Abstract: A method and apparatus for defining, from a first periodic signal, a second signal of same period, including the steps of: generating a third signal exhibiting detectable events; and synchronizing the second signal for each event.

Abstract: A package includes a substrate with an attached emitting IC chip and receiving IC chip. The emitting IC chip includes an optical emitter, and the receiving IC chip includes a main optical sensor and a secondary optical sensor. A case is provided with a bottom portion and a peripheral wall portion to cover the IC chips, wherein the edge of the peripheral wall portion is mounted to the substrate. The bottom portion of the case includes a main opening above the main optical sensor and a secondary opening above the optical emitter. An opaque material is interposed between the case and the receiving IC chip to isolate the main optical sensor from the secondary optical sensor and delimiting a chamber containing the secondary optical sensor and the optical emitter. The chamber is optically isolated from the main optical sensor and main opening, and may be filled with a transparent material.

Abstract: A failure diagnosis circuit includes a multiplexer and a controller. The multiplexer receives address signals, and selectively outputs one of the address signals to an addressable module in response to a selecting signal. The controller generates a first one of address signals and the selecting signal. A built-in self-test circuit generates the second address signal. The addressable module includes addressable components responsive to the address signal. The controller processes the output of the addressable module responsive to the address signal to make a failure diagnosis. The built-in self-test circuit performs signature analysis on the read out output of the addressable module.

Abstract: There is provided a lead frame and a packaging method. The lead frame comprises a first plurality of die pads, a second plurality of leads extending from the first plurality of die pads, and a third plurality of tie elements, each of which connects one of the first plurality of die pads to another.

Abstract: A device and corresponding fabrication method includes a vertical stack having an intermediate layer between a lower region and an upper region. The intermediate layer is extended by a protection layer. The vertical stack has a free lateral face on which the lower region, the upper region and the protection layer are exposed.

Abstract: A device for detecting the concentration of biological materials, is formed in a body having a plurality of fluidic paths connectable to a multi-microbalance structure carrying a plurality of microbalances, each microbalance having a sensitive portion facing a reaction chamber. The body and the multi-microbalance structure are configured to be mechanically coupled together and each microbalance is configured to be coupled to a respective fluidic path. Each fluidic path includes an inlet, a duct and a liquid waste, each duct being configured to be coupled with a respective reaction chamber. The plurality of fluidic paths and microbalances form at least one first and one second reference cells and one first sample cell.

Abstract: The semiconductor wafer for a silicon-on-insulator integrated circuit comprises an insulating region located between a first semiconductor substrate intended to receive the integrated circuit and a second semiconductor substrate containing at least one buried layer comprising at least one metal silicide.

Abstract: A method for setting the clock frequency of a processing unit of an electromagnetic transponder, wherein a ratio between data, representative of a voltage across an oscillating circuit of the transponder and obtained for two values of the resistive load, is compared with one to decide whether to increase or decrease the clock frequency of the processing unit.

Abstract: A control device of a driving circuit of a discharge lamp is described. The driving circuit comprises an half bridge with a high side and a low side switches and the control device comprises a first device configured to control the switching frequency of the half bridge and a second device configured to detect the saturation current condition of the choke or the over current condition by detecting, cycle by cycle, a signal representative of the current passing through the low side switch. The second device generate a signal to cause the turning off of the low side switch and the turning on of the high side switch when the saturation current or over current condition of the choke is detected.

Abstract: A system and method for correcting errors in an ECC block using soft-decision data. In an embodiment, a soft-decision ECC decoding method, uses “soft” data indicative of how reliable bits of data are when read out. Such reliability information may be used to identify particular symbols with a higher likelihood of error such that these symbols may be changed in an attempt to reduce the total number of errors in the data. In an embodiment, a soft-decision ECC decoding path may include a reliability checker operable to receive bits of data read from a data store and operable to associate a reliability factor with each bit of data. Then, an update module may iteratively change bits or groups of bits based upon an ordering of the reliability factors.

Abstract: A packaging scheme for MEMS device is provided. A method of packaging MEMS device in a semiconductor structure includes forming an insulation fence that surrounds the MEMS device on the semiconductor structure. The method further includes attaching a wafer of dielectric material to the insulation fence. The lid wafer, the insulation fence, and the semiconductor structure enclose the MEMS device.

Abstract: A method pairs electronic equipment, particularly, in a wireless network system. The method includes: providing first and second wireless electronic equipment to be paired which store a first and a second public key, respectively, and providing a user with a wireless portable electronic device which stores a third public key. Then, the portable electronic device transmits the third public key in turn to the first and second electronic equipment, and receiving from the first and second equipment the first and second public keys, respectively. Moreover, the portable electronic device calculates first and second numbers starting from the first and second public keys, respectively. The same first and second numbers is independently calculated by the first and second electronic equipment, respectively, starting from the third public key and representing secret numbers shared between the portable device and the first and second electronic equipment.

Abstract: An integrated circuit protected against electrostatic discharges, having output pads coupled to amplification stages, each stage including, between first and second power supply rails, a P-channel MOS power transistor in series with an N-channel MOS power transistor, this integrated circuit further including protection circuitry for simultaneously turning on the two transistors when a positive overvoltage occurs between the first and second power supply rails.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with vertical current flow includes a body having a substrate made of semiconductor material. At least one electrical contact on a first face of the body. A metallization structure is formed on a second face of the body, opposite to the first face. The metallization structure is provided with metal vias, which project from the second face within the substrate so as to form a high-conductivity path in parallel with portions of said substrate.

Abstract: An arrangement includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the transformer exhibiting an impedance across the primary winding, and an impedance synthesis circuit. The impedance synthesis circuit includes a transfer function element having a frequency spectrum. The transfer function element has associated a gain element and a current source controlled by the transfer function element. The impedance synthesis circuit is connected to said secondary winding, so that the transformer mirrors the impedance synthesized by the impedance synthesis circuit into the impedance across said primary winding. The primary winding is adapted to define the high voltage side of an XDSL splitter, while the impedance synthesis circuit connected to the secondary winding is inherently a low voltage circuit.

Abstract: A compressor control device includes a driving circuit, for controllably supplying a coil of an electric motor of a compressor. A temperature sensor is thermally coupled to the driving circuit and provides a temperature sensing signal correlated to a temperature in the driving circuit. A control stage, coupled to the driving circuit and to the temperature sensor, selectively prevents the driving circuit from supplying the coil, in response to a minimum temperature increment being detected by the temperature sensor within a pre-determined control time window.

Abstract: An electroluminescent device includes at least first and second radiation emitter devices arranged on a common substrate. Each radiation emitter devise includes a first active layer and a second layer of organic material for generating the radiation, respectively. This device includes isolation means of dielectric material which are at least partially interposed between the first and second active layers to electrically isolate the first layer from the second active layer.

Abstract: A method for rendering an edge of a graphics primitive to be displayed on a screen. Such edge has an inclination relative to a reference direction of the screen. The method includes the steps of: calculating, based on the inclination of the edge, an error coefficient representative of the distance of the edge from a center of a pixel of the screen; and associating a transparency coefficient to the pixel, based on the calculated error coefficient.

Abstract: A voltage shifter has a supply line receiving a supply voltage that varies between a first operating value in a first operating condition and a second high operating value, in a second operating condition. A latch stage is connected to an output branch and to a selection circuit, which receives a selection signal that controls switching of the latch stage. The latch stage is coupled to the supply line and to a reference potential line, which receives a reference voltage that can vary between a first reference value, when the supply voltage has the first operating value, and a second reference value, higher than the first reference value, when the supply voltage has the second operating value. An uncoupling stage is arranged between the latch stage and the selection circuit and uncouples them in the second operating condition, when the supply voltage and the reference voltage are at their second, high, value.

Abstract: A charge pump including first and a second charge-pump stages electrically coupled, four pump capacitors connected between two enable terminals and four internal nodes, two pump transistors connected to the pump capacitors and to the internal nodes, and having respective control terminals, two biasing capacitors, connected between the control terminals and the enable terminals, and an equalization circuit connected between the control terminals and structured to limit the voltage between the control terminals within a first range of values.