Abstract: A process for manufacturing a MEMS device includes forming a first structural layer of a first thickness on a substrate. First trenches are formed through the first structural layer, and masking regions separated by first openings are formed on the first structural layer. A second structural layer of a second thickness is formed on the first structural layer in direct contact with the first structural layer at the first openings and forms, together with the first structural layer, thick structural regions having a third thickness equal to the sum of the first and the second thicknesses. A plurality of second trenches are formed through the second structural layer, over the masking regions, and third trenches are formed through the first and the second structural layers by removing selective portions of the thick structural regions.

Abstract: A PWM signal generator circuit includes a multiphase clock generator that generates a number n of phase-shifted clock phases having the same clock period and being phase shifted by a time corresponding to a fraction 1/n of the clock period. The PWM signal generator circuit determines for each switch-on duration first and second integer numbers, and for each switch-off duration third and fourth integer numbers. The first integer number is indicative of the integer number of clock periods of the switch-on duration and the second integer number is indicative of the integer number of the additional fractions 1/n of the clock period of the switch-on duration. The third integer number is indicative of the integer number of clock periods of the switch-off duration, and the fourth integer number is indicative of the integer number of the additional fractions 1/n of the clock period of the switch-off duration.

Abstract: A laser diode driver circuit includes a first pair of contacts and connectors coupled to an anode of the laser diode. An inductance of each of the first pair of contacts and connectors is the same. A second pair of contacts and connectors are coupled to a cathode of the laser diode. An inductance of each of the second pair of contacts and connectors is the same. The laser diode driver circuit also includes current driving circuitry.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory receives a data read request from a processing core of a plurality of processing cores. The read request is directed to a data partition of a non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory determines whether to process the read request using read-while-write collision management. When it is determined to process the read request using read-while-write collision management, an address associated with the read request is stored in an address register of a set of registers associated with the processing core. Write operations directed to the data partition are suspended. A read operation associated with the read request is executed while the write operations are suspended and data responsive to the read operation is stored in one or more data registers of the set of registers. The data stored in the one or more data registers of the set of registers is provided to the processing core.

Abstract: Overvoltage protection circuits are provided. In some embodiments, an overvoltage protection circuit includes a first diode made of a first semiconductor material having a bandgap width greater than that of silicon. A second diode is included and is electrically cross-coupled with the first diode. The second diode is made of a second semiconductor material different from the first semiconductor material.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a control circuit, a primary sensor device coupled to the control circuit, and a plurality of groups of secondary sensor devices coupled to the primary sensor device. The primary sensor device receives a master clock signal from the control device and outputs, to each group of secondary sensor devices, a respective secondary clock signal with a frequency lower than the primary clock signal. The primary sensor device generates primary sensor data. The primary sensor device receives secondary sensor data from each group of secondary sensor devices. The primary sensor device combines the primary sensor data and all of the secondary sensor data into a sensor data stream with a time division-multiplexing scheme and outputs the sensor data stream to the control circuit.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a device for measuring the flow of fluid inside a tube moved by a peristaltic pump is provided with: a detection electrode arrangement coupled to the tube to detect an electrostatic charge variation originated by the mechanical action of the peristaltic pump on the tube; a signal processing stage, electrically coupled to the detection electrode arrangement to generate an electrical charge variation signal; and a processing unit, coupled to the signal processing stage to receive and process in the frequency domain the electrical charge variation signal to obtain information on the flow of a fluid that flows through the tube based on the analysis of frequency characteristics of the electrical charge variation signal.

Abstract: A blood pressure monitoring device includes a patch including two inertial measurement units placed adjacent to the skin of a user. The blood pressure monitoring device includes a control unit coupled to the patch and configured to receive sensor data from the inertial measurement units. The control unit includes an analysis model trained with multiple machine learning processes to generate blood pressure estimations based on the sensor data. A first general machine learning process trains the analysis model with a training set gathered from plurality of other individuals. The second general machine learning process retrains a portion of the analysis model with a second machine learning process utilizing individualized training set gathered from the user.

Abstract: A recognition system for recognition of a gesture of bringing an electronic device, of a mobile or wearable type, to a user's ear, designed to be integrated in the electronic device and having: a movement sensor, configured to provide a movement signal indicative of the movement of the electronic device; an electrostatic charge variation sensor, configured to provide a charge variation signal associated with the movement; a processing module, operatively coupled to the movement sensor and to the electrostatic charge variation sensor and configured to perform a joint processing of the movement signal and the charge variation signal for the recognition of the gesture.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a sensor unit. The sensor unit includes a sensor and low power, low area sensor processing unit. The sensor processing unit performs an unsupervised machine learning processes to learn to recognize an activity or motion of the user or device. The user can request to learn the new activity. The sensor processing unit can request that the user remain stationary for a selected period of time before performing the activity. The sensor processing unit records sensor data while the user performs the activity and generates an activity template from the sensor data. The sensor processing can then infer when the user is performing the activity by comparing sensor signals to the activity template.

Abstract: An electronic device receives wireless signals encoded with data in an amplitude-shift keying format. The electronic device passes the wireless signals through a low-pass filter. The low-pass filter has a cutoff frequency between a first frequency associated with data values of a first type and a second frequency associated with data values of a second type. The low-pass filter has the effect of changing the wireless signal from the amplitude-shift keying format to an on-off keying format without losing the data. The electronic device decodes the data from the wireless signal in the on-off keying format.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an electronic apparatus on the basis of a value of a lid angle between a first hardware element accommodating a first magnetometer and a second hardware element accommodating a second magnetometer. The method includes acquiring, through the magnetometers, first signals representing an orientation of the hardware elements. A calibration parameter indicative of a condition of calibration of the magnetometers is generated on the basis of the first signals. A reliability value indicative of a condition of reliability of the first signals is generated on the basis of the first signals. A first intermediate value of the lid angle is calculated on the basis of the first signals. A current value of the lid angle is calculated on the basis of the calibration parameter, of the reliability value, and of the first intermediate value, and the electronic apparatus is controlled on the basis of the current value.

Abstract: A pressure sensor including: a structure which delimits a main cavity of a closed type, the structure being at least partially deformable as a function of a pressure external to the structure; and a MEMS device, which is arranged in the main cavity and generates an output signal, which is of an electrical type and is indicative of the pressure inside the main cavity.

Abstract: An optical proximity sensor comprises a solid-state photo-electric converter, a biasing circuit for biasing the solid-state photo-electric converter, and a drive circuit. The drive circuit is configured to control the biasing circuit to apply to the photo-electric converter a bias signal modulated between a first value and a second value, the second value different from the first value, wherein a modulated optical signal is emitted by the solid-state photo-electric converter towards a target object. The drive circuit is configured to receive an electrical output signal from the solid-state photo-electric converter, the electrical output signal being a function of a modulated optical signal received at the solid-state photo-electric converter as a result of reflection of the emitted modulated optical signal at the target object.

Abstract: The vertical-conduction electronic power device is formed by a body of wide band gap semiconductor which has a first conductivity type and has a surface, and is formed by a drift region and by a plurality of surface portions delimited by the surface. The electronic device is further formed by a plurality of first implanted regions having a second conductivity type, which extend into the drift region from the surface, and by a plurality of metal portions, which are arranged on the surface. Each metal portion is in Schottky contact with a respective surface portion of the plurality of surface portions so as to form a plurality of Schottky diodes formed by first Schottky diodes and second Schottky diodes, wherein the first Schottky diodes have, at equilibrium, a Schottky barrier having a height different from that of the second Schottky diodes.

Abstract: A sensor device includes a passive infrared sensor, a control circuit, and a lens that directs infrared radiation onto the passive infrared sensor. The lens includes an obstruction that asymmetrically blocks transmission of infrared radiation through the lens. The control circuit is configured to determine the direction of crossing of individuals passing in front of the sensor device based on sensor signals from the passive infrared sensor.

Abstract: A circuit includes a current path and a negative bootstrap circuitry coupled to the current path. The current path is coupled between a floating voltage and a reference ground, and includes a current generator coupled through a resistor to the floating voltage at a first node of the current generator. The current generator is controlled by a pulse signal. The negative bootstrap circuitry includes a pump capacitor coupled to a second node of the current generator and to the reference ground. The pump capacitor is configured to provide a negative voltage at the second node of the current generator based on the pulse signal.

Abstract: The present description concerns a device including phase-change memory cells, each memory cell including a first resistive element in lateral contact with a second element made of a phase-change material.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments, methods and systems for utilizing multiple threshold checkers are provided. A range sensor collects measurement data. The range sensor examines the measurement data based on multiple threshold checkers to determine satisfaction of a trigger condition. In response to the satisfaction of the trigger condition, the range sensor provides the measurement data to a host computing device of the range sensor.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a sensor die with an embedded light sensor and an embedded light emitter as well as methods of manufacturing the same. The light emitter in the senor die is surrounded by a resin. The sensor die is incorporated into semiconductor device packages as well as methods of manufacturing the same. The semiconductor device packages include a first optically transmissive structure on the light sensor of the sensor die and a second optically transmissive structure on the light emitter of the sensor die. The first optically transmissive structure and the second optically transmissive structure cover and protect the light sensor and the light emitter, respectively. A molding compound is on a surface of a sensor die and covers sidewalls of the first and second optically transmissive structures on the sensor die.