Abstract:
A bipolar transistor, comprising a collector region, a base region, and an emitter region, is a type which is compatible to CMOS processes leading to the formation, on a semiconductor substrate, of N-channel and P-channel MOS transistors having respective source and drain regions. In such bipolar transistor, the collector region is a substrate diffused pocket and the base region is formed within the diffused pocket simultaneously with the source and drain regions of the P-channel MOS transistors. Further, the emitter region is incorporated, in turn, to the base region simultaneously with the source and drain regions of the N-channel MOS transistors.
Abstract:
A protection circuit for at least one power transistor which has at least one control terminal and two main conduction terminals defining a main conduction path includes a first detection means designed to generate a first electrical signal approximately proportional to current flowing in the main conduction path. Second detection means are designed to generate a second electrical signal approximately proportional to voltage across the main conduction path. Multiplying means receive at input the first and second signals and are designed to generate an electrical product signal substantially corresponding to the product of at least the latter. A generator generates an electrical reference signal, and operational amplifier means receive at input the product signal and the reference signal and are designed to generate an electrical difference signal substantially corresponding to their difference. Control means are designed to drive the control terminal on the basis of the difference signal so that the product signal is not greater than the reference signal.
Abstract:
A circuit for regulating the charging voltage to a battery and connected to the field inductor (IND) of an alternator (ALT) which supplies that voltage. It is connected by a control cable to the battery and comprises an electric path, extending between a terminal for connection to the alternator and ground, which is only activated when the battery voltage drops below a predetermined threshold value. This electric path comprises a switch (TSW) driven from a control circuit (COMP1,T4) which sense the battery voltage, and when activated, the voltage drop across the path is substantially equal to that of the regulated voltage. The control circuit also senses breakage in the battery sensing cable, and ceases driving the alternator when this occurs.
Abstract:
A voltage step-up circuit with regulated output voltage, comprises a voltage divider and a current-absorption circuit connected between the output terminal of the circuit and ground. A control circuit connected to the divider drives the switching of the current-absorption circuit.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a memory device and specifically the multilevel type with error check and correction function and having a data input (DI), a data output (DO) and an address input (A1) and being of the type comprising first memory, circuit (DM) designed to be accessed by means of address for containing user data, second memory circuit (EM) for containing error data concerning said user data, a control logic (CL) designed to receive in the writing phase from said address input (A1) and the data input (DI) a writing address and user data respectively and to generate error data and to write, the data in the first circuit (DM) and second circuit (EM) respectively and designed to receive in the reading phase from said address input (AI) a reading address and extract corresponding user data and error data and combine them to correct any errors and supply them to the data output (DO) and characterized in that the second, circuit (EM) is the type designed to be accessed by means of content and, the content for access corresponding to addresses of said first circuit (DM).
Abstract:
A pulse generator has an input and two outputs at which to respectively generate pulses in relation to different types of signal edges received at the input of the generator. The generator provides two distinct logic circuit blocks of the sequential type, the blocks being mutually independent for generation of the pulses at the two outputs. In this manner it is possible to easily control the characteristics of the pulses. In addition, if two blocks are connected with appropriate and simple logic networks, it is possible in the generation phase to impose conditions between the pulses at the two outputs in a simple manner and with a certain freedom.
Abstract:
A multipurpose integrated circuit for driving in a switching mode an externally connected load or loads permits implementation of any appropriate supply scheme of the external load or loads through six output terminals thereof and is therefore useful in a large number of applications. The integrated circuit uses six integrated power switching devices provided with respective recirculation diodes and a single externally connected sensing resistor for generating, by means of a customary PWM control loop, a control signal by which means of a logic circuit configurable by .�.programaming.!. .Iadd.programming .Iaddend.permits the generation of driving signals as a function of the control signal for all six integrated power switches in accordance with a configuration of the driving signals which conforms with the particular scheme of connection of the load or loads selected among the different bridge type and unipolar-motor type schemes which may be selected by programming. A multiplexer is used for selecting among bridge type driving signals and unipolar-motor type driving modes and a ROM provided with two input registers for selecting the specific driving scheme and for regulation, respectively.
Abstract:
A management unit for microcontrollers equipped with a decoder for a plurality of interrupt channels, the unit being connected to a central processing unit of the microcontroller to decode and transfer thereto a single interrupt digital signal through the decoder, and comprises a first circuit portion for selecting homolog pairs of channels incorporating a modular chain of elements, each having a respective channel pair connected thereto. The first or selection portion is associated with a second decoding circuit portion, and the interrupt signal is a reform of the channel interrupt vector carrying higher priority in the channel pair selected by the chain.
Abstract:
A page-mode semiconductor memory device comprises a matrix of memory cells arranged in rows and columns, each row forming a memory page of the memory device and comprising at least one group of memory cells, memory page selection means for selecting a row of the matrix, and a plurality of sensing circuits each one associated with a respective column of the matrix. The memory cells are multiple-level memory cells which can be programmed in a plurality of c=2b(b>1) programming states to store b information bits, and the sensing circuits are serial-dichotomic sensing circuits capable of determining, in a number b of consecutive approximation steps, the b information bits stored in the memory cells, at each step one of said b information bits being determined, said at least one group of memory cells of a row forming a number b of memory words of a memory page.
Abstract:
A differential charge pump circuit employing a lowpass filter network which is chargeable and dischargeable by switchingly controlled current generators. The differential charge pump employs two identical current generators for injecting the same current I in a substantially continuous manner, on the two significant nodes of the lowpass filter. The differential charge pump also employs two pairs of identical, switchingly controlled current generators connected to the two significant nodes, respectively, each capable of pulling a current I. The two generators forming each of the two pairs of switchingly controlled current generators are controlled by one of a pair of control signals (UP, DOWN) and by the inverted signal of the other of the pair of control signals, respectively. All four switchingly controlled generators may be of the same type (N-type), thus ensuring high speed and precision. The two identical (P-type) current generators employed for continuously injecting the same current I on the two nodes of the lowpass filter may be controlled through a common mode feedback loop for enhanced precision.