Abstract: A power transistor supplying power to a load is coupled to a current limiter circuit including a differential amplifier that operates to detect a difference between a sense voltage, indicative of a load current, and a voltage reference. A control terminal of the power transistor is driven by a first output of the differential amplifier as a function of the detected difference. A voltage clamp circuit coupled to an input terminal generates a floating ground. A short-circuit protection circuit coupled to the floating ground and interposed between a second output of the differential amplifier and the control terminal of the power transistor provides a short-circuit protection for the first output of the differential amplifier. A reaction time circuit is coupled between the first and second outputs of the differential amplifier and a source terminal of the power transistor to limit a short-circuit current at the source terminal.

Abstract: A power transistor supplying power to a load is coupled to a current limiter circuit including a differential amplifier that operates to detect a difference between a sense voltage, indicative of a load current, and a voltage reference. A control terminal of the power transistor is driven by a first output of the differential amplifier as a function of the detected difference. A voltage clamp circuit coupled to an input terminal generates a floating ground. A short-circuit protection circuit coupled to the floating ground and interposed between a second output of the differential amplifier and the control terminal of the power transistor provides a short-circuit protection for the first output of the differential amplifier. A reaction time circuit is coupled between the first and second outputs of the differential amplifier and a source terminal of the power transistor to limit a short-circuit current at the source terminal.

Abstract: A radiation hardened memory cell includes an odd number of storage elements configured to redundantly store an input data logic signal. The storage elements include output lines for outputting respective logic signals having respective logic values. A logic combination network receives the respective logic signals and is configured to generate an output signal having a same logic value as a majority of the logic signals output from the storage elements. An exclusive logic sum circuit receives the respective logic signals output from the storage elements and is configured to produce a refresh of the logic data signal as stored in the storage elements when one of the logic signals output from the storage elements undergoes a logic value transition due to an error event.

Abstract: A radiation hardened memory cell includes an odd number of storage elements configured to redundantly store an input data logic signal. The storage elements include output lines for outputting respective logic signals having respective logic values. A logic combination network receives the respective logic signals and is configured to generate an output signal having a same logic value as a majority of the logic signals output from the storage elements. An exclusive logic sum circuit receives the respective logic signals output from the storage elements and is configured to produce a refresh of the logic data signal as stored in the storage elements when one of the logic signals output from the storage elements undergoes a logic value transition due to an error event.

Abstract: A radiation hardened memory cell includes an odd number of storage elements configured to redundantly store an input data logic signal. The storage elements include output lines for outputting respective logic signals having respective logic values. A logic combination network receives the respective logic signals and is configured to generate an output signal having a same logic value as a majority of the logic signals output from the storage elements. An exclusive logic sum circuit receives the respective logic signals output from the storage elements and is configured to produce a refresh of the logic data signal as stored in the storage elements when one of the logic signals output from the storage elements undergoes a logic value transition due to an error event.

Abstract: A radiation hardened memory cell includes an odd number of storage elements configured to redundantly store an input data logic signal. The storage elements include output lines for outputting respective logic signals having respective logic values. A logic combination network receives the respective logic signals and is configured to generate an output signal having a same logic value as a majority of the logic signals output from the storage elements. An exclusive logic sum circuit receives the respective logic signals output from the storage elements and is configured to produce a refresh of the logic data signal as stored in the storage elements when one of the logic signals output from the storage elements undergoes a logic value transition due to an error event.

Abstract: A device for controlling a combustible gas supply to a burner is provided, which includes first and second servovalves, having respective valve seats associated with a corresponding shut-off mechanism, which include respective first and second control solenoid valves with an electromagnetic operating device that controls the opening/closing of the corresponding servovalve. The solenoid valves act to indirectly control the corresponding servovalve's respective shut-off mechanism. The pipes of the control are in communication with the main pipe through an auxiliary bleed pipe. A pilot pipe is branched from the auxiliary pipe to supply a pilot burner, and a thermoelectric magnetic unit with a knob is provided on the auxiliary pipe, which allows gas to flow towards the pilot burner when the unit is activated, while simultaneously shutting off the flow of gas towards the servovalve control circuit. The device includes a control mechanism, controlled by the knob, which controls gas flow.

Abstract: A device for controlling a combustible gas supply to a burner is provided, which includes first and second servovalves, having respective valve seats associated with a corresponding shut-off mechanism, which include respective first and second control solenoid valves with an electromagnetic operating device that controls the opening/closing of the corresponding servovalve. The solenoid valves act to indirectly control the corresponding servovalve's respective shut-off mechanism. The pipes of the control are in communication with the main pipe through an auxiliary bleed pipe. A pilot pipe is branched from the auxiliary pipe to supply a pilot burner, and a thermoelectric magnetic unit with a knob is provided on the auxiliary pipe, which allows gas to flow towards the pilot burner when the unit is activated, while simultaneously shutting off the flow of gas towards the servovalve control circuit. The device includes a control mechanism, controlled by the knob, which controls gas flow.

Abstract: A system for driving columns of a liquid crystal display includes logic circuitry operating in a supply path between a first and a second supply voltage in which the first supply voltage is higher than the second supply voltage. The logic circuitry is capable of generating first logic signals and second logic signals whose value is equal to the first or second supply voltage. The system includes two level shifters coupled to the logic circuitry and operating in a supply path between a third supply voltage greater than the first supply voltage and the second supply voltage; the level shifters are capable of raising the value of the second logic signals. The system also includes a first and a second pair of transistors having different supply paths and having an output terminal in common; the first and the second pair of transistors are coupled to the level shifters to determine the drive signal of a column.

Abstract: A system for driving columns of a liquid crystal display includes logic circuitry operating in a supply path between a first and a second supply voltage in which the first supply voltage is higher than the second supply voltage. The logic circuitry is capable of generating first logic signals and second logic signals whose value is equal to the first or second supply voltage. The system includes two level shifters coupled to the logic circuitry and operating in a supply path between a third supply voltage greater than the first supply voltage and the second supply voltage; the level shifters are capable of raising the value of the second logic signals. The system also includes a first and a second pair of transistors having different supply paths and having an output terminal in common; the first and the second pair of transistors are coupled to the level shifters to determine the drive signal of a column.

Abstract: A method of searching, drafting and editing of electronic files includes the use of one or more peripheral computers, each computer handling an assembly of one or more updatable data bases having electronic documents, the electronic documents including information suitable to identify the same documents, each peripheral computer handling searches for, drafting of, communication about, and editing of, documents, the method being characterised in that the data base assembly provides one or more catalogues relevant to the documents, the search of documents or of part of documents being carried out employing at least one search criterium including the use of one or more catalogues. Apparatuses and instruments necessary for carrying out the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for driving columns of a liquid crystal display includes logic circuitry operating in a supply path between a first and a second supply voltage in which the first supply voltage is higher than the second supply voltage. The logic circuitry is capable of generating first logic signals and second logic signals whose value is equal to the first or second supply voltage. The system includes two level shifters coupled to the logic circuitry and operating in a supply path between a third supply voltage greater than the first supply voltage and the second supply voltage; the level shifters are capable of raising the value of the second logic signals. The system also includes a first and a second pair of transistors having different supply paths and having an output terminal in common; the first and the second pair of transistors are coupled to the level shifters to determine the drive signal of a column.

Abstract: The present invention describes a system for driving rows of a liquid crystal display including at least one module for driving one single row of the liquid crystal display. The module includes an inverter operating in a supply path between a first and a second supply line of the system, where the first supply line includes a first switch for coupling the inverter to a first or to a second supply voltage and the second supply line includes a second switch for coupling the inverter to a third or to a fourth supply voltage. The inverter is driven by logic circuitry and provides a drive signal for one single row of the liquid crystal display.

Abstract: A valve unit for controlling the delivery of a combustible gas through a gas path comprises a first valve seat in the gas path and a first closure means associated with the seat, a first actuator means for the control of the closure means for opening and closing of the valve seat and also motor means for the operating control of the first actuator means. The unit further comprises a second electromagnetic actuator means interposed between the closure means and the first actuator means to urge the closure means so as to close the valve seat, independently of the operating position of the first actuator means, when a predetermined condition occurs which requires the interception of the valve seat.

Abstract: A method for the operative control of fuel cells (2) is described and comprises the steps of providing an electronic control unit (8), regulating the quantity of fuel and/or supporter of combustion which flows per unit of time in a supply circuit (4, 5) of the fuel cell (2) by regulation means (6, 7, 13, 14, 16, 17), obtaining a temperature signal (T) from the cell (2), obtaining a power signal (W) from a closed circuit (11) including the cell, supplying the signals to the electronic control unit (8), and making the regulation means (6, 7, 13, 14, 16, 17) subject to the electronic control unit (8), the regulation of the quantity of fuel and/or supporter of combustion being of the modulating type, and the modulation taking place in dependence on the temperature and power signals. The invention is also directed towards a device (1, 100) operating in accordance with the method.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter having a current error amplifier and a voltage error amplifier connected in parallel to control the charging of the battery and a gradual turning off circuit for turning off gradually the current error amplifier in a battery charging end phase. In this way, the DC-DC converter is able to supply to the battery a battery charging current that remains constant until the battery full charge voltage is reached.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter including a current error amplifier and a voltage error amplifier connected in parallel to control the charging phase of the battery, during which a charging current is supplied to the battery to bring the voltage of the battery gradually up to a full charge voltage; a charging interruption stage for interrupting the charging phase before the voltage of the battery has reached the full charge voltage; and an activation stage for activating the charging interruption stage when the full charge voltage is close to the supply potential at which the supply line of the current error amplifier is set.

Abstract: A valve unit for controlling the delivery of a combustible gas through a gas path comprises a first valve seat in the gas path and a first closure means associated with the seat, a first actuator means for the control of the closure means for opening and closing of the valve seat and also motor means for the operating control of the first actuator means. The unit further comprises a second electromagnetic actuator means interposed between the closure means and the first actuator means to urge the closure means so as to close the valve seat, independently of the operating position of the first actuator means, when a predetermined condition occurs which requires the interception of the valve seat.

Abstract: In multi-phase driving systems of electric motors in a switching mode employing distinct integrated half-bridge output stages, the use of multiple external components for each integrated half-bridge stage to implement functions of adjustment of the switching dead-time and of disabling/enabling of the half-bridge stage can be avoided and an improved matching obtained by using single external components connected in common to the dedicated pins of all the distinct integrated half-bridge output stages. This is achieved by duplicating the disabling comparator, respectively for the power transistor of the pull-up branch and for the power transistor of the pull-down branch in each integrated half-bridge stage.

Abstract: The circuit controls current switching in multiple inductive loads (L1, L2, L3, L4) fed by means of respective switching switches (SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4) and by means of respective current adjustment switches (SWA, SWB), and comprises a single sense resistor (R) in series to said switching switches, and a single comparator circuit (C, FF) adapted to generate a logical signal (Q) when the voltage across the sense resistor exceeds a reference voltage (V.sub.ref), which drives a plurality of AND gates (PA, PB) which control said adjustment switches and the second inputs whereof are driven by respective square-wave signals in opposite phase with a period equal to twice the switching period.