Abstract: A radio-frequency receiver includes built-in-self-test (BIST) circuitry which generates a self-test signal. A local oscillator signal is divided. A self-test oscillation signal is generated, based, at least in part, on the frequency-divided local oscillation signal. The self-test signal is generated based on the self-test oscillation signal. The BIST circuitry includes a divider, which divides the self-test oscillation signal. The frequency-divided local oscillation signal and the divided self-test oscillation signal are used to perform one or more of generating the self-test oscillation signal and controlling the generation of the self-test oscillation signal. The radio-frequency receiver may be an automotive radar receiver.

Abstract: A method of operating a radar sensor system includes: frequency down-converting a reception signal that is chirp-modulated with a sequence of chirp ramps to an intermediate frequency signal; and high-pass filtering the intermediate frequency signal to produce a high-pass filtered signal. High-pass filtering includes: first high-pass filtering, with a first corner frequency, the intermediate frequency signal at each chirp in the chirp modulation of the reception signal; and replacing the first high-pass filtering with a second high-pass filtering with a second corner frequency, the first corner frequency being higher than the second corner frequency.

Abstract: A method of operating a radar sensor system includes: frequency down-converting a reception signal that is chirp-modulated with a sequence of chirp ramps to an intermediate frequency signal; and high-pass filtering the intermediate frequency signal to produce a high-pass filtered signal. High-pass filtering includes: first high-pass filtering, with a first corner frequency, the intermediate frequency signal at each chirp in the chirp modulation of the reception signal; and replacing the first high-pass filtering with a second high-pass filtering with a second corner frequency, the first corner frequency being higher than the second corner frequency.

Abstract: A radio-frequency receiver includes built-in-self-test (BIST) circuitry which generates a self-test signal. A local oscillator signal is divided. A self-test oscillation signal is generated, based, at least in part, on the frequency-divided local oscillation signal. The self-test signal is generated based on the self-test oscillation signal. The BIST circuitry includes a divider, which divides the self-test oscillation signal. The frequency-divided local oscillation signal and the divided self-test oscillation signal are used to perform one or more of generating the self-test oscillation signal and controlling the generation of the self-test oscillation signal. The radio-frequency receiver may be an automotive radar receiver.

Abstract: A method of operating a radar sensor system includes: frequency down-converting a reception signal that is chirp-modulated with a sequence of chirp ramps to an intermediate frequency signal; and high-pass filtering the intermediate frequency signal to produce a high-pass filtered signal. High-pass filtering includes: first high-pass filtering, with a first corner frequency, the intermediate frequency signal at each chirp in the chirp modulation of the reception signal; and replacing the first high-pass filtering with a second high-pass filtering with a second corner frequency, the first corner frequency being higher than the second corner frequency.

Abstract: A radio-frequency receiver includes built-in-self-test (BIST) circuitry which generates a self-test signal. A local oscillator signal is divided. A self-test oscillation signal is generated, based, at least in part, on the frequency-divided local oscillation signal. The self-test signal is generated based on the self-test oscillation signal. The BIST circuitry includes a divider, which divides the self-test oscillation signal. The frequency-divided local oscillation signal and the divided self-test oscillation signal are used to perform one or more of generating the self-test oscillation signal and controlling the generation of the self-test oscillation signal. The radio-frequency receiver may be an automotive radar receiver.

Abstract: A method of operating a radar sensor system includes: frequency down-converting a reception signal that is chirp-modulated with a sequence of chirp ramps to an intermediate frequency signal; and high-pass filtering the intermediate frequency signal to produce a high-pass filtered signal. High-pass filtering includes: first high-pass filtering, with a first corner frequency, the intermediate frequency signal at each chirp in the chirp modulation of the reception signal; and replacing the first high-pass filtering with a second high-pass filtering with a second corner frequency, the first corner frequency being higher than the second corner frequency.

Abstract: Systems and methods for switching on and off a power amplifier including a signal input receiving an input signal and a signal output providing an output signal. The power amplifier includes a control input receiving a gain control signal indicating a requested gain and a control input receiving a mute control signal indicating whether the signal output should be switched on or switched off. A control unit determines whether the signal output of the power amplifier should be switched on and/or off, and if switched on receives data identifying a switch-on ramp and if switched off receives data identifying a switch-off ramp. The control unit generates the mute control signal to switch on the signal output of the power amplifier on or off, and generates the gain control signal as a function of the data identifying the switch-on or switch-off ramp to thereby increase or decrease the gain control signal.

Abstract: A radio-frequency receiver includes built-in-self-test (BIST) circuitry which generates a self-test signal. A local oscillator signal is divided. A self-test oscillation signal is generated, based, at least in part, on the frequency-divided local oscillation signal. The self-test signal is generated based on the self-test oscillation signal. The BIST circuitry includes a divider, which divides the self-test oscillation signal. The frequency-divided local oscillation signal and the divided self-test oscillation signal are used to perform one or more of generating the self-test oscillation signal and controlling the generation of the self-test oscillation signal. The radio-frequency receiver may be an automotive radar receiver.

Abstract: Systems and methods for switching on and off a power amplifier including a signal input receiving an input signal and a signal output providing an output signal. The power amplifier includes a control input receiving a gain control signal indicating a requested gain and a control input receiving a mute control signal indicating whether the signal output should be switched on or switched off. A control unit determines whether the signal output of the power amplifier should be switched on and/or off, and if switched on receives data identifying a switch-on ramp and if switched off receives data identifying a switch-off ramp. The control unit generates the mute control signal to switch on the signal output of the power amplifier on or off, and generates the gain control signal as a function of the data identifying the switch-on or switch-off ramp to thereby increase or decrease the gain control signal.

Abstract: An oscillator circuit may include a local oscillator to generate a carrier signal having a tunable frequency, a first modulator and a power amplifier coupled in cascade to the local oscillator to generate an output signal. The first modulator may be activated from a first modulating signal having a first frequency alternatively defining ON and OFF states of the first modulator. An estimator unit may receive the carrier signal during a time window and detect an estimated frequency variation of the carrier signal during the ON and OFF states. A compensation unit may include a second modulator to generate a compensation signal proportional to the estimated frequency variation and modulated with a second modulating frequency. The second modulating frequency may be substantially the same as the first modulating frequency, and the compensation signal may be added to a bias signal of the local oscillator to tune the tunable frequency.

Abstract: An oscillator circuit may include a local oscillator to generate a carrier signal having a tunable frequency, a first modulator and a power amplifier coupled in cascade to the local oscillator to generate an output signal. The first modulator may be activated from a first modulating signal having a first frequency alternatively defining ON and OFF states of the first modulator. An estimator unit may receive the carrier signal during a time window and detect an estimated frequency variation of the carrier signal during the ON and OFF states. A compensation unit may include a second modulator to generate a compensation signal proportional to the estimated frequency variation and modulated with a second modulating frequency. The second modulating frequency may be substantially the same as the first modulating frequency, and the compensation signal may be added to a bias signal of the local oscillator to tune the tunable frequency.

Abstract: An electronic device includes an analog-to-digital converter adapted to receive a radio-frequency signal and adapted to provide therefrom a digital signal, wherein the radio-frequency signal may include an interference signal. The electronic device has a controller adapted to perform a digital measure on the digital signal and adapted to generate therefrom a selection signal having a first value indicating a non-interference condition in the radio-frequency signal and having a second value indicating an interference-condition in the radio-frequency signal. A selector is adapted to transmit the digital signal in case the selection signal has the first value and to transmit a signal replacing the digital signal in case the selection signal has the second value.

Abstract: There is described a protection apparatus against electrostatic discharges for an integrated circuit; said integrated circuit comprises a radiofrequency or higher frequencies internal circuit. The internal circuit has a first and a second terminals for the output or the input of a radiofrequency or higher frequencies signal. The apparatus comprises first means for electrically connecting said first and second terminals of the internal circuit to at least a PAD and the integrated circuit comprises at least a first and a second supply circuital lines and at least a first and a second protection devices against electrostatic discharges connected to said first and second supply lines. First means have a resistive component and each of said first and second protection devices against the electrostatic discharges have a parasitic capacitive component.

Abstract: There is described a protection apparatus against electrostatic discharges for an integrated circuit; said integrated circuit comprises a radiofrequency or higher frequencies internal circuit. The internal circuit has a first and a second terminals for the output or the input of a radiofrequency or higher frequencies signal. The apparatus comprises first means for electrically connecting said first and second terminals of the internal circuit to at least a PAD and the integrated circuit comprises at least a first and a second supply circuital lines and at least a first and a second protection devices against electrostatic discharges connected to said first and second supply lines. First means have a resistive component and each of said first and second protection devices against the electrostatic discharges have a parasitic capacitive component.

Abstract: An electronic device includes an analog-to-digital converter adapted to receive a radio-frequency signal and adapted to provide therefrom a digital signal, wherein the radio-frequency signal may include an interference signal. The electronic device has a controller adapted to perform a digital measure on the digital signal and adapted to generate therefrom a selection signal having a first value indicating a non-interference condition in the radio-frequency signal and having a second value indicating an interference-condition in the radio-frequency signal. A selector is adapted to transmit the digital signal in case the selection signal has the first value and to transmit a signal replacing the digital signal in case the selection signal has the second value.

Abstract: A power semiconductor device structure formed in a chip of semiconductor material includes an N-type substrate and an N-type epitaxial layer. The structure comprises a P-type insulation region which forms a pocket in which control circuitry is formed, and a plurality of fully insulated PNP power transistors. Each PNP power transistor comprises a P-type collector region including of a buried region between the substrate and the epitaxial layer and a contact region. The P region delimits a base N region within which an emitter P region is formed.

Abstract: An integrated semiconductor structure comprises two homologous P-type regions formed within an N-type epitaxial layer. A P-type region formed in the portion of the epitaxial layer disposed between the two P-type regions includes within it an N-type region. This N region is electrically connected to the P region by means of a surface metal contact. The structure reduces the injection of current between the first and second P regions, at the same time preventing any vertical parasitic transistors from being switched on.

Abstract: A monolithic, integrated semiconductor circuit comprising a high-voltage ice (210) with a predetermined reverse-conduction threshold comprising a chain of zener diodes (220-240). Device 210 is connected in series with a thermal compensation device (250) constituted by a plurality of Vbe multipliers connected in series with one another. Each of the Vbe multipliers is formed by a resistive divider (R1i, R2i) and a low-voltage transistor (Ti) or two or more low-voltage transistors in a Darlington configuration.

Abstract: A power semiconductor structure (200), in particular in VIPower technology, made from a chip of N-type semiconductor material (110), comprising a bipolar or field-effect vertical power transistor (125, 120, 110) having a collector or drain region in such N-type material (110); the semiconductor structure comprises a PNP bipolar lateral power transistor (210, 110, 220) having a base region in such N-type material (110) substantially in common with the collector or drain region of the vertical power transistor.