Abstract: An embodiment of a driving device is proposed for supplying at least one regulated global output current to a load. The driving device includes programming means for programming a value of the global output current within a global current range. Reference means are provided for supplying a reference voltage, which has a value corresponding to the value of the global output current. Conversion means are then used for converting the reference voltage into the global output current. In the driving device according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the conversion means include a plurality of conversion units for corresponding partial current ranges, which partition the global current range. Each conversion unit is adapted to convert the reference voltage into a partial output current that contributes to the global output current, with the partial output current that is within the corresponding partial current range.

Abstract: A class AB operational amplifier includes an input stage, an output stage and a level shifter stage to control the quiescent current of the output stage and to transfer the signal from the input stage to the output stage, and a control circuit of the level shifter stage. The control circuit includes a transistor differential pair having a differential input terminals and the differential voltage at the differential terminals of the differential pair controls the level shifter stage.

Abstract: An integrated circuit controls a switch of a switching current regulator. The current regulator comprises primary and secondary windings where a first and a second current flow, respectively. The switch is adapted to initiate or interrupt the circulation of the first current in the primary winding. The control integrated circuit comprises a comparator configured to compare a first signal representative of said first current to a second signal and a divider circuit configured to generate said second signal as a ratio of a third signal, proportional to a voltage on the primary winding, with a voltage on a capacitor. The capacitor is charged by a further current controlled by the third signal when the second current is different from zero. The capacitor is discharged through a parallel-connected resistor when the value of said second current is substantially zero.

Abstract: A charge flow circuit for a time measurement, including a plurality of elementary capacitive elements electrically in series, each elementary capacitive element leaking through its dielectric space.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a low consumption flip-flop circuit with data retention, comprising at least one flip-flop and at least one retention cell connected to the output of the flip-flop and configured so that during normal operation of the flip-flop circuit, the retention cell transmits the data or logic state present on the output terminal of the flip-flop to its own output terminal, while during low consumption operation of the flip-flop circuit a latch circuit of the retention cell suitable to memorize data or a logic state corresponding to the last data or logic state present on the output terminal of the flip-flop is activated.

Abstract: An image frequency rejection mixer has a first differential transconductor that receives a differential mixer input signal, a second differential transconductor that receives the differential mixer input signal and cross-coupled to the first differential transconductor, a first mixing circuit that generates a first differential mixing circuit output signal by mixing a first differential information signal with a first local oscillation signal, a second mixing circuit that generates a second differential mixing circuit output signal by mixing a second differential information signal with a second local oscillation signal, with the first local oscillation signal and the second local oscillation signal being in quadrature, and an image rejection circuit that generates a differential mixer output signal from the first and second differential mixing circuit output signals.

Abstract: A driving apparatus drives a brushless motor that includes a plurality of windings. The apparatus comprises a plurality of switch half-bridges connected to a power line and to the windings, a memory adapted to contain a plurality of signal profiles to be cyclically applied to the plurality of windings of the motor, a multiplier for multiplying the profile values of the signals from the memory by a scale factor, a control circuit adapted to generate PWM signals for the switches of the plurality of switch half-bridges according to values output by the multiplier, a polarity detector configured to detect the polarity of the current passing trough at least one winding of the motor and a scale factor controller configured to modify the scale factor according to the detected current polarity and so as to make each signal profile to be applied to each winding of the motor either higher than the back-electromotive force or equal to the back-electromotive force generated by the motor.

Abstract: A signal communication apparatus comprising first and second channels for communicating signals between two electronic devices; each of said first and second channels has a transmitter for transmitting signals, a receiver for receiving signals and an interface arranged between the transmitter and the receiver. The transmitters code the signals in the form of a frame of H bits, with H being an integer, and adapted to serially transmit said frame of H bits through said interface, and the receivers decode the frames of H bits, a frame of H bits having P data bits, K redundancy bits and a sequence of L control bits adapted to identify the type of frame to be transmitted, with L, P and K being integers.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal display (LCD) driver circuit, harmonizing a pixel inversion pattern and a dither pattern is disclosed. The pixel inversion pattern and the cooperating dither pattern interact with each other in such a way that there is substantially no discernable video artifacts generated. The cooperating dither pattern can be selected from a plurality of dither patterns using a programmable dither block.

Abstract: A control circuit receives a first clock signal at a first frequency, a frequency division signal specifying a divisor number, and a second clock signal at a second frequency (higher than the first frequency). The control circuit includes a phase control block that defines non-overlapping portions of a pulse of the second clock to include center, left and right portions. A determination is then made as to whether an edge of the first clock is located within the center portion. In response to such a determination, a number of periods of the second clock signal which occur within one or more periods of the first clock signal is compared to a number derived from the divisor number to generate a frequency selection signal indicative of that comparison. A controlled oscillator circuit generates the second clock signal at the second frequency, wherein the second frequency is specified by the frequency selection signal.

Abstract: A state machine for generating signals configured for generating different signals according to the current state of the machine. The state machine is configured to change state both as a function of an internal timer and as a function of signals representative of events external to the state machine.

Abstract: A capped integrated device includes a semiconductor chip, incorporating an integrated device and a protective cap, bonded to the semiconductor chip for protection of the integrated device by means of a bonding layer made of a bonding material. The bonding material forms anchorage elements within recesses, formed in at least one between the semiconductor chip and the protective cap.

Abstract: An integrated microelectromechanical structure is provided with: a die, having a substrate and a frame, defining inside it a detection region and having a first side extending along a first axis; a driving mass, anchored to the substrate, set in the detection region, and designed to be rotated in a plane with a movement of actuation about a vertical axis; and a first pair and a second pair of first sensing masses, suspended inside the driving mass via elastic supporting elements so as to be fixed with respect thereto in the movement of actuation and so as to perform a detection movement of rotation out of the plane in response to a first angular velocity; wherein the first sensing masses of the first pair and the first sensing masses of the second pair are aligned in respective directions, having non-zero inclinations of opposite sign with respect to the first axis.

Abstract: A control device for a rectifier of a switching converter, the converter powered by an input voltage and suitable for providing an output current. The rectifier is suitable for rectifying an output current of the converter and includes at least one transistor. The control device is suitable for driving the at least one transistor. The control device has a first circuit suitable for identifying the start and the end of every converter switching half-cycle and measuring the duration thereof, a second circuit suitable for generating a signal for turning on the transistor after a given number of measured converter switching half-cycles and when the output current of the converter becomes greater than a reference current.

Abstract: Methods and device for in-system firmware update in an information output device are provided. In one aspect, a method of firmware update in a display device receives a set of data in an image format through a video signal input channel of an input port of the display device. The set of data is converted from the image format to an instruction set format that is different from the image format. A first set of instructions that is used to operate the display device is updated with the set of data in the instruction set format.

Abstract: A method of motion compensation in a camera may include deriving a motion signal representative of a motion of the camera, processing video frames of a video signal from an image sensor of the camera during a viewfinder mode to derive motion vectors between pairs of frames, and processing the motion signal with a number of combinations of gain and offset factors during the viewfinder mode. The method may also include determining combinations for producing threshold motion vectors, and applying the combination producing the threshold motion vectors for processing the motion signal during a still capture mode to produce a control signal for a motion compensating element for optics of the camera.

Abstract: A cinematic parameter computing method of a satellite navigation system, including: receiving signals at a receiving apparatus from a plurality of satellites; processing said signals to provide received data; computing a first cinematic parameter value of said receiving apparatus according to a first computational method using said received data; computing a second cinematic parameter value of said receiving apparatus according to a second computational method using said received data and computing a distance value representing a difference between said first and second cinematic parameter values. The distance value is compared with a reference value providing a comparison result data and selecting one of first and second computational methods based on said comparison result data.

Abstract: A structure for storing a native binary code in an integrated circuit, including an array of planar MIM capacitors above an insulating layer formed above a copper metallization network, wherein at least one metallization portion is present under each MIM capacitor. The size of the portion(s) is selected so that from 25 to 75% of the MIM capacitors have a breakdown voltage smaller by at least 10% than that of the other MIM capacitors.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical sensor includes: a supporting structure, having at least one first electrode and one second electrode, which form a capacitor; and a sensing mass made of non-conductive material, which is arranged so as to interact with an electric field associated to the capacitor and is movable with respect to the supporting structure according to a degree of freedom so that a relative position of the sensing mass with respect to the first electrode and to the second electrode is variable in response to external stresses. The sensing mass is made of a material selected in the group consisting of: intrinsic semiconductor materials, oxides of semiconductor materials, and nitrides of semiconductor materials.

Abstract: One embodiment discloses a method for soldering a cap for an integrated electronic device to a support layer, including the steps of: providing a support layer; providing a cap including a core of a first material and a coating layer of a second material, the first and second material being respectively wettable and non-wettable with respect to a solder, the coating layer being arranged so as to expose a surface of the core; coupling the cap with the support layer; and soldering the surface of the core to the support layer, by means of the solder.