Abstract: A method determines a resonance frequency of a resonant device. The method includes stimulating the resonant device with a periodic input signal having a frequency in a frequency interval; determining a frequency value for said periodic input signal in said frequency interval for which a phase-difference between said periodic input signal and a corresponding periodic output signal of the resonant device is minimum; generating a flag indicating that a resonance frequency has been determined; and generating signals representing said resonance frequency as a value of the frequency of said periodic input signal.

Abstract: A method of PWM regulating a motor through a half-bridge drive stage includes sampling the motor current to obtain sampled values during driving intervals or during current decay intervals, and comparing a last sampled value with a current threshold. The motor is coupled in a slow decay electrical path for the duration of a current decay interval if the last sampled value does not exceed the current threshold. Otherwise the motor is coupled in a fast decay electrical path for a portion of the duration of the current decay interval, and is coupled in the slow decay electrical path for a remaining part of the duration of the same current decay interval.

Abstract: A method of driving a permanent magnet synchronous electric motor includes sensing or estimating a back electromotive force induced in at least a winding of the motor by the rotation of a rotor of the motor; and reading, from a memory, values of a first voltage waveform having a phase angle with respect to the back electromotive force. The method also includes generating a driving voltage corresponding to the sum of values of a control voltage, obtained as product of the values of the first voltage waveform by a first coefficient determined as a function of a desired value of motor torque, and values of a cancelation voltage of the back electromotive force. The method also includes applying the driving voltage at the motor winding.

Abstract: A method of driving a permanent magnet synchronous electric motor includes sensing or estimating a back electromotive force induced in at least a winding of the motor by the rotation of a rotor of the motor; and reading, from a memory, values of a first voltage waveform having a phase angle with respect to the back electromotive force. The method also includes generating a driving voltage corresponding to the sum of values of a control voltage, obtained as product of the values of the first voltage waveform by a first coefficient determined as a function of a desired value of motor torque, and values of a cancelation voltage of the back electromotive force. The method also includes applying the driving voltage at the motor winding.

Abstract: A method of PWM regulating a motor through a half-bridge drive stage includes sampling the motor current to obtain sampled values during driving intervals or during current decay intervals, and comparing a last sampled value with a current threshold. The motor is coupled in a slow decay electrical path for the duration of a current decay interval if the last sampled value does not exceed the current threshold. Otherwise the motor is coupled in a fast decay electrical path for a portion of the duration of the current decay interval, and is coupled in the slow decay electrical path for a remaining part of the duration of the same current decay interval.

Abstract: A method is for choosing a mode out of a set of functioning modes of an integrated circuit (IC) device powered from different supply voltages from respective supply nodes. The IC device may include a mode pin for determining a functioning mode of the device, an internal control circuit coupled to the supply nodes and to the mode pin for sensing an electrical value on the mode pin and to start the IC device in a respective functioning mode depending on the supply node that is powered first. The method may include identifying the different supply voltage that first exceeds a threshold voltage, when the internal control circuit is powered, sensing the electrical value on the mode pin, and powering circuits of the IC device from the different supply voltage that first exceeded the threshold voltage and starting the device in a functioning mode determined by a value of the electrical value sensed on the mode pin and by the different supply voltage that first exceeded the voltage threshold.

Abstract: A method is for choosing a mode out of a set of functioning modes of an integrated circuit (IC) device powered from different supply voltages from respective supply nodes. The IC device may include a mode pin for determining a functioning mode of the device, an internal control circuit coupled to the supply nodes and to the mode pin for sensing an electrical value on the mode pin and to start the IC device in a respective functioning mode depending on the supply node that is powered first. The method may include identifying the different supply voltage that first exceeds a threshold voltage, when the internal control circuit is powered, sensing the electrical value on the mode pin, and powering circuits of the IC device from the different supply voltage that first exceeded the threshold voltage and starting the device in a functioning mode determined by a value of the electrical value sensed on the mode pin and by the different supply voltage that first exceeded the voltage threshold.