Abstract: An inertial device that is integratable in a portable electronic device includes: an inertial sensor for generating at least one raw acceleration signal in response to accelerations caused by movements of walking and running of a user of the pedometer; and a processing unit, associated to the inertial sensor for counting a number of steps of the user of the pedometer on the basis of the raw acceleration signal. The inertial sensor and the processing unit are both encapsulated within a single package for integrated circuits, which can be coupled to a circuit board of an electronic device and is provided with at least one connection terminal for making the number of steps available to the outside world.

Abstract: A device for stabilizing images acquired by a digital-image sensor includes a motion-sensing device, for detecting quantities correlated to pitch and yaw movements of the digital-image sensor, and a processing unit, connectable to the digital-image sensor for receiving a first image signal and configured for extracting a second image signal from the first image signal on the basis of the quantities detected by the motion-sensing device. The motion-sensing device includes a first accelerometer and a second accelerometer.

Abstract: Detection of an anomalous event in an electronic apparatus includes detecting accelerations acting on the electronic apparatus, establishing a normal-mode range of accelerations that corresponds to normal operation of the apparatus, and detecting the anomalous event when a level of acceleration of the electronic apparatus exits the normal-mode range and remains outside the normal mode range for more than a defined duration. The method includes displacing the normal-mode range toward a current level of acceleration of the electronic apparatus while the level of acceleration remains outside the normal-mode range. Additionally, the normal-mode range is increased toward a maximum size while the level of acceleration remains outside the normal-mode range, and is decreased toward a minimum size while the level of acceleration is within the normal-mode range.

Abstract: A manual pointing device for a computer system, the device having at least one key that can be actuated manually by a user, and a click-event detection module coupled to the key for detecting actuation thereof. The click-event detection module is provided with an inertial sensor for detecting mechanical stresses generated by actuation of the key.

Abstract: A device for protecting an electronic apparatus includes: a motion-detection device, for supplying at least one alert signal in response to conditions of motion of the protection device; a counter; a first logic circuit, for incrementing the counter in the presence of a first value of the alert signal, in a first operating condition; and a second logic circuit, for generating a protection signal on the basis of a count value of the counter. In addition, the first logic circuit is configured for decrementing the counter in the presence of a second value of the alert signal, in the first operating condition.

Abstract: A digital high-pass filter has an input, an output, and a subtractor stage, having a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal. The first input terminal of the subtractor stage is connected to the input of the digital high-pass filter and the output terminal is connected to the output of the digital high-pass filter. A recursive circuit branch is connected between the output of the digital high-pass filter and the second input terminal of the subtractor stage. Within the recursive circuit branch are cascaded an accumulation stage, constituted by an integrator circuit, and a divider stage. The cutoff frequency of the digital high-pass filter is variable according to a dividing factor of the divider stage.

Abstract: A method for controlling a pedometer includes the steps of: generating a signal correlated to movements of a user of the pedometer; and detecting steps of the user on the basis of the signal. The method moreover envisages the steps of checking whether sequences of detected steps satisfy pre-determined conditions of regularity; updating a total number of valid steps if the conditions of regularity are satisfied; and preventing the updating of the total number of valid steps if the conditions of regularity are not satisfied.

Abstract: In a displacement detection device, an acceleration sensor generates at least a first acceleration signal relating to an axis of detection, and a displacement detection circuit is connected to the acceleration sensor has a comparator stage for comparing the acceleration signal with a programmable acceleration threshold and generates a displacement-detection signal. A high-pass filter is arranged between the acceleration sensor and the comparator stage so as to reduce a DC component of the acceleration signal. The cut-off frequency of the high-pass filter is modified according to the type of displacements that are to be detected.

Abstract: In a device for determining the position of a touch on a contact surface, a plurality of vibration sensors are configured to detect mechanical vibrations generated by the touch on the contact surface and to generate corresponding vibration signals, and a processing circuit is connected to the vibration sensors and is configured to determine the touch position via a time-of-flight algorithm, based on differences between times of detection of the mechanical vibrations by the vibration sensors.

Abstract: Detection of an anomalous event in an electronic apparatus includes detecting accelerations acting on the electronic apparatus, establishing a normal-mode range of accelerations that corresponds to normal operation of the apparatus, and detecting the anomalous event when a level of acceleration of the electronic apparatus exits the normal-mode range and remains outside the normal mode range for more than a defined duration. The method includes displacing the normal-mode range toward a current level of acceleration of the electronic apparatus while the level of acceleration remains outside the normal-mode range. Additionally, the normal-mode range is increased toward a maximum size while the level of acceleration remains outside the normal-mode range, and is decreased toward a minimum size while the level of acceleration is within the normal-mode range.

Abstract: A pointing and control device for a computer system, the device having a body that can be maneuvered by a user; and an inertial sensor fixed to the body for supplying first signals correlated to the orientation of the body with respect to a gravitational field acting on the inertial sensor. The device moreover includes a magnetometer fixed to the body for supplying second signals correlated to the orientation of the body with respect to the Earth's magnetic field acting on the magnetometer and processing modules for determining an orientation of the body in an absolute reference system, fixed with respect to the Earth's magnetic field and gravitational field on the basis of the first signals and second signals.

Abstract: In a pedometer device for detecting and counting steps of a user on foot, an accelerometer sensor detects a vertical acceleration generated during the step. A processing unit, connected to the accelerometer sensor, processes an acceleration signal relating to the acceleration in order to detect the occurrence of a step, and in particular compares the acceleration signal with a first reference threshold. The processing unit automatically adapts the first reference threshold as a function of the acceleration signal. In particular, the processing unit modifies the first reference threshold as a function of an envelope of the amplitude of the acceleration signal.

Abstract: An oversampling electromechanical modulator, including a micro-electromechanical sensor which has a first sensing capacitance and a second sensing capacitance and supplies an analog quantity correlated to the first sensing capacitance and to the second sensing capacitance; a converter stage, which supplies a first numeric signal and a second numeric signal that are correlated to the analog quantity; and a first feedback control circuit for controlling the micro-electromechanical sensor, which supplies an electrical actuation quantity correlated to the second numeric signal.

Abstract: In an integrated free-fall detection device for a portable apparatus an acceleration sensor generates acceleration signals correlated to the components of the acceleration of the portable apparatus along three detection axes. A dedicated purely hardware circuit connected to the acceleration sensor generates a free-fall detection signal in a continuous way and in real-time. The free-fall detection signal has a first logic value in the event that the acceleration signals are simultaneously lower than a respective acceleration threshold, and is sent to a processor unit of the portable apparatus as an interrupt signal to activate appropriate actions of protection for the portable apparatus. Preferably, the acceleration sensor and the dedicated purely hardware circuit are integrated in a single chip and the acceleration sensor is made as a MEMS.

Abstract: A device for automatic detection of states of motion and rest includes at least one inertial sensor, having at least one preferential detection axis, and a converter, which is coupled to the inertial sensor and supplies a first signal correlated to forces acting on the first inertial sensor according to the preferential detection axis; the device further includes at least one processing stage for processing the first signal, which supplies a second signal correlated to a dynamic component of the first signal, and at least one threshold comparator, which supplies a pulse when the second signal exceeds a pre-determined threshold.

Abstract: A device for stabilizing images acquired by a digital-image sensor includes a motion-sensing device, for detecting quantities correlated to pitch and yaw movements of the digital-image sensor, and a processing unit, connectable to the digital-image sensor for receiving a first image signal and configured for extracting a second image signal from the first image signal on the basis of the quantities detected by the motion-sensing device. The motion-sensing device includes a first accelerometer and a second accelerometer.

Abstract: A device for protecting an electronic apparatus includes: a motion-detection device, for supplying at least one alert signal in response to conditions of motion of the protection device; a counter; a first logic circuit, for incrementing the counter in the presence of a first value of the alert signal, in a first operating condition; and a second logic circuit, for generating a protection signal on the basis of a count value of the counter. In addition, the first logic circuit is configured for decrementing the counter in the presence of a second value of the alert signal, in the first operating condition.

Abstract: A sensor device for an electronic apparatus, is provided with: a sensing structure generating a first detection signal; and a dedicated integrated circuit, connected to the sensing structure, detecting, as a function of the first detection signal, a first event associated to the electronic apparatus and generating a first interrupt signal upon detection of the first event. The dedicated integrated circuit detects the first event as a function of a temporal evolution of the first detection signal, and in particular as a function of values assumed by the first detection signal within one or more successive time windows, and of a relation between these values.

Abstract: A digital high-pass filter has an input, an output, and a subtractor stage, having a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal. The first input terminal of the subtractor stage is connected to the input of the digital high-pass filter and the output terminal is connected to the output of the digital high-pass filter. A recursive circuit branch is connected between the output of the digital high-pass filter and the second input terminal of the subtractor stage. Within the recursive circuit branch are cascaded an accumulation stage, constituted by an integrator circuit, and a divider stage. The cutoff frequency of the digital high-pass filter is variable according to a dividing factor of the divider stage.

Abstract: An inertial device that is integratable in a portable electronic device includes: an inertial sensor for generating at least one raw acceleration signal in response to accelerations caused by movements of walking and running of a user of the pedometer; and a processing unit, associated to the inertial sensor for counting a number of steps of the user of the pedometer on the basis of the raw acceleration signal. The inertial sensor and the processing unit are both encapsulated within a single package for integrated circuits, which can be coupled to a circuit board of an electronic device and is provided with at least one connection terminal for making the number of steps available to the outside world.