Abstract: A pulse generator circuit is provided. The pulse generator circuit has an input adapted to receive an input electrical quantity and an output at which an output electrical quantity is made available. A transfer characteristic establishes a relationship between said input and said output electrical quantities. The pulse generator circuit is adapted to provide said output electrical quantity in the form of pulses having a predetermined shape, suitable to be used for UWB transmission. The transfer characteristic has substantially a same shape as that of said pulses. Moreover, a UWB modulating system exploiting the novel pulse generator is proposed.

Abstract: An image processor includes a readout arranged to read out an M-bit image data word from an image sensor pixel array and an adder arranged to add a noise contribution to the image data word to obtain a dithered M-bit word. A dither processor is arranged to derive correction data having a word size of M+1 bits from a combination of a plurality of M-bit reference words. The noise contribution are derived from said correction data, wherein different correction data are derived for different groups of pixels, each different group of pixels is associated with a specific pixel value DC shift.

Abstract: A system and method for improving performance while transferring encrypted data in an input/output (I/O) operation are provided. The method includes receiving a block of data. The method also includes dividing the block of data into a plurality of sub-blocks of data. The method further includes performing a first operation on a first sub-block. The method also includes performing a second operation on a second sub-block at substantially the same time as performing the first operation on the first sub-block. The method still further includes reassembling the plurality of sub-blocks into the block of data.

Abstract: A radio-frequency amplifier includes a common gate amplification stage configured to be biased in a saturation condition with a first current and configured to receive an input signal as a gate-source voltage and to generate an output voltage as an amplified replica of the input signal. A feedback transistor is configured to be biased in a saturation condition with a second current and coupled to the common gate amplification stage so as to have a gate-drain voltage corresponding to a difference between the output voltage and the input signal.

Abstract: An analog switch includes a transistor whose source connected to a signal input and whose drain is connected to a signal output. An output of a gate control circuit is connected to the transistor gate. A first input of the gate control circuit is connected to the source of the transistor. The gate control circuit responds to a logic transition of an enable signal received at a second input by pre-charging a substantially constant gate-to-source voltage across the transistor. This voltage is stored by a gate-to-source connected capacitor. In one steady-state logic condition of the enable signal, the gate control circuit operates to turn off the transistor. In another steady-state logic condition of the enable signal, the gate control circuit permits the signal received at the signal input to drive the gate of the transistor with a voltage offset by the substantially constant gate-to-source voltage stored on the capacitor.

Abstract: A cache, including a cache memory, is configurable to operate in a cache mode and a trace mode. When the cache is operating in the cache mode, the cache memory stores a copy of a portion of data that is stored in another memory external to the cache, and a received data access request is processed by retrieving a copy of a portion of data identified in the received data access request from the cache memory (if the cache memory stores a copy of the portion of data), or by forwarding the data access request to a data access request processing means external to the cache (if the cache memory does not store a copy of the portion of data). When the cache is operating in the trace mode, data access requests received by the cache are monitored and information relating to a received data access request is captured and stored in the cache memory.

Abstract: An electronic component package including an electronic component having a circuit surface, a block of resin partially surrounding the electronic component, and a multi-layer interconnection in contact with said circuit surface, wherein the multi-layer interconnection is connected to bond-pads having a pitch lower than 50 ?m, and the block of resin is made of injection-molding resin.

Abstract: A radiation source emits radiation, with respect to a touch sensitive surface, which is detected by a corresponding sensor. By sensing radiation levels in a sensing plane substantially parallel with said surface, a determination is made as to an instance of at least one touch of the surface by a touching object. Furthermore, the sensed radiation levels are processed to determine a relative pressure applied to the surface by the at least one touch based upon a parameter related to an approaching speed of the touching object.

Abstract: A mobile communications device includes a radiofrequency antenna, a navigation pad and a signal processor. The radiofrequency antenna, navigation pad, and signal processor cooperate to encode and transmit motion signals from the navigation pad to a computer so that the mobile communications device functions as a pointing device therefore.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling turn-on of phases of a multiphase regulator. According to the method, there are tested the conditions necessary for the turn-on of a phase to be turned-on indicated by a first cell of the phase register, and in response to a positive result a corresponding ramp signal is reset. There is then tested the conditions necessary for the turn-on of a phase successive to the phase to be turned on according to the list of priorities of the phase register, and corresponding ramp signals are reset if there is a positive result. In response to no positive results of testing conditions necessary for the turn-on of all phases successive to the phase to be turned on, there is reset a ramp signal corresponding to a phase successive to a last turned on phase indicated by a last cell of the phase register.

Abstract: A pulse generator circuit is provided. The pulse generator circuit has an input adapted to receive an input electrical quantity and an output at which an output electrical quantity is made available. A transfer characteristic establishes a relationship between said input and said output electrical quantities. The pulse generator circuit is adapted to provide said output electrical quantity in the form of pulses having a predetermined shape, suitable to be used for UWB transmission. The transfer characteristic has substantially a same shape as that of said pulses. Moreover, a UWB modulating system exploiting the novel pulse generator is proposed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a micromodule including the steps of: producing an integrated circuit on an active face of a chip made of a semi-conductive material, making a via passing through the chip, electrically linked to the integrated circuit, and inserting the chip into a box comprising a cavity and an electrically conductive element, the active face of the chip being disposed towards the bottom of the cavity, forming on at least one part of a lateral face of the chip a conductive lateral layer made of an electrically conductive material, electrically linked to a conductive element of the rear face of the chip, and producing a connection between the conductive lateral layer and the conductive element by depositing an electrically conductive material in the cavity.

Abstract: A method is for producing an asymmetric architecture semiconductor device. The device includes a substrate, and in stacked relation, a first photosensitive layer, a non-photosensitive layer, and a second photosensitive layer. The method includes a first step of exposing a first zone in each of the photosensitive layers by a first beam of electrons traversing the non-photosensitive layer. A second step includes exposing at least one second zone of one of the two photosensitive layers by a second beam of electrons or photons or ions, thereby producing a widening of one of the first zones compared to the other first zone such that the second zone is in part superimposed on one of the first zones.

Abstract: A driver device for driving light emitting elements comprises a data latch having an input coupled to an input signal, a current control circuit having an input coupled to the data latch, and an output coupled to the input of an output stage, the latter being configured to drive the light emitting elements. The driver device has a power control circuit having an input coupled to the output of the data latch and an output coupled to the input of the current control circuit. The power control circuit is configured to control the current control circuit and the latter is configured to deliver a first current when the data inputted to the power control circuit is in a first state and a second current when at least part of the data inputted to the power control circuit is in a second state.

Abstract: A ball grid array (BGA) package includes a substrate layer having first and second sides. A semiconductor chip is attached to the first side of the substrate layer by a dielectric adhesive layer. A plurality of solder balls are attached to the second side of the substrate layer. The solder balls may be set out by rows and columns. A plurality of wires electrically connect the semiconductor chip to the solder balls. A layer of encapsulating compound is deposited over the semiconductor chip. A step cavity of a selected depth and shape is formed in the layer of encapsulating compound at or near the edge or periphery of the layer of encapsulating compound. The step cavity is separated from the solder balls by the substrate layer but spans over a plurality of selected solder balls.

Abstract: A method is provided for growth of carbon nanotube (CNT) synthesis at a low temperature. The method includes preparing a catalyst by placing the catalyst between two metal layers of high chemical potential on a substrate, depositing such placed catalyst on a surface of a wafer, and reactivating the catalyst in a high vacuum at a room temperature in a catalyst preparation chamber to prevent a deactivation of the catalyst. The method also includes growing carbon nanotubes on the substrate in the high vacuum in a CNT growth chamber after preparing the catalyst.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a converter of the multiphase interleaving type. According to the method, there is detected when a change of the load applied to an output terminal of the converter occurs. All the phases of the converter are simultaneously turned off, and a driving interleaving phase shift is recovered so as to restart a normal operation of the converter. A controller for carrying out such a method is also provided.

Abstract: A method for generating a random number, comprising steps of receiving a data transmission binary signal subjected to phase jitter, generating several oscillator signals substantially of a same average frequency and having distinct respective phases, sampling a status of each of the oscillator signals upon the appearance of edges of the binary signal, and of generating a random number using the statuses of each of the oscillator signals. The method may be applied to an integrated circuit usable in a smart card.

Abstract: Disk drive spindle jitter is comprised of electrical noise, error due to pair pole asymmetry, and random disk speed variances. Error caused by pair pole asymmetry can be identified and compensated for by detecting over a single rotation of a rotor a plurality of zero cross signals. These signals can be statistically analyzed over a period of a plurality of revolutions of the rotor so as to identify the systematic error caused by pair poles. Once identified, this pair pole error can be used to modify zero cross signals and/or modify commutation signal driving the disk so as to arrive at a more accurate determination of disk speed and to precisely control the speed of the disk.

Abstract: A method and a device for monitoring a digital signal, wherein a first P-channel MOS transistor is placed in degradation conditions of negative bias temperature instability type during periods when the signal to be monitored is in a first state; a first quantity representative of the saturation current of the first transistor is measured when the signal to be monitored switches to a second state; and a detection signal is switched when this first quantity exceeds a threshold.