Abstract: A method of controlling the speed of an electric motor, said method being a digital method designed to control the speed of an induction motor that is powered by a triac device to a preset speed, in which the speed of the motor is measured and a digital numerical value representative of the mathematical first derivative of motor speed is calculated. A determination is made of the digital numerical value of the motor speed first derivative relative to a range, or band, of values. An error signal also is computed that is proportional to the error between the measured current motor speed and the preset speed and a determination is made of the digital numerical value of this error signal relative to a range, or band, of values that includes a value corresponding to that of the motor operating at the preset speed.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory cell and method for reading it are disclosed. In one embodiment, the non-volatile memory cell includes a fuse with a first terminal coupled to a first power supply voltage terminal, and a second terminal, a first transistor having a first current electrode coupled to the second terminal of the programmable fuse, a second current electrode, and a control electrode, and a second transistor having a first current electrode connected to the first power supply voltage terminal, a control electrode coupled to the control electrode of the first transistor, and a second current electrode coupled to the control electrode. By applying a read signal to the control electrode of the first transistor, the state of the cell (blown or unblown) is read.

Abstract: A programmable voltage reference includes a temperature compensated current source and a voltage reference circuit. The temperature compensated current source includes an output configured to provide a reference current. The voltage reference circuit includes an input coupled to the output of the temperature compensated current source and a reference output. The voltage reference circuit includes a self-cascode metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor structure that includes a first device that is diode-connected and operates in a weak inversion saturation region and a second device that operates in a weak inversion triode region. A length of the second device is selectable. The voltage reference circuit is configured to provide a reference voltage on the reference output based on the reference current.

Abstract: A linear voltage regulator includes a first transistor, a feedback circuit, and a control circuit. The first transistor includes a first terminal coupled to an input terminal of the regulator, a second terminal coupled to an output terminal of the regulator, and a control terminal. The first transistor is configured to provide a load current to the output terminal at a desired voltage level based on a control signal on the control terminal. The feedback circuit is coupled to the output terminal and is configured to generate a feedback signal based on an actual voltage level at the output terminal. The control circuit is configured to provide, based on the feedback signal, the control signal at a level to substantially maintain an output voltage at the output terminal at the desired voltage level. An operating current of the control circuit is configured to increase, by a limited amount, responsive to a transient increase in the load current.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method of Enhanced Petroleum Recovery (EPR) combining technical, economic, environmental and social effectiveness to increase the recovery factor of onshore or offshore fields having a high degree of exploitation, more precisely through the use of a substance miscible with the diverse types of petroleum of low fluidity found in various regions. More specifically, the present invention refers to the use of solvents such as light liquid fractions of petroleum, for example diesel oil and gas oil, a light petroleum, and the essential oils derived from renewable sources such as for example biodiesel, used pure or mutually admixed in any proportion, for injection into a geological formation through an injection well, there resulting a final mixture (petroleum/injected solvent) presenting much lower viscosity and much greater fluidity than the original petroleum, having an impact throughout the petroleum production chain.

Abstract: A voltage regulator includes a first multi-gate transistor, a differential stage, a second stage having a second multi-gate transistor, and a pass transistor to apply an output voltage and output current to a device load. Based on a feedback voltage associated with the output voltage, the differential stage modulates a bias voltage applied to a control electrode of the pass transistor. A first gate of the second multi-gate transistor generates a nominal bias current for the pass transistor, and the second gate adjusts the bias voltage based on an output of the differential stage so that transients in the regulator output voltage resulting from sudden changes in current drawn by the device load are reduced.

Abstract: A system and method are provided which include providing a payment processor including a first processing module identifying the payer and an actual payment due based upon received information and a second processing module determining the account from which the actual payment due is to be paid based on the stored information. Communication is had with the payment processor via a mobile device to provide information about an actual payment due by a payer, and the payment processor effectuates payment of the actual payment due in accordance with the stored information.

Abstract: Methods and corresponding systems for reading a memory cell include a first current sourced from a first current source into a summing node, wherein the first current source is coupled to a first reference. A second current is sourced from a second current source into the summing node, wherein the second current source is coupled to the first reference through a programmable fuse. A third current is sunk from the summing node with a current sink, wherein the current sink is coupled to a second reference, and wherein a third current limit is greater than a first current limit and less than the sum of the first current limit and the second current limit. A voltage at the summing node is output in response to the first current, the second current, and the third current. The first and second current sources, and the current sink can be current mirrors.

Abstract: Methods and corresponding systems for reading a memory cell include a first current sourced from a first current source into a summing node, wherein the first current source is coupled to a first reference. A second current is sourced from a second current source into the summing node, wherein the second current source is coupled to the first reference through a programmable fuse. A third current is sunk from the summing node with a current sink, wherein the current sink is coupled to a second reference, and wherein a third current limit is greater than a first current limit and less than the sum of the first current limit and the second current limit. A voltage at the summing node is output in response to the first current, the second current, and the third current. The first and second current sources, and the current sink can be current mirrors.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed which may include providing a processing center, at least one mobile device, and a third party device, wherein quantities of financial value are stored in accounts associated, respectively, with the at least one mobile device and the third party device; enabling communication between the at least one mobile device and the processing center; enabling communication between the third party device and the processing center; conducting at least one commercial transaction between the mobile device and the third party device; and employing the processing center as an intermediary for the commercial transaction.

Abstract: A linear voltage regulator includes a first transistor, a feedback circuit, and a control circuit. The first transistor includes a first terminal coupled to an input terminal of the regulator, a second terminal coupled to an output terminal of the regulator, and a control terminal. The first transistor is configured to provide a load current to the output terminal at a desired voltage level based on a control signal on the control terminal. The feedback circuit is coupled to the output terminal and is configured to generate a feedback signal based on an actual voltage level at the output terminal. The control circuit is configured to provide, based on the feedback signal, the control signal at a level to substantially maintain an output voltage at the output terminal at the desired voltage level. An operating current of the control circuit is configured to increase, by a limited amount, responsive to a transient increase in the load current.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method of Enhanced Petroleum Recovery (EPR) combining technical, economic, environmental and social effectiveness to increase the recovery factor of onshore or offshore fields having a high degree of exploitation, more precisely through the use of a substance miscible with the diverse types of petroleum of low fluidity found in various regions. More specifically, the present invention refers to the use of solvents such as light liquid fractions of petroleum, for example diesel oil and gas oil, a light petroleum, and the essential oils derived from renewable sources such as for example biodiesel, used pure or mutually admixed in any proportion, for injection into a geological formation through an injection well, there resulting a final mixture (petroleum/injected solvent) presenting much lower viscosity and much greater fluidity than the original petroleum, having an impact throughout the petroleum production chain.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory cell 100 includes a static latch 125 having a first terminal and a second terminal, a first transistor 124 having a first current electrode coupled to said first terminal of said static latch 125 and a fusible element 110 having a first terminal coupled to a second current electrode of the first transistor 125 and a second terminal coupled to a first power supply voltage terminal. In a particular embodiment, the non-volatile memory cell includes a fusible element programming circuit 140 coupled to the first terminal of said fusible element. In another particular embodiment, the non-volatile memory cell includes a cell preset circuit 120 coupled to a control electrode of the first transistor.