarm, and when the detected IR source does not match any reference IR source of the set of reference IR sources, canceling the candidate alarm without issuing the user alarm.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a video signal that comprises a time series of images of a face of a human, wherein the images in the time series of images comprise a set of landmark points in the face, applying tracking processing to the video signal to reveal variations over time of at least one image parameter at the set of landmark points in the human face, generating a set of variation signals indicative of variations revealed at respective landmark points in the set of landmark points, applying processing to the set of variation signals, the processing comprising artificial neural network processing to produce a reconstructed PhotoPletysmoGraphy (PPG) signal, and estimating a heart rate variability of a variable heart rate of the human as a function of the reconstructed PPG signal.

Abstract: An image processing system has one or more memories and image processing circuitry coupled to the one or more memories. The image processing circuitry, in operation, compares a first image to feature data in a comparison image space using a matching model. The comparing includes: unwarping keypoints in keypoint data of the first image; and comparing the unwarped keypoints and descriptor data associated with the first image to the feature data of the comparison image. The image processing circuitry determines whether the first image matches the comparison image based on the comparing.

Abstract: An embodiment pointing method to generate screen-frame displacement data based on 3D-space movements of a pointing electronic device, comprises receiving a gravity vector (g), having components (gx, gy, gz) corresponding to respective projections of gravity acceleration ({right arrow over (g)}) on three axes (X, Y, Z) of a 3D reference system associated with the pointing electronic device, generated by a sensor-fusion algorithm from joint processing of an acceleration signal, indicative of acceleration acting on the pointing electronic device along the three axes, and of a gyroscope signal (Gyro), indicative of angular rate of rotation of the pointing electronic device around the three axes. The method further comprises implementing a roll-compensation of the gyroscope signal (Gyro) as a function of the gravity vector (g) to determine a roll-compensated gyroscope signal (Gyro?); and generating the screen-frame displacement data based on the roll-compensated gyroscope signal (Gyro?).

Abstract: A computing system includes a first hardware element having a first accelerometer and a first gyroscope, and a second hardware element having a second accelerometer and a second gyroscope. The first and second hardware elements are moveable with respect to each other. The computing system recursively generates a result signal indicative of a relative orientation of the first and second hardware elements with respect to each other. The result signal may be generated by generating a first intermediate signal indicative of a angle between the first and second hardware elements based on signals generated by the first and second accelerometers and generating a second intermediate signal indicative of the angle based on signals generated by the first and second gyroscopes. The result signal indicative of the angle may be generated as a weighted sum of the first intermediate signal and the second intermediate signal. At least one of the first and second hardware elements is controlled by on the result signal.

Abstract: A circuit comprises first and second input supply nodes configured to receive a supply voltage therebetween. The circuit comprises a high-side driver circuit configured to be coupled to a high-side switch and produce a first signal between first and second high-side output nodes. The circuit comprises a low-side driver circuit configured to be coupled to a low-side switch and produce a second signal between first and second low-side output nodes. The circuit comprises a floating node configured to receive a floating voltage applied between the floating node and the second high-side output node, a bootstrap diode between the first input supply node and an intermediate node, and a current limiter circuit between the intermediate node and the floating node and configured to sense the floating voltage and counter a current flow from the intermediate node to the floating node as a result of the floating voltage reaching a threshold value.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a processing unit with a memory, a JTAG interface with test-data-input and test-mode-select lines coupled to the processing unit, a bridge circuit, and a multiplexer circuit. The bridge circuit includes a serial communication interface receiving a serial data input signal which conveys an input serial data frame. The bridge circuit includes a serial-to-parallel converter circuit block receiving the input serial data frame, processing the input serial data frame to read first and second subsets of input binary values therefrom, and transmitting the first subset via a first output signal and the second subset via a second output signal. The multiplexer circuit selectively propagates a received test-data-input signal or the first output signal to the test data input line, and selectively propagates a test-mode-select signal or the second output signal to the test mode select line of the JTAG interface.

Abstract: An input is coupled to a cathode of a laser diode having its anode coupled to a high-voltage-supply, with a cascoded current mirror having an input and output branches. The input branch is coupled between the high-voltage-supply and a sense resistor coupled to the input. The output branch is coupled between the high-voltage-supply and an output. A sense resistance is coupled between the output and ground, and includes a diode-coupled transistor coupled to the output and a resistor coupled between the diode-coupled transistor and ground. The input branch generates a current proportional to a voltage across the laser diode, and the output branch generates a mirrored current proportional to the current proportional to the voltage across the laser diode. A voltage proportional to the voltage across the laser diode is generated by the mirrored current flowing through the sense resistance. A comparison circuit compares this voltage to a threshold.

Abstract: System for detecting a touch gesture of a user on a detection surface, comprising: a processing unit; and an accelerometer to detect a vibration at the detection surface and generate a vibration signal. The processing unit is configured to: acquire the vibration signal, detect, in the vibration signal, a signal characteristic which can be correlated to the touch gesture of the user, detect, in the vibration signal, a stationarity condition preceding and/or following the detected signal characteristic, and validate the touch gesture in the event that both the signal characteristic and the stationarity condition have been detected. An electrostatic charge sensor may also be used as a further parameter to validate the touch gesture.

Abstract: In a digital communication system, a master device and a number of slave devices are coupled in communication with the master device over a shared data communication bus. During an address assignment procedure, the master device assigns different respective dynamic addresses to the slave devices in order to address the slave devices for data communication; during the address assignment procedure, the slave devices are arranged in a daisy-chain configuration, wherein each slave device has a daisy-chain input and a daisy-chain output, the daisy-chain input of a slave device being coupled to the daisy-chain output of a previous slave device in the daisy chain configuration, the daisy-chain input of a first slave device being coupled to a daisy-chain enabling output of the master device; in particular, the master device is configured to assign the respective dynamic addresses to the slave devices based on their arrangement in the daisy-chain configuration.

Abstract: A first switch couples an input node receiving a main control signal for a main switching stage of a multi-phase converter to an output node delivering a secondary control signal for a secondary switching stage following actuation of the secondary switching stage. A second switch couples the output node to a capacitor during a time period of actuation/deactuation of the secondary switching stage. Current is sourced to the capacitor during the actuation time period or sunk from the capacitor during the deactuation time period. The sourced or sunk current may be generated proportional to the main control signal.

Abstract: A time series of face images of a human during a human activity are captured. A first artificial neural network (ANN) processing pipeline processes the captured time series of face images to provide a first attention level indicator signal. An electrophysiological signal indicative of the level of attention of the human during the activity is also captured. A second ANN processing pipeline processes the sensed electrophysiological signal to providing a second attention level indicator signal. A risk indicator signal is then generated based on at least one of the first attention level indicator and second attention level indicator. A user circuit is then triggered as a result of the risk indicator reaching or failing to reach at least one attention level threshold.

Abstract: A rectifier stage includes a differential input transistor pair coupled between a reference voltage node and an intermediate node, and a load circuit coupled between the intermediate node and a supply voltage node. The differential input transistor pair receives a radio-frequency amplitude modulated signal. A rectified signal indicative of an envelope of the radio-frequency amplitude modulated signal is produced at the intermediate node. An amplifier stage coupled to the intermediate node produces an amplified rectified signal at an output node that is indicative of the envelope of the radio-frequency amplitude modulated signal. The rectifier stage includes a resistive element coupled between the intermediate node and the supply voltage node in parallel to the load circuit.

Abstract: A switching converter includes a voltage conversion circuit providing an output voltage from an input voltage and a PWM voltage generated in response to first and second oscillating voltages. The input stage of a transconductor circuit provides an input reference current following a difference between a reference voltage and a voltage dependent on the output voltage and according to a transconductance, and an output stage for providing an output reference current from the input reference current. A phase shifter shifts an oscillating reference voltage according to the output reference current to obtain the first and second oscillating voltages. The transconductance is controlled in response to the input voltage resulting in a change of the input reference current. Compensation for that change is provided by subtracting a variable compensation current from the input reference current, where the variable compensation current is generated in response to the input voltage.

Abstract: A technique to make silicon oxide regions from porous silicon and related semiconductor structures is disclosed. The porous silicon is made in situ by anodizing P doped silicon regions. Thus, the shape and profile of the oxide regions may be controlled by controlling the shape and profile of the P doped silicon regions.

Abstract: An electronic device includes: a control terminal, which extends on a first face of a substrate; a first conduction terminal, which extends in the substrate at the first face of the substrate; a first insulating layer interposed between the control terminal and the first conduction terminal; a conductive path, which can be biased at a biasing voltage; and a protection element, coupled to the control terminal and to the conductive path, which forms an electrical connection between the control terminal and the conductive path and is designed to melt, and thus interrupt electrical connection, in the presence of a leakage current higher than a critical threshold between the control terminal and the first conduction terminal through the first insulating layer.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a triaxial magnetic sensor, formed on or in a substrate of semiconductor material having a surface that includes a sensing portion and at least one first and one second sensing wall, which are not coplanar to each other. The sensing portion and the first sensing wall form a first solid angle, the sensing portion and the second sensing wall form a second solid angle, and the first sensing wall and the second sensing wall form a third solid angle. A first Hall-effect magnetic sensor extends at least partially over the sensing portion, a second Hall-effect magnetic sensor extends at least partially over the first sensing wall, and a third Hall-effect magnetic sensor extends at least partially over the second sensing wall.

Abstract: A power transistor generates an output current and a sense transistor generates a proportional sense current. A differential amplifier generates a gate voltage applied to the power and sense transistors in response to first and second input signals. A comparator circuit compares the gate voltage to a switching reference to detect whether the power and sense transistors are operating in a triode mode of operation or in a saturation mode of operation. At least one of the first and second input signals is modified in response to the detection made by the comparator circuit. In one instance, different reference voltages are applied to an input of the amplifier depending on the detected mode of operation. In another instance, different resistances are used to convert the sense current to a voltage for application to an input of the amplifier in response to the detected mode of operation.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a redistribution layer includes: forming an insulating layer on a wafer, delimited by a top surface and a bottom surface in contact with the wafer; forming a conductive body above the top surface of the insulating layer; forming a first coating region extending around and above the conductive body, in contact with the conductive body, and in contact with the top surface of the insulating layer in correspondence of a bottom surface of the first coating region; applying a thermal treatment to the wafer in order to modify a residual stress of the first coating region, forming a gap between the bottom surface of the first coating region and the top surface of the insulating layer; forming, after applying the thermal treatment, a second coating region extending around and above the first coating region, filling said gap and completely sealing the first coating region.