Abstract: A network-on-chip interconnects an array of integrated circuit resources. The network-on-chip includes at least one vertical communications ring per column of the array and at least one horizontal communications ring per row of the array. A network interface is associated with each resource of the array and operates to interface the communications rings with each other and the resource with the communications rings. A ring hop is provided at each network interface and for each communications ring thereat. Each ring hop functions as an add/drop multiplexer with respect to inserting packets onto the associated communications ring and extracting packets from the associated communications ring. Packets are communicated over the vertical/horizontal rings using a logical transport channel that flows in a cyclic manner through the communications ring without interruption.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a micro-module for capturing images having an imager and at least one lens, includes manufacturing at least one imager on a first plate of a semiconductor material, producing at least one optical zone to form a lens in at least one second plate of a transparent material, and of assembling the first and second plates so that the imager can receive light through the optical zone.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for read-addressing a site among a plurality of storage units using a coded address derived from an instruction. The method comprises the following steps: a) predicting (104) the storage unit corresponding to the site to be addressed; b) decoding (108) the address of the site to be addressed and determining (109) the storage unit to be addressed; c) managing (105) a potential read and rewrite conflict assuming that the predicted storage unit is the storage unit to be addressed; d) controlling (111) the addressing of the predicted storage unit at the end of the managing step (105); e) at the end of step b), determining (110) whether the storage unit to be addressed corresponds to the predicted storage unit; and f) if the storage unit to be addressed does not correspond to the predicted storage unit, managing (115) a possible read and rewrite conflict in the storage unit to be addressed and addressing the site of the storage unit to be addressed.

Abstract: A photodetector made in monolithic form in a lightly-doped substrate of a first conductivity type. This photodetector includes at least two photodiodes and includes a first region of the first conductivity type more heavily doped than the substrate extending at least between the two photodiodes; and a second region of the first conductivity type more heavily doped than the substrate and extending under the first region and under one of the two photodiodes, the first region or the second region, with the first region, delimiting a substrate portion at the level of said one of the two photodiodes, and the second region, with the first region, delimiting an additional substrate portion at the level of the other one of the two photodiodes.

Abstract: Clean and reliable channel sensing during dynamic frequency hopping over a plurality of overlapping wireless regional area network (WRAN) cells is conducted using a minimum number of channels. By coordinating a phase-shift of the operation periods of each WRAN cell over a minimum number of working channels, interruption-free communication and data transmission for each of the WRAN cells as well as interference-free channel sensing can be achieved.

Abstract: A clock circuit for an integrated circuit having at least one MOS transistor. The clock circuit includes a first circuit for inducing a degradation of the transistor as a function of time and means for measuring a parameter of the transistor that reflects a lowering of the performance of the transistor resulting from the degradation. This also includes a method of generating a counting value of clock circuit by inducing continuous degradation of an MOS transistor. The method could include measuring a parameter of transistor, reflecting a lowering of performance of transistor resulting from said degradation. The method could also include measuring the temperature and calculating the counting value of the clock from the value of said parameter, from the measured temperature and from a law of variation of the parameter as a function of time and temperature.

Abstract: A process for producing a microelectronic device includes producing a first semiconductor substrate which includes a first layer and a second layer present between a first side and a second side of the substrate. First electronic components and an interconnecting part are produced on and above the second side. The substrate is then thinned by a first selective etch applied from the first side and stopping on the first layer followed by a second selective etch stopping on the second layer. A second substrate is attached over the interconnecting part. The electronic components may comprise optoelectronic devices which are illuminated through the second layer.

Abstract: A circuit for generating a reference electrical quantity, including: a first bipolar transistor and a second bipolar transistor having the base terminals connected to one another and to a common node; a first resistor connected to the emitter terminal of the second bipolar transistor; a first mirror circuit and a second mirror circuit connected to the first and second bipolar transistors, which receive, respectively, a first current and a second current and generate, respectively, a first mirrored current and a second mirrored current; a first output stage, which generates the reference electrical quantity as a function of the first and second mirrored currents; and a second resistor connected to the common node. The first current is a function of the current in the first resistor, whilst the second current is a function of the current in the second resistor.

Abstract: A circuit for providing at least two power supply voltages from a D.C. voltage provided by a first switched-mode converter between a first and a second terminals, wherein: a second reversible buck-type switched-mode converter is powered with said D.C. voltage; a capacitive dividing bridge connects said first and second terminals, the midpoint of the capacitive dividing bridge corresponding to the output of the second converter and defining a third terminal of provision of an intermediary potential; and said two power supply voltages are respectively sampled between the first and third and between the third and second terminals.

Abstract: A handheld optical navigation device may include a first radiation source configured to produce a first beam of radiation onto a surface below the device, a first sensor configured to receive a first image based upon reflected radiation from the surface below the device, and to identify movement of the device based upon the first image for providing a first control action, and a second sensor configured to receive a second image based upon reflected radiation from an object different from the surface below the device, and to identify movement of the object based upon the second image for providing a second control action.

Abstract: An electrically programmable and erasable non-volatile memory point may have at least one floating-gate transistor connected to a bit line and to a ground line, and may be programmed with a programming voltage. In an erase phase of the memory point, a first, negative, voltage may be applied to the bit line and to the ground line. The absolute value of the first voltage may be smaller than a threshold value of a PN diode. A second positive voltage which is smaller than the programming voltage may be applied to the control gate of the floating-gate transistor. The difference between the second voltage and the first voltage may be equal to the programming voltage, and, in a writing phase, the first negative voltage may be applied to the control gate of the floating-gate transistor, and the second voltage may be applied to the bit line.

Abstract: A method and a circuit for controlling a dynamic image sensor defining, for each image, several successive time intervals of exposure of photodiode cells, starting from successive decreasing reset levels, wherein the time intervals of exposure of the image respect a homogeneous distribution of the amount of cells in ranges of brightness levels.

Abstract: A method of evaluation, by an electromagnetic transponder in the field of a terminal generating a magnetic field, of power that can be extracted from this field, including the steps of: evaluating the current coupling between the transponder and the terminal; and deducing therefrom information relative to the power available in this coupling position.

Abstract: An ambient light sensor integrated in a compact fluorescent lamp that, in turn, may include a controller and a radiation source. The ambient light sensor may include a radiation receiver to receive and filter incident radiation to obtain a value of the level of infrared radiation, and an electronic module to determine if the value is above a reference threshold value to enable the controller to switch the state of the radiation source.

Abstract: A difference between a reference clock and feedback clock is detected to generate a difference signal that is filtered to generate a voltage controlled oscillator control signal and produce an oscillation signal having an oscillation frequency. A first frequency dividing circuit divides the oscillation signal by a selected one of a number of first frequency divisors to generate an output signal at a selected frequency. A second frequency dividing circuit divides the output signal by a selected one of a number of second frequency divisors to generate the feedback clock. The frequency divisors are selected by a frequency selection signal. The first frequency dividing circuit samples the frequency selection signal at the rate of the oscillation signal divided by a least common multiple of the plurality of first frequency divisors. The second frequency dividing circuit samples the sampled frequency selection signal at the rate of the feedback clock.

Abstract: A pointing device includes a light source which is detected to determine the motion of the pointing device. The pointing device further includes a sensor which is adapted to detect light from the light source in one type of operation to thereby determine the motion and which is adapted to detect ambient light in a second type of operation.

Abstract: Device comprising a first input configured to receive a first input signal of given wavelength, several distinct pairs of outputs, the two outputs of each pair of outputs being configured to deliver a differential output signal, and an electrically conducting transmission means forming a closed circuit and coupled between the first input and the outputs, at least one length of the portion of the transmission means, coupled between two outputs of a pair of outputs, being substantially equal to an even multiple of a quarter of the said wavelength, the lengths of those portions of the transmission means which couple two homologous outputs of two pairs of outputs being substantially equal, and at least one length of the portion of the transmission means, coupled between the first input and the output closest to the said first input, being substantially equal to a quarter of the said wavelength.

Abstract: Ambient light is detected by a photodiode circuit by measuring the time taken for a digital output of the photodiode circuit to change state in response to exposure of a photodiode of the photodiode circuit to that ambient light. A nominal time for state change is calculated based on photodiode circuit characteristics. Furthermore, an effective time for the photodiode circuit digital output to change state is determined in a calibration mode where the photodiode has been disconnected and a reference current is applied to the circuit. An illumination value of the detected ambient light is then calculated as a function of: the measured time, the effective time and the nominal time.

Abstract: A system and method for error correction coding is configured to dynamically implement one of a number of error correction coding methods during a transmission of data. The error correction coding method is selected based on a measured bit error rate during the transmission of data. The implementation of the error correction coding method is performed without interrupting the data transmission.

Abstract: An optical navigation device includes a navigation radiation source capable of producing a beam of radiation, and an optical element. The optical navigation device is for identifying movement of an object to thereby enable a control action to be carried out. A sensor is for receiving an image based upon reflected radiation from the navigation radiation source, and at least one illumination radiation source is for illuminating the optical navigation device. The device is operable, in recurrent cycles of at least reset, expose, and readout phases, to activate the at least one illumination radiation source during the reset phase. The reset phase may have the longest duration of the phases.