Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for generating a clock signal including a first photoresistor coupling a capacitive output node to a node receiving a first potential. A second photoresistor couples the capacitive node to a node receiving a second potential. The first and second photoresistors receive the same optical pulses of a mode-locked laser at instants in time offset by a first delay.

Abstract: A memory array includes memory cells of Z2-FET type arranged in rows and columns, wherein each memory cell includes a MOS-type selection transistor and a first region of a first conductivity type that is shared in common with a drain region of the first conductivity type of the selection transistors. The selection transistors of a same column of the memory array have a common drain region, a common source region, and a common channel region.

Abstract: A system-on-a-chip includes an integrated circuit and an estimation circuit. The estimation circuit operates to acquire at least one physical parameter representative of the use of the integrated circuit and determine an instantaneous state of aging of the integrated circuit as a function of the at least one physical parameter. A margin of use of the integrated circuit is then calculated by comparing the instantaneous state of aging with a presumed state of aging.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for converting an optical pulse to an electronic pulse includes a photoresistor having first and second terminals and being capable of receiving a pulsed laser signal arising from a mode-locked laser source The first terminal is linked to a node for applying a reference potential via a resistive element and a capacitive element connected in parallel. The second terminal is connected to a node for applying a supply potential.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a laser source configured to direct laser radiation toward a user's hand. A laser detector is configured to receive reflected laser radiation from the user's hand. A controller is coupled to the laser source and laser detector and configured to determine a plurality of distance values to the user's hand based upon a time-of-flight of the laser radiation, calculate a mean absolute deviation (MAD) value based upon the plurality of distance values, and identify whether the user's hand is moving in a first or second gesture based upon the MAD value.

Abstract: An attenuator having an impedance that is controllable by a first setpoint signal is coupled to a transmission line. A matching circuit having an impedance that is controllable by a second setpoint signal is also coupled to the transmission line. A transformer circuit block also coupled to the transmission line has a complex impedance. A control circuit sets the first and second setpoint signals so as to control a conjugate impedance relationship between the variable impedances presented by the attenuator and matching circuit relative to the complex impedance of the transformer circuit.

Abstract: A power conversion device includes an enclosure containing one or more drops of a liquid. A capacitive electret transducer is coupled to the enclosure. In response to applied heat at a heating surface, the liquid vaporizes and then condenses on a flexible membrane of the capacitive electret transducer. The flexible membrane is displaced in response to the vaporization-condensation and the capacitive electret transducer generates an output current.

Abstract: A communication apparatus includes an antenna and a receive chain. The receive chain includes a switching transistor, and amplification transistor and a discharge transistor. The amplification transistor has a control terminal coupled to a current path terminal of the switching transistor. The discharge transistor has a current path coupled between the control terminal of the amplification transistor and a ground terminal. The discharge circuit is configured to discharge an intrinsic capacitance of the switching circuit when the switching transistor is in an off state.

Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a semiconductor wafer, and a reference circuit carried by the semiconductor wafer. The reference circuit may include optical DUTs, a first set of photodetectors coupled to outputs of the optical DUTs, an optical splitter coupled to inputs of the optical DUTs, and a second set of photodetectors coupled to the optical splitter. The optical splitter is to be coupled to an optical source and configured to transmit a reference optical signal to the first set of photodetectors via the optical DUTs and the second set of photodetectors.

Abstract: A method generates a binary descriptor associated with a given point in a current frame of a succession of video frames obtained by an apparatus such as an image sensor. The method includes determining a pattern of points pairs around said given point in the current frame, and performing intensity comparison processing between the two points of each pair. The apparatus is likely to move in a rotation between the previous frame and the current frame. The method includes processing the pattern of points of the current frame with tridimensional rotation information representative of the apparatus rotation between the previous frame and the current frame and obtained from inertial measurements provided by at least one inertial sensor.

Abstract: A silicon on insulator substrate includes a semiconductor bulk handle wafer, an insulating layer on said semiconductor bulk handle wafer and a semiconductor film on said insulating layer. An opening extends completely through the semiconductor film and insulating layer to expose a surface of the semiconductor bulk handle wafer. Epitaxial material fills the opening and extends on said semiconductor film, with the epitaxial material and semiconductor film forming a thick semiconductor film. A trench isolation surrounds a region of the thick semiconductor film to define an electrical contact made to the semiconductor bulk handle wafer through the opening.

Abstract: A method includes a) counting whole periods of a signal during a first period of a reference signal, b) repeating step a) for each period of the reference signal until a first duration is equal to a first quantity of periods of the reference signal, and c) determining a first average of the whole periods. The method also includes repeating at least one of steps a) to c) and at each repetition shifting a start of the counting of step a) by at least one period of the reference signal, and in steps b) and c) accounting for whole periods of the signal already counted during the at least one preceding group of steps a) and b). The method includes determining a second average of the first averages, and determining the frequency of the signal from the second average and the frequency of the reference signal.

Abstract: A strained semiconductor layer is produced from a semiconductor layer extending on an insulating layer. A thermal oxidization is performed on the semiconductor layer across its entire thickness to form two bars extending in a direction of a transistor width. Insulating trenches are formed in a direction of a transistor length. A strain of the strained semiconductor layer is induced in one implementation before the thermal oxidation is performed. Alternatively, the strain is induced after the thermal oxidation is performed. The insulating trenches serve to release a component of the strain extending in the direction of transistor width. A component of the strain extending in the direction of transistor length is maintained. The bars and trenches delimit an active area of the transistor include source, drain and channel regions.

Abstract: The synchronous retention flip-flop circuit comprises a first circuit module suitable for being powered by an interruptible power source and a second circuit module suitable for being powered by a permanent power source. The first circuit module includes first and second latch stages, which are configured to store at least one datum while said interruptible power source is supplying power, transmitting means suitable for being controlled by a second control signal and configured to deliver said at least one datum to the second circuit module before an interruption of said interruptible power source, the second circuit module being configured to preserve said at least one datum during said interruption, and restoring means suitable for being controlled by a first control signal and configured to restore said at least one datum at the end of said interruption. Only the second control signal remains active during interruption of the interruptible power source.

Abstract: A Mach-Zehnder ring modulator includes a first optical path having a first diode and a optical path having a second diode. Each of the first and second diodes operates responsive to a voltage signal by modifying a phase of a light signal. A first optical coupler provides first and second light signals to the first and second optical paths, respectively. A second optical coupler couples outputs from the first and second optical paths. A feedback path is coupled between an output of the second optical coupler and an input of the first optical coupler.

Abstract: A Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) includes a first optical path with a first diode coupled to a first voltage signal node and configured to modify a phase of a first light signal transmitted through the first optical path. A further diode is positioned in the first optical path and configured to introduce a phase shift to the first light signal. A second optical path includes a second diode coupled to a second voltage signal node and configured to modify a phase of a second light signal transmitted through the second optical path. A first voltage signal carried on the first voltage signal node and a second voltage signal carried on the second voltage signal node each vary between a reverse biasing voltage level and a forward biasing voltage level. An optical coupler is coupled to the first and second optical paths.

Abstract: A transformer of the symmetric-asymmetric type includes comprising a primary inductive circuit and a secondary inductive circuit formed in a same plane by respective interleaved and stacked metal tracks. A first crossing region includes a pair of connection plates facing one another, with each connection plate having a rectangular shape that is wider than the metal tracks, and diagonally connected to tracks of the secondary inductive circuit.

Abstract: A low-noise amplifier device includes an inductive input element, an amplifier circuit, an inductive output element and an inductive degeneration element. The amplifier device is formed in and on a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate supports metallization levels of a back end of line structure. The metal lines of the inductive input element, inductive output element and inductive degeneration element are formed within one or more of the metallization levels. The inductive input element has a spiral shape and the an amplifier circuit, an inductive output element and an inductive degeneration element are located within the spiral shape.

Abstract: An optical modulator uses an optoelectronic phase comparator configured to provide, in the form of an electrical signal, a measure of a phase difference between two optical waves. The phase comparator includes an optical directional coupler having two coupled channels respectively defining two optical inputs for receiving the two optical waves to be compared. Two photodiodes are configured to respectively receive the optical output powers of the two channels of the directional coupler. An electrical circuit is configured to supply, as a measure of the optical phase shift, an electrical signal proportional to the difference between the electrical signals produced by the two photodiodes.

Abstract: An attenuator having an impedance that is controllable by a first setpoint signal is coupled to a transmission line. A matching circuit having an impedance that is controllable by a second setpoint signal is also coupled to the transmission line. A transformer circuit block also coupled to the transmission line has a complex impedance. A control circuit sets the first and second setpoint signals so as to control a conjugate impedance relationship between the variable impedances presented by the attenuator and matching circuit relative to the complex impedance of the transformer circuit.