Abstract: An output driver (12), including: a first supply rail (13A) configured to receive a high supply electrical voltage (Vdd); a second supply rail (13B) configured to receive a low supply electrical voltage (Vss); a pad terminal (15) configured to output an output electrical voltage (V_pad_out); an output stage (14) connected to the pad terminal (15) and to the first and second supply rails (13A, 13B). The output stage (14) has an electrical clamping circuit (18A, 18B) including a semiconductor electronic switching component (Q3, Q6) made of a first type of semiconductors and a semiconductor electronic switching component (Q4, Q7) made of a second type of semiconductors. A resistor (R3, R0) is connected between the first or second supply rail and the semiconductor electronic switching component (Q3, Q6) of the first type, at an intermediate terminal (20, 24).

Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure a ring-oscillator control circuit includes a voltage reference, a ring oscillator, a power supply and a supply controller. The supply controller may be configured to select the power supply among an energy storage and an energy source such as to supply the ring oscillator in function of the voltage reference.

Abstract: A ring-oscillator control circuit (100) including voltage reference (110), a ring oscillator (120), a power supply (130, 140) and a supply controller (150). The supply controller (150) is configured to select the power supply (130, 140) among an energy storage (130) and an energy source (140) such as to supply the ring oscillator (120) in function of the voltage reference (110).

Abstract: The invention relates to a DC-DC converter (1) for a power source (2) generating extremely low voltage, the converter (1) operating in discontinuous mode, wherein the converter (1) comprises a self-oscillating charge pump (3a) having an array of interconnected ring oscillators (RO1-RON) for successively stepping up an input voltage (Vin) so as to result in the accumulated voltage (XN) at the last ring oscillator (RON), an amplifier (3b) and a pulse signal generator (3c) that generates a pulse signal that actuates a switch (11) so that the stepped-up, output voltage may be provided via a diode (12). The invention further relates to a method for actuating the DC-DC converter (1) for a power source (2) generating extremely low voltage.

Abstract: The elementary pumping cell comprises an input (E) receiving an input voltage (Vin), a clock terminal (H) receiving a first clock signal (CK1) and an output (S), a first capacitor (C1) having a first terminal connected to the clock terminal and a second terminal, a first transistor (A1) having a first source/drain terminal coupled to the input, a second source/drain terminal and a gate terminal, a second transistor (A2) having a first source/drain terminal, a second source/drain terminal coupled to the input and a gate terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first capacitor, a third transistor (A3) having a first source/drain terminal coupled to the first source/drain terminal of the second transistor, a second source/drain terminal coupled to the gate terminal of the second transistor and a gate terminal coupled to the input, and a fourth transistor (A4) having a first source/drain terminal coupled to the second source/drain terminal of the first transistor, a second source/drain terminal coupled to t

Abstract: The invention relates to a DC-DC converter (1) for a power source (2) generating extremely low voltage, the converter (1) operating in discontinuous mode, wherein the converter (1) comprises a self-oscillating charge pump (3a) having an array of interconnected ring oscillators (RO1-RON) for successively stepping up an input voltage (Vin) so as to result in the accumulated voltage (XN) at the last ring oscillator (RON), an amplifier (3b) and a pulse signal generator (3c) that generates a pulse signal that actuates a switch (11) so that the stepped-up, output voltage may be provided via a diode (12). The invention further relates to a method for actuating the DC-DC converter (1) for a power source (2) generating extremely low voltage.

Abstract: The elementary pumping cell comprises an input (E) receiving an input voltage (Vin), a clock terminal (H) receiving a first clock signal (CK1) and an output (S), a first capacitor (C1) having a first terminal connected to the clock terminal and a second terminal, a first transistor (A1) having a first source/drain terminal coupled to the input, a second source/drain terminal and a gate terminal, a second transistor (A2) having a first source/drain terminal, a second source/drain terminal coupled to the input and a gate terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first capacitor, a third transistor (A3) having a first source/drain terminal coupled to the first source/drain terminal of the second transistor, a second source/drain terminal coupled to the gate terminal of the second transistor and a gate terminal coupled to the input, and a fourth transistor (A4) having a first source/drain terminal coupled to the second source/drain terminal of the first transistor, a second source/drain terminal coupled to t

Abstract: The present invention concerns an electronic oscillator comprising: an LC resonant circuit comprising an inductive component and a capacitive component, the LC resonant circuit being connected to a first reference voltage node and to an oscillator output node; a first transistor connected to the oscillator output node and arranged to periodically operate in a conducting state and a non-conducting state; and a phase shift circuit. A phase shift circuit output is connected to the first transistor, while a phase shift circuit input is connected by a first feedback circuit to the oscillator output node. The phase shift circuit comprises a signal phase shifter for shifting the phase of a first feedback signal from the first feedback circuit by substantially 180 degrees.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an electronic oscillator comprising: an LC resonant circuit comprising an inductive component and a capacitive component, the LC resonant circuit being connected to a first reference voltage node and to an oscillator output node; a first transistor connected to the oscillator output node and arranged to periodically operate in a conducting state and a non-conducting state; and a phase shift circuit. A phase shift circuit output is connected to the first transistor, while a phase shift circuit input is connected by a first feedback circuit to the oscillator output node. The phase shift circuit comprises a signal phase shifter for shifting the phase of a first feedback signal from the first feedback circuit by substantially 180 degrees.

Abstract: The timepiece includes a low frequency oscillator serving as time base and rranged to feed a first chain of frequency dividers having an adjustable division rate in order to display the time and a high frequency oscillator feeding a second chain of frequency dividers. During an imprecise period established by the first chain (3) reference pulses from the second chain (7) are counted thereby to establish a binary value (HF-DF) representing the amount of imprecision of the first chain in respect of the reference. This value is transferred into a memory in order to correct directly or indirectly the division rate of the first divider chain. There is thus obtained an oscillator having the stability of a high frequency oscillator but with energy consumption only slightly exceeding that of a low frequency oscillator.