Abstract: A system for biological assay includes a first plate having a plurality of protrusions, a second plate configured for mating with said first plate, the second plate including a plurality of receptacles, each receptacle being configured to receive at least a portion of a corresponding one of said protrusions upon mating of the first plate with the second plate, wherein each protrusion includes a gate electrode configured for facing the respective receptacle upon mating of the first plate with the second plate, and wherein each receptacle further includes at least one source-drain channel operatively associated to a gate electrode carried by a respective protrusion upon mating of the first plate with the second plate.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory includes cells arranged in rows and columns. Each memory cell includes an access portion and a control portion. The access and control portions share an electrically floating layer of conductive material defining a first capacitive coupling with the access portion and a second capacitive coupling with the control portion. The first capacitive coupling defines a first capacity lower than a second capacity defined by the second capacitive coupling. The control portion is configured so that an electric current extracts charge carriers from the electrically floating layer through Fowler-Nordheim tunneling to store a first logic value in the memory cell. The access portion is configured so that an electric current injects charge carriers in the electrically floating layer by injection of band-to-band tunneling-induced hot electrons to store a second logic value, respectively, in the memory cell.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory includes memory cells arranged in rows and columns. Each memory cell includes a program/read portion and an erase portion that share an electrically floating layer of conductive material defining a first capacitive coupling with the program/read portion and a second capacitive coupling with the erase portion. The first capacitive coupling defines a first capacitance greater than a second capacitance defined by the second capacitive coupling. The erase portion is configured so that an electric current extracts charge carriers from the electrically floating layer to store a first logic value in the memory cell. The program/read portion is further configured so that an electric current injects charge carriers in the electrically floating layer to store a second logic value in the memory cell.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory includes a plurality of memory cells arranged in a plurality of rows and columns. Each memory cell includes a read portion and a control portion. The read portion and the control portion share an electrically floating layer of conductive material defining a first capacitive coupling with the read portion and a second capacitive coupling with the control portion. The first capacitive coupling defines a first capacity greater than a second capacity defined by the second capacitive coupling. The control portion is configured so that an electric current injects or extracts charge carriers into or from the electrically floating layer to store of a first logic value or a second logic value, respectively, in the memory cell.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory includes memory cells arranged in rows and columns. Each memory cell includes a program/read portion and an erase portion that share an electrically floating layer of conductive material defining a first capacitive coupling with the program/read portion and a second capacitive coupling with the erase portion. The first capacitive coupling defines a first capacitance greater than a second capacitance defined by the second capacitive coupling. The erase portion is configured so that an electric current extracts charge carriers from the electrically floating layer to store a first logic value in the memory cell. The program/read portion is further configured so that an electric current injects charge carriers in the electrically floating layer to store a second logic value in the memory cell.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory includes cells arranged in rows and columns. Each memory cell includes an access portion and a control portion. The access and control portions share an electrically floating layer of conductive material defining a first capacitive coupling with the access portion and a second capacitive coupling with the control portion. The first capacitive coupling defines a first capacity lower than a second capacity defined by the second capacitive coupling. The control portion is configured so that an electric current extracts charge carriers from the electrically floating layer through Fowler-Nordheim tunneling to store a first logic value in the memory cell. The access portion is configured so that an electric current injects charge carriers in the electrically floating layer by injection of band-to-band tunneling-induced hot electrons to store a second logic value, respectively, in the memory cell.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory includes a plurality of memory cells arranged in a plurality of rows and columns. Each memory cell includes a read portion and a control portion. The read portion and the control portion share an electrically floating layer of conductive material defining a first capacitive coupling with the read portion and a second capacitive coupling with the control portion. The first capacitive coupling defines a first capacity greater than a second capacity defined by the second capacitive coupling. The control portion is configured so that an electric current injects or extracts charge carriers into or from the electrically floating layer to store of a first logic value or a second logic value, respectively, in the memory cell.

Abstract: A two-phase charge pump is provided that is capable of being controlled by first and second clock signals that are out-of-phase and take alternatively a first value and a second value during consecutive phases. The charge pump includes a sequence of cascade-connected stages that each have a first section and a second section. Each section includes an input terminal and an output terminal, a capacitive element, and a controlled switch coupling the input terminal of the section with the output terminal of the section. The input terminals in each stage other than the first stage are cross-coupled with the output terminals in a preceding stage. The capacitive element has first and second terminals. The first terminals in the first and second sections receive the first and second clock signals, respectively, and the second terminal is coupled with the output terminal of the section. The controlled switch has a control terminal. In each stage, the control terminals are coupled to each other.

Abstract: A two-phase charge pump is provided that is controlled by first and second clock signals in phase-opposition. The charge pump has a sequence of cascade-connected stages. Each stage includes a capacitive element driven by one clock signal such that capacitive elements of adjacent stages are driven by different clock signals, a pass transistor that transfers electric charge to the capacitive element from the capacitive element of a previous stage, a first biasing circuit that enables the pass transistor during a first phase of the one clock signal, and a second biasing circuit that disables the pass transistor during a second phase of the one clock signal. Also provided is a two-phase charge pump having two branches that each include a sequence of such cascade-connected stages, with each stage of one branch having a corresponding stage in the other branch. A method of operating two-phase charge pumps is also provided.

Abstract: A step-up converter based on an integrated transformer, comprising a self-resonating oscillator circuit that has inductive elements constituted by primary and secondary windings of at least one first transformer, the self-resonating oscillator circuit being powered by an external supply voltage.

Abstract: A two-phase charge pump is provided that is controlled by first and second clock signals in phase-opposition. The charge pump has a sequence of cascade-connected stages. Each stage includes a capacitive element driven by one clock signal such that capacitive elements of adjacent stages are driven by different clock signals, a pass transistor that transfers electric charge to the capacitive element from the capacitive element of a previous stage, a first biasing circuit that enables the pass transistor during a first phase of the one clock signal, and a second biasing circuit that disables the pass transistor during a second phase of the one clock signal. Also provided is a two-phase charge pump having two branches that each include a sequence of such cascade-connected stages, with each stage of one branch having a corresponding stage in the other branch. A method of operating two-phase charge pumps is also provided.

Abstract: A hybrid inductive-capacitive charge pump provided with a driving stage that comprises a step-up converter and a buffer capacitor, and a cascade of charge pump stages; the first stage of the stage cascade is connected to a power supply and the last stage of the stage cascade is connected to an output of the charge pump circuit; the charge pump circuit comprises elements for activating alternately the charge pump stages, transferring charge from one stage of the cascade to the next stage of the cascade, each stage of the cascade of charge pumping stages comprising a pass transistor and a capacitor.

Abstract: A hybrid inductive-capacitive charge pump provided with a driving stage that comprises a step-up converter and a buffer capacitor, and a cascade of charge pump stages; the first stage of the stage cascade is connected to a power supply and the last stage of the stage cascade is connected to an output of the charge pump circuit; the charge pump circuit comprises elements for activating alternately the charge pump stages, transferring charge from one stage of the cascade to the next stage of the cascade, each stage of the cascade of charge pumping stages comprising a pass transistor and a capacitor.

Abstract: A step-up converter based on an integrated transformer, comprising a self-resonating oscillator circuit that has inductive elements constituted by primary and secondary windings of at least one first transformer, the self-resonating oscillator circuit being powered by an external supply voltage.

Abstract: A method for identifying fingerprints includes the steps of acquiring a primary image and a secondary image; determining notable points in the primary image; comparing with one another the primary image and the secondary image in order to identify the correspondences between the primary image and the secondary image; and validating the possible correspondences. The comparison between the primary image and the secondary image is based on comparison of the regions which surround the notable points on the primary image, with all the points of the secondary image, through a flash cell array, such as to obtain lists of points in the secondary image which are probably associated with the notable points.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of 1,2,4-triazole by reacting hydrazine, formic acid and formamide and/or ammonia in a molar ratio of 1 mole of hydrazine to 1 to 3 moles of formic acid to 1 to 2 moles of formamide and/or ammonia at a temperature of 140.degree. to 220.degree. C. The main advantage of the process of the invention resides in obtaining 1,2,4-triazole with an improved yield and purity.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved method for the preparation of a 2',6'-dialkyl-N-alkoxymethyl-2-chloro-acetanilide compound of the general formula (I), ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are identical or different and stand for straight-chained or branched C.sub.1-4 alkyl groups.According to the invention a dialkyl aniline of the general formula (II), ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are as defined above, is treated with aqueous formaldehyde solution in an apolar solvent at a temperature of 30.degree. to 80.degree. C., the solution of the resulting oxymethyl derivative formed with said apolar solvent is separated from the aqueous formaldehyde solution at an elevated temperature and then dehydrated, the resulting azomethine derivative is reacted with chloroacetyl chloride in the same apolar solvent medium, the resulting chloromethyl compound is reacted with an alcohol of the general formula (V),R.sub.3 -OH (V)wherein R.sub.

Abstract: A cationactive soil-conditioning composition which comprises one or more active ingredients having the formulae ##STR1## wherein R is a C.sub.10-24 linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl or alk-dienyl group; R.sub.1 is hydrogen, R.sub.2 is hydrogen, C.sub.2-18 as a linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl, alk-dienyl or C.sub.2-18 -alpha-keto-group, R.sub.3 is a hydrogen; R.sub.3 ' if present is hydrogen or C.sub.1-8 alkyl; X and X' are formiate, acetate, propionate, hydrophosphate, hydroxyl, halogenide or nitrate; R.sub.4 methylene, ethylene, or a polyglycol ether-group; m is a cardinal number from 1-6 and n is an integer from 1-6; R' is C.sub.10-24 linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl or alk-dienyl; R.sub.5, R.sub.6, R.sub.7 if present, is a hydrogen or taken together two substituents therefrom a CH.dbd.CH--CH.dbd.CH-- group; R.sub.8, F.sub.9, if present, hydrogen or methyl; Y.sub.1 is a --CH.dbd. or oxygen; Y.sub.

Abstract: A cation active soil-conditioning composition which comprises one or more active ingredients having the formulae ##STR1## wherein R is a C.sub.10-24 linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl or alk-dienyl group; R.sub.1 is hydrogen, R.sub.2 is hydrogen, C.sub.2-18 as a linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl, alk-dienyl or C.sub.2-18 -alpha-keto-group, R.sub.3 is a hydrogen; R.sub.3 ' if present is hydrogen or C.sub.1-8 alkyl; X and X' are formiate, acetate, propionate, hydrophosphate, hydroxyl, halogenide or nitrate; R.sub.4 methylene, ethylene or a polyglycol ether-group; m is a cardinal number from 1-6 and n is an integer from 1-6; R' is C.sub.10-24 linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl or alk-dienyl; R.sub.5, R.sub.6, R.sub.7 if present, is a hydrogen or taken together two substituents therefrom a CH.dbd.CH--CH.dbd.CH-- group; R.sub.8, R.sub.9, if present, hydrogen or methyl; y.sub.1 is a --CH.dbd. or oxygen; Y.sub.

Abstract: A cationactive soil-conditioning composition which comprises one or more active ingredients having the formulae ##STR1## wherein R is a C.sub.10-24 linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl or alk-dienyl group; R.sub.1 is hydrogen, R.sub.2 is hydrogen, C.sub.2-18 as a linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl, alk-dienyl or C.sub.2-18 -alpha-keto-group, R.sub.3 is a hydrogen; R.sub.3 ' if present is hydrogen or C.sub.1-8 alkyl; X and X' are formiate, acetate, propionate, hydrophosphate, hydroxyl, halogenide or nitrate; R.sub.4 methylene, ethylene or a polyglycol ether-group; m is a cardinal number from 1-6 and n is an integer from 1-6; R' is C.sub.10-24 linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl or alk-dienyl; R.sub.5, R.sub.6, R.sub.7 if present, is a hydrogen or taken together two substituents therefrom a CH.dbd.CH--CH.dbd.CH-- group; R.sub.8, R.sub.9, if present, hydrogen or methyl; Y.sub.1 is a --CH.dbd. or oxygen; Y.sub.