Abstract: An embodiment is a computer-implemented method for detecting a straight line in a digital image comprising a plurality of pixels comprising the steps: detecting an edge in the digital image, generating a first straight line which passes through a first pixel of the detected edge, generating a second straight line which passes through a second pixel of the detected edge, which is different from the first pixel, determining at least two intersections with a boundary of the digital image for each generated straight line, determining a set of two parameter values for each generated straight line based on the respective determined at least two intersections, wherein the set of two parameter values uniquely determines the respective generated straight line, and detecting the straight line in the digital image based on the determined sets of two parameter values.

Abstract: An integrated magnetoresistive sensor, formed in a chip including a substrate having a surface and an insulating region covering the surface of the substrate. A magnetoresistor, of a first ferromagnetic material, is formed in the insulating region and has a sensitivity plane parallel to the surface. A concentrator of a second ferromagnetic material is formed in the substrate and has at least one arm extending in a transverse direction to the sensitivity plane. The arm has one end in contact with the magnetoresistor.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a hardware mechanism arranged to ensure that associations between instructions and data are enforced so that a processor cannot fetch data from an instruction that is not authorized to do so. A Memory Protection Unit stores entries comprising instructions and associated data memory ranges. A hardware arrangement impairs the operation of the circuit if the processor attempts to make a data fetch from an instruction that is outside the range associated with data in a Memory Protection Unit. Such functioning may be by issuing a chip reset. The Memory Protection Unit may be implemented in a Memory Management Unit having an extension so as to store a validity flag. The validity flag may only be set by a secure process such as the CPU well entrusted code or by a separate trusted hardware source.

Abstract: A circuit for reading memory cells includes: a sense node connectable to a memory cell; a sense device connected to the sense node and configured to be activated in a precharging step which precedes a cell reading step and to provide such an output signal to assume logic values dependent on an electric signal present at the sense node; a precharging circuit connected to the sense node and configured to be activated to make the sense node reach a precharging voltage and to be deactivated upon the output signal switching in the precharging step.

Abstract: A word-line driver includes first, second and third transistors. The first transistor includes a gate terminal driven by a first group selection signal, a first conduction terminal driven by a second sub-group selection signal and a second conduction terminal coupled to the word-line. The second transistor includes a gate terminal driven by a second group selection signal, a second conduction terminal driven by the second sub-group selection signal, and a first conduction terminal coupled to the word-line. The third transistor includes a gate terminal driven by a third the group selection signal, a first conduction terminal driven by a first sub-group selection signal, and a second conduction terminal coupled to the word-line.

Abstract: A clamping circuit includes a clamping core connected to an output terminal and having a central node connected to a voltage reference and at least one first and one second clamp transistor, connected to the central node and having respective control terminals, the clamping core being also connected at the input to a low voltage input driver block. The clamping core includes a first switching off transistor connected to the output terminal and to the first clamp transistor, as well as a second switching off transistor connected to the output terminal and to the second clamp transistor.

Abstract: A continuous time sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter comprising: a summator of an input analog signal and a feedback signal; a feed-forward integrator path connected to the summator and configured to provide a digital signal; a feedback digital-to-analog converter to convert the digital signal into a feedback analog signal; a feedback low pass filter structured to filter the feedback analog signal and provide the feedback signal to the summator.

Abstract: An image sensor has a pixel array and an input circuit. The input circuit includes a first input, a second input and two coupling capacitors. The first input receives an analog signal from a pixel of the pixel array which has a first level during a first calibration period and a second level during a second read period. The second input receives a reference ramp signal. A comparator circuit compares the ramp signal and the analog signal. The analog signal and the ramp signal are constantly read onto the coupling capacitors during both the first calibration period and the second read period. The ramp circuit begins providing the ramp signal during the second read period so as to determine the change in magnitude of the analog signal between the first calibration period and the second read period, the ramp circuit also begins providing the ramp signal during the first calibration period so as to compensate for any delay in the ramp circuit providing the ramp signal during the second read period.

Abstract: A sporting device may include a proximity detector, and a housing for carrying the proximity detector. The proximity detector may comprise a single photon avalanche diode for measuring the speed of an object struck by the housing. For example, the housing may define a tennis racket.

Abstract: An embodiment of a motor controller includes first and second supply nodes, a motor-coil node, an isolator, a motor driver, and a motor position signal generator. The isolator is coupled between the first and second supply nodes, and the motor driver is coupled to the second supply node and to the motor-coil node. The motor position signal generator is coupled to the isolator and is operable to generate, in response to the isolator, a motor-position signal that is related to a position of a motor having at least one coil coupled to the motor-coil node. By generating the motor-position signal in response to the isolator, the motor controller or another circuit may determine the at-rest or low-speed position of a motor without using an external coil-current-sense circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for touch detection, multi-touch detection and cursor control in which the acceleration of a control surface is sensed to provide sensed signals. The control surface is supported at one or more support positions and moves in response to a force applied by a user at a touch position. The sensed signals are received in a processing unit where they are used to estimate a change in the position of force application. A touch control signal is generated from the estimated change in touch position. The touch control signal may be output to a graphical user interface, where it may be used, for example, to control various elements such as mouse clicks, scroll controls, control of single or multiple cursors, or manipulation of views of an object on a visual display unit, or remote control manipulation of objects themselves.

Abstract: A proximity sensor includes a sensor package having an attachment pad with a radiation source and a radiation detector housed within the sensor package. The source and the detector are held in a fixed relation to the attachment pad, and are mounted by one of a direct or indirect attachment to the attachment pad. A portion of the attachment pad is adapted to form a baffle which forms at least part of an optical isolator. The optical isolator is adapted to substantially prevent the internal propagation of radiation between the source and the detector within the sensor package.

Abstract: A method for testing a strip of MEMS devices, the MEMS devices including at least a respective die of semiconductor material coupled to an internal surface of a common substrate and covered by a protection material; the method envisages: detecting electrical values generated by the MEMS devices in response to at least a testing stimulus; and, before the step of detecting, at least partially separating contiguous MEMS devices in the strip. The step of separating includes defining a separation trench between the contiguous MEMS devices, the separation trench extending through the whole thickness of the protection material and through a surface portion of the substrate, starting from the internal surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A user controlled device, movable into a plurality of positions of a three-dimensional space, includes a MEMS acceleration sensor to detect 3D movements of the user controlled device. The device, such as a mouse, sends control signals correlated to the detected positions to an electrical appliance, such as a computer system. A microcontroller processes the output signals of the MEMS acceleration sensor to generate the control signals, such as screen pointer position signals and “clicking” functions.

Abstract: A simulation model is for an optical modulator that may include an optical phase shifter in a semiconductor material structure between two sections of an optical waveguide. The semiconductor material structure may include one of a P-N and P-I-N junction in a plane parallel to an axis of the optical waveguide. The model may include a diode configured to characterize an electrical behavior of the one of the P-N and P-I-N junction such that a change in a global refractive index of the optical phase shifter is expressed, by a coefficient, based upon an amount of charges in the one of the P-N and P-I-N junctions and raised to a power. The coefficient and the power may be empirical values based upon the semiconductor material and a wavelength.

Abstract: A pixel circuit including: a detection circuit having first and second transistors coupled in series between differential output nodes of an antenna, wherein the antenna is configured to be sensitive to terahertz radiation; a capacitor coupled to an intermediate node between the first and second transistors; and control circuitry coupled to control nodes of the first and second transistors, the control circuitry being configured for selectively applying to the control nodes one of: a gate biasing voltage for biasing the control nodes of the first and second transistors during a detection phase of the pixel circuit; and a reset voltage for resetting a voltage stored by the capacitor.

Abstract: An object containing electronic circuits and a rechargeable cell, wherein the cell is arranged close to a surface of the object, a charge coil being shiftable with respect to the cell between an operating position where it is arranged around the cell and a recharge position where it is axially offset with respect to the cell.

Abstract: The presence of a facet or a void in an epitaxially grown crystal indicates that crystal growth has been interrupted by defects or by certain material boundaries. Faceting can be suppressed during epitaxial growth of silicon compounds that form source and drain regions of strained silicon transistors. It has been observed that faceting can occur when epitaxial layers of certain silicon compounds are grown adjacent to an oxide boundary, but faceting does not occur when the epitaxial layer is grown adjacent to a silicon boundary or adjacent to a nitride boundary. Because epitaxial growth of silicon compounds is often necessary in the vicinity of isolation trenches that are filled with oxide, techniques for suppression of faceting in these areas are of particular interest. One such technique, presented herein, is to line the isolation trenches with SiN to provide a barrier between the oxide and the region in which epitaxial growth is intended.

Abstract: An apparatus is formed from a double active layer silicon on insulator (DSOI) substrate that includes first and second active layers separated by an insulating layer. An electrostatic comb drive is formed from the substrate to include a first comb formed from the first active layer and a second comb formed from the second active layer. The comb drive may be used to impart a tilting motion to a micro-mirror. The method of manufacturing provides comb teeth exhibiting an aspect ratio greater than 1:20, with an offset distance between comb teeth of the first and second combs that is less than about 6 ?m.

Abstract: A simulation method for a P-I-N junction photodiode uses a model that may include a diode model configured to characterize electrical behavior of the P-I-N junction photodiode, and an input for applying a fictitious electrical signal representing optical power received by the P-I-N junction photodiode. A current source model may be coupled to the diode model and may have a transient response to a variation of the fictitious electrical signal, based upon a sum of a first first-order transient response with a time constant based upon to a transit time of carriers in a depletion region of the P-I-N junction, and a second first-order transient response with a time constant based upon a diffusion time of carriers outside of the depletion region. The first and second responses may be respectively weighted by a length of the depletion region and a length of the P-I-N junction outside the depletion region.