Abstract:
A contact structure for semiconductor devices which are integrated on a semiconductor layer is provided. The structure comprises at least one MOS device and at least one capacitor element where the contact is provided at an opening formed in an insulating layer which overlies at least in part the semiconductor layer. Further, the opening has its surface edges, walls and bottom coated with a metal layer and filled with an insulating layer.
Abstract:
A process for the manufacturing of electronic devices, including memory cells, involving forming, on a substrate of semiconductor material, multilayer stacks including a floating gate region, an intermediate dielectric region, and a control gate region; forming a protective layer extending on top of the substrate and between the multilayer stacks and having a height at least equal to the multilayer stacks. The step of forming multilayer stacks includes the step of defining the control gate region on all sides so that each control gate region is completely separate from adjacent control gate regions. The protective layer isolates the multilayer stacks from each other at the sides. Word lines of metal extend above the protective layer and are in electrical contact with the gate regions.
Abstract:
A hybrid architecture for realizing a random numbers generator comprising a digital circuitry portion able to provide for a random bytes sequence as well as an analog circuitry portion able to provide a seed of the true random type is described.
Abstract:
An integrated electronic circuit includes a plurality of active circuits connected together in cascade. A feedback loop is between an output of a last active circuit and an input of a first active circuit so that the plurality of active devices function as a non-linear device, such as a capacitor. The integrated electronic circuit may be integrated or used in association with a circuit network including other non-linear devices.
Abstract:
A method of storing a data file, particularly in the MPEG format and including a flow of different frames, comprises a protection system for the data file based on a parameter stored in the data file. Advantageously, the storage method comprises selectively protecting the frames by storing parameters that are associated with corresponding different frames whose values are selected to provide a playing quality level requested by an end user. Also, a method is provided for decoding a data file, particularly of the MPEG type and including a flow of different frames, wherein the data file is stored per above.
Abstract:
A method is provided for optimizing a PRML (Partial Response Maximum Likelihood) receiving channel for mass memory data receiving systems comprising an input receiving channel, a receiver placed downstream of the channel, a detector connected in cascade to the receiver, and a summing node being input both the receiver output through a delay line, and the output from the detector through an impulsive filter. The method includes performing an indirect estimate of the noise strength by filtering out the error sequence, i.e. the output signal from the summing node, through a filter, and selecting either the output from the summing node or the output from the filter to obtain an optimization parameter for feedback to the receiving system.
Abstract:
A method (1110a;1110b) of refreshing an electrically erasable and programmable non-volatile memory (100) having a plurality of memory cells (Mhk) is proposed. The method includes the steps of: verifying (1106-1114; 1152-1162) whether a memory cell has drifted from a correct condition (i.e., a predetermined voltage and/or voltage range), and individually restoring (1116-1130) the correct condition of the memory cell if the result of the verification is positive.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method and a circuit using the method thereof for minimising the phase errors during the driving of an electric motor, and a circuit using the method thereof, having a stator winding, a permanent magnet rotor assembly, and devices able to sense a rotor position, which comprises the following steps: a) generating of a rotor position signal (10, 14, 39), by means of said devices able to sense said rotor position; b) detecting at least two information from at least two edges (11, 12; 15, 16) of said rotor position signal (10, 14, 39) inside a measure period; c) generating a driving signal (9, 13, 38), in finction of said at least two information (11, 12; 15, 16) inside the measure period, so as to follow the rotor velocity.
Abstract:
An interface manages the exchange of information between a bus system and a memory during reading, according to a communication protocol. The interface has a protocol-decoding unit, which receives from outside commands and information for managing the reading and generates a wait-code enabling signal, and a wait-state generating unit, which is connected to the protocol-decoding unit and outputs wait codes upon receipt of the wait-code enabling signal. When the memory ends reading, as signaled by switching of a read-state signal, a wait-state disabling circuit generates and supplies an end-of-waiting control signal to the wait-state generating unit, which thus outputs an end-of-waiting code.
Abstract:
The reading timing device has a data-sensing stage, receiving a sensing-latch signal, and an output stage, including an output buffer and enabled at a first switching edge of a synchronization signal. A reading timing stage generates the sensing-latch signal not before a preset time interval from the first switching edge of the synchronization signal. Thereby, reading, in particular data-latching in the data-sensing stage, is temporarily separated from switching of the output buffers. This separation is obtained using the sync signal. Since the output buffers must switch in a preset time from the rising edge of the sync signal, the pulse of the sensing-latch signal is shifted after this time, and more precisely after the falling edge of the sync signal.