Abstract:
A method of controlling at least one transistor of a DC voltage converter to regulate an output voltage of the DC converter, the method including determining whether the output voltage of the DC converter is within a first or second voltage range, the second voltage range including a desired value of the output voltage; if the output voltage is in the first voltage range, generating a control signal using a first control method performed by a first controller, the first controller receiving the output voltage and determining the control signal based on the value of the output voltage in the first voltage range; and if the output voltage is in the second range, generating a control signal using a second control method performed by a second controller, the second controller receiving the output voltage and determining the control signal based on the value of the output voltage in the second voltage range.
Abstract:
A method to manage fast random access of a DRAM memory is described. The method includes steps of: dividing the memory into memory banks accessible independently in read and write mode; identifying the address of the bank concerned by a current request and comparing the address of the bank concerned by a current request with the addresses of the N−1 banks previously requested. N is an integral number of cycles necessary for executing a request. If the address of the bank concerned by a current request is equal to the address of a bank corresponding to one of the N−1 previous requests, then the method further includes steps of suspending and memorizing the current request until the previous request involving the same bank is executed, otherwise the current request is executed.
Abstract:
A method protects against a global data erasure an integrated circuit comprising an electrically programmable data memory and a control unit to execute commands for reading or writing in the memory. The method includes the steps of providing, in the integrated circuit, electrically programmable reference memory cells, at putting the integrated circuit into service, storing, in the reference memory cells, bits of determined value forming an authorized combination of bits and, during the operation of the integrated circuit following its putting into service, reading and evaluating the reference memory cells and blocking the integrated circuit if the reference memory cells contain a forbidden combination of bits different from the authorized combination.
Abstract:
A microprocessor includes a computation unit having logic units for executing operations associated with determined instructions of a microprocessor instruction set and a control unit for interpreting the instructions and for controlling the logic units accordingly. An internal timer of the microprocessor is activated by the control unit in response to the execution of a dedicated standby instruction of the microprocessor instruction set. Responsive thereto, a timeout signal is delivered to the control unit so as to place the microprocessor in a standby state during a determined timeout period.
Abstract:
A switched-mode power converter, including, between a first end of a main inductive element and a switch, a two-value inductive element automatically switching between its two values.
Abstract:
An inductive element formed of planar windings in different conductive levels, the windings being formed in a number of levels smaller by one unit than the number of windings, two of the windings being interdigited in a same level.
Abstract:
A method for manufacturing an inductance in a monolithic circuit including a substrate of planar upper surface, including the steps of forming in the substrate a cavity substantially following the contour of the inductance to be formed, the cross-section of the cavity being deep with respect to its width; and filling the cavity with a conductive material.
Abstract:
A circuit for controlling the power in a load supplied by an A.C. voltage and directly connected to a first terminal of application of the A.C. voltage, including two isolated-gate bipolar transistors, connected in anti-parallel between a second terminal of application of the A.C. voltage and the load; circuitry for detecting the zero crossing of the A.C. supply voltage in a first direction; circuitry for generating, at each period of the supply voltage, a pulse of predetermined duration for controlling a first one of said transistors, the time of occurrence of the pulse being conditioned by the detection of the zero crossing of the A.C. voltage and by a desired power reference setting a variable delay of occurrence of the pulse with respect to the detected zero crossing; and circuitry for inverting and transferring said pulse to the second transistor.
Abstract:
For each current image output from a pixel matrix, the digital words relative to at least one masked line of the matrix are processed to generate a current correction digital code. From this code, a black level compensation signal is generated and applied as an offset control on pixel signal amplification. If the current correct digital code does not differ from the code calculated for a previous image output by a predetermined amount, then the code for the previous image is instead used to generate the black level compensation signal.
Abstract:
A memory comprises memory cells arranged in a memory array, and an address decoder to apply memory cells selection signals to the memory array according to a read address applied to the memory. The memory comprises an address reconstruction circuit which reconstructs at least one part of the read address from the memory cells selection signals, and supplies a first reconstructed address able to detect an error injection affecting the selection signals. Particularly but not exclusively applicable to the integrated circuits for chip cards.