Abstract: A method for managing the access to a memory space shareable by several users, by using passwords, comprises: defining a maximum number of passwords, providing a password storage zone, dividing the shareable memory space into a plurality of blocks greater in number than the maximum number of passwords, providing in each block a parameterization field for parameterizing the protection of the block, providing in each parameterization field a binary index smaller in size than a password and designating a password assigned to the protection of the block, and allocating, to each block, access rights requiring a password to be presented corresponding to the password designated by the index present in the block parameterization field. Application is provided particularly but not exclusively to multi-user integrated circuits.

Abstract: A method is for the formation of at least one isolation trench filled with thermal oxide in a semiconductor layer and a semiconductor device include at least one isolation trench filled with thermal oxide. The method allows obtaining in an easy way, isolation trenches exhibiting excellent functional morphological properties. The method is based on the idea of exploiting the properties of the thermal oxidation mechanism of a semiconductor material in order to obtain at least an isolation trench filled with thermal oxide.

Abstract: A touch screen capable of correctly identifying multiple touches employs multiple active line arrays oriented to provide multi-dimensional data. Three arrays of capacitance based active lines are each distinctly oriented to form a plurality of intersections. A first and second array are generally oriented perpendicularly while a third array is oriented to bisect the resulting matrix such that the active lines of the third array also intersect the existing vertices. As a result of a touch each active line array identifies the location of the touch from three distinct directions. Ambiguity from dual touch scenarios existing in dual array systems is removed by providing an additional reference.

Abstract: An inductance formed in a stack of insulating layers, the inductance comprising first and second access terminals and first and second half-loops distributed in the stack of insulating layers on a number of distinct levels greater than or equal to four. For each level, each first half-loop is at least partly symmetrical to one of the second half-loops. All the first half-loops are series-connected according to a first succession of first half-loops to form first loops between the first access terminal and a midpoint and all the second half-loops are series-connected according to a second succession of second half-loops to form second loops between the second output terminal and the midpoint.

Abstract: In a method for providing a program guide in a program receiver, program schedule data is received, wherein the program schedule data associates programs with time slots on a particular channel of a plurality of channels. For a first time slot of a virtual channel, and using the program schedule data, a first program is selected from a first channel available for reception in a first selected time slot. For a second time slot of the virtual channel, a second program is selected from a second channel available for reception in a second selected time slot. In response to a request to display a schedule of programs, a schedule of the virtual channel is displayed, including the first and second programs scheduled respectively in the first and second time slots of the virtual channel.

Abstract: A macro-block level parallel video decoder for a parallel processing environment is provided. The video decoder includes a Variable Length Decoding (VLD) block for decoding the encoded Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) coefficients, a master node that receives the decoded DCT coefficients, and multiple slave nodes/processors for parallel implementation of Inverse Discrete Cosine Transform (IDCT) and motion compensation at the macro-block level. Also provided is a method for macro-block level video decoding in a parallel processing system.

Abstract: An embodiment of a power device having a first current-conduction terminal, a second current-conduction terminal, a control terminal receiving, in use, a control voltage of the power device, and a thyristor device and a first insulated-gate switch device connected in series between the first and the second conduction terminals; the first insulated-gate switch device has a gate terminal connected to the control terminal, and the thyristor device has a base terminal. The power device is further provided with: a second insulated-gate switch device, connected between the first current-conduction terminal and the base terminal of the thyristor device, and having a respective gate terminal connected to the control terminal; and a Zener diode, connected between the base terminal of the thyristor device and the second current-conduction terminal so as to enable extraction of current from the base terminal in a given operating condition.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical gyroscope having a microstructure that includes a first mass and a second mass, wherein the first mass is oscillatable according to a first axis and the second mass is constrained to the first mass so as to be drawn along by the first mass according to the first axis and to oscillate according to a second axis, in response to a rotation of the microstructure, a driving device coupled to the microstructure to maintain the first mass in oscillation at the driving frequency, and a reading device that detects displacements of the second mass according to the second axis. The gyroscope is provided with a self-test actuation system coupled to the second mass for applying an electrostatic force at the driving frequency so as to move the second mass according to the second axis.

Abstract: A method of analog-to-digital conversion over n bits of an analog signal, including the steps of: comparing the amplitude of the analog signal with a threshold representing the amplitude of the full-scale analog signal divided by 2k, where k is an integer smaller than n; performing an analog-to-digital conversion of the analog signal over n?k bits to obtain the n?k most significant bits of a binary word over n bits if the result of the comparison step indicates that the amplitude of the input signal is greater than the threshold, and the n?k least significant bits of this binary word otherwise. An analog-to-digital converter and its application to image sensors.

Abstract: A subframe structure for a wireless community uses a master common subframe and second master common subframe method to give BSs different priorities to serve overlapping areas in common subframes. The subframe structure and corresponding method can increase overlapping cells' capacity and reduce interference.

Abstract: A control device for a USB interface including at least one first terminal for inputting the data to be transmitted and at least one second terminal for the transmission of the packet data on a bus; the packet data include one end-of-packet signal. The USB interface includes one circuit for the data transmission on said at least one second terminal; the USB interface is adapted to receive as an input a signal for the activation of the transmission circuit when data are received from the at least one first terminal and the transmission circuit includes a bias circuit. The control device includes a circuit for the detection of an end-of packet signal on said bus and a control circuit adapted to activate the bias circuit of the transmission circuit if said end-of-packet signal is detected by said detection circuit.

Abstract: An assembly is adapted for being employed in an optical navigation device, such as that used on a computer or mobile communications device. The assembly includes a housing device and an optical device, wherein the housing device includes a receiving section for receiving the optical device. The receiving section has a first and a second opening. The housing device has first and second vertical registration features for aligning the optical device with the housing device. The first and second vertical registration features are spatially associated with the first and second opening respectively.

Abstract: The imaging device has an imaging surface and a sensor, wherein the imaging surface is illuminated and reflects at least some of the illumination to the sensor to detect an image. The imaging device has a width and an optical path passing therethrough, wherein the optical path exhibits distortion as a result of the width of the device and the nature of the optical path. The imaging device includes an optical element which in use compensates for the distortion by generating a magnification profile across a tangential plane of the device at the sensor.

Abstract: A dispensing toothbrush includes a removable insert tooth paste tube for self application. This One for All design allows easy storage of tooth paste within the brush itself. It is simpler and different than other dispensing designs in that the tooth paste is not traveling through the length of a hollow tube to the bristles. The user simply unscrews the tube by twisting the cap off the bottom allowing self application. The user squeezes the flexing tube applying the toothpaste to the bristles. Storage of the toothpaste in the brush for subsequent self application is the major difference from other U.S. Patents. Again as in the other design, safety is a major concern with any dispensing toothbrush and this design allows for cleaning the brush the same as with any non-dispensing toothbrush. A twist cap is present at the bottom of the tooth brush for twisting and removing an internal tube that is full of toothpaste or toothpaste pellets.

Abstract: An imaging device may have illumination paths directed to an imaging area to thereby illuminate the whole of the imaging surface. The imaging area may be adapted to generate frustrated total internal reflection of the illumination from the imaging surface, in the presence of an element in contact with some or all of the imaging surface.

Abstract: A cascode amplifier comprising at least two phase-shift stages controllable between an input transistor having a control terminal connected to an input terminal of the amplifier, and an output terminal of the amplifier.

Abstract: A method for protecting a key implemented, by an electronic circuit, in a symmetrical algorithm for ciphering or deciphering a message, including the steps of: selecting in non-deterministic fashion a pair of different masks from a set of at least four different masks, the masks having the property of representing different bit combinations, at least by pairs of bits; executing the algorithm twice by applying, to the key or to the message, one of the masks of the selected pair at each execution; checking the consistency between the two executions.

Abstract: A system renders a primitive of an image to be displayed, for instance in a mobile 3D graphic pipeline, the primitive including a set of pixels. The system locates the pixels in the area of the primitive, generates, for each pixel located in the area, a set of associated sub-pixels, borrows a set of sub-pixels from neighboring pixels, subjects the set of associated sub-pixels and the borrowed set of pixels to adaptive filtering to create an adaptively filtered set of sub-pixels, and further filters the adaptively filtered set of sub-pixels to compute a final pixel for display. Preferably, the set of associated sub-pixels fulfils at least one of the following: the set includes two associated sub-pixels and the set includes associated sub-pixels placed on pixel edges.

Abstract: An integrated cell and method for extracting a binary value based on a value difference between two resistors values, including connection circuitry for a binary reading of the sign of the difference between the resistors, and connection circuitry for a modification of the value of one of the resistors to make the sign of the difference invariable.

Abstract: Detection of an anomalous event in an electronic apparatus includes detecting accelerations acting on the electronic apparatus, establishing a normal-mode range of accelerations that corresponds to normal operation of the apparatus, and detecting the anomalous event when a level of acceleration of the electronic apparatus exits the normal-mode range and remains outside the normal mode range for more than a defined duration. The method includes displacing the normal-mode range toward a current level of acceleration of the electronic apparatus while the level of acceleration remains outside the normal-mode range. Additionally, the normal-mode range is increased toward a maximum size while the level of acceleration remains outside the normal-mode range, and is decreased toward a minimum size while the level of acceleration is within the normal-mode range.