Abstract:
An all-digital phase locked loop (ADPLL) generates a feedback word representing a continuous-time oscillating signal. The ADPLL includes a time-to-digital converter (TDC) configured to be input with the continuous-time oscillating signal and a reference signal. The reference signal is a function of a reference clock signal. The TDC is configured to generate a digital word, the feedback word being a function of the digital word. The ADPLL includes a delay circuit configured to be input with at least one of the reference clock signal and the continuous-time oscillating signal and to be controlled by a first dither signal.
Abstract:
A circuit is for generating a signal that indicates whether or not an input current exceeds a pre-established threshold current and, in the affirmative case, that is representative of the difference between the input current and the threshold current. The circuit includes a diode-connected transistor biased with a first constant current in a saturation functioning condition, a sense transistor mirrored to the diode-connected transistor and biased in a linear (triode) functioning condition, a load transistor connected in series to the sense transistor, biased with a second constant current and the control terminal of which is connected in common with the respective terminals of the diode-connected transistor and of the sense transistor. The input current to be compared is injected to a common current node of the load transistor and of the sense transistor, and the output voltage is available on the other current node of the load transistor.
Abstract:
A current sensing circuit for a pulse width modulation (PWM) application may include first and second input terminals to be coupled to ends of a sensing resistance, an output terminal, and first and second internal circuit nodes. The current sensing circuit further may include an input block comprising a first transconductance amplifier to be coupled to a supply voltage. The first transconductance amplifier may be coupled to the first and second input terminals and to the first and second internal circuit nodes. The current sensing circuit may also include an amplifier block comprising an amplifier to be coupled to a reference voltage, and coupled to the first and second internal circuit nodes and the output terminal, and a feedback block comprising a second transconductance amplifier to be coupled to the supply voltage and being coupled to the output terminal and the first and second internal circuit nodes. The input block may further include a third transconductance amplifier coupled in cascade to the first transconductance amplifier and to the first and second input terminals.
Abstract:
A device for producing energy for portable applications including at least one micro fuel cell and a microreactor, having a reaction chamber including a catalyst, for producing hydrogen gas to be fed to the micro fuel cell. The microreactor includes at least one substrate of a composite material for making printed circuits micromachined with printed circuit technology suitable for making the reaction chamber and having a semipermeable membrane on top of it. The substrate and the membrane are connected to the micro fuel cell to make a single body through a single pressure assembly step.
Abstract:
An electrocatalytic polymer-based powder has particles of at least one electronically conductive polymer species in which particles are dispersed of at least one catalytic redox species, in which the particles of the polymer species and of the catalytic species are of nanometric dimension.
Abstract:
Measurements are acquired from a magnetic sensor during a non-pre-ordered movement, and a plurality of sets of solutions are determined for respective expected values of intensity of the Earth's magnetic field. The solutions are defined by a plurality of parameters, including at least one gain value for each detection axis of the magnetic sensor. For each solution, a figure of merit is determined, correlated to a calibration error, and a partial solution is selected in each set of solutions, based on the figure of merit. Once a gain confidence interval has been defined, a calibration solution is selected based on the figure of merit, from among the partial solutions having respective gain values all falling within the gain confidence interval.
Abstract:
An encapsulated organic electronic device is provided with: a substrate; at least one first elementary component and one second elementary component set above the substrate, each of said first and second elementary components being provided with a respective first electrode set above the substrate, a respective region of organic material set above the first electrode, and a respective second electrode set above the region of organic material at least partially in an area corresponding to the first electrode; and an encapsulation structure, defining an encapsulation space isolated from an external environment and designed to protect the first and second elementary components from the external environment. In particular, the regions of organic material of the first and second elementary components are separated and distinct from one another and are set entirely within the encapsulation space.
Abstract:
The method of synchronizing sequential phase switchings in driving stator windings of a multiphase sensorless brushless motor with a reconstructed information on the current angular position of a permanent magnet rotor, includes sampling on a currently non-conductive stator winding a voltage induced thereon by the resultant magnetic field produced by the drive current forced through currently conductive stator windings that inverts its sign when the rotor transitions across a plurality of significant angular positions, at which orthogonality between the resultant magnetic field and a magnetic axis of the non-excited winding verifies. The sign of the sampled voltage induced on the currently non-excited winding is compared with the sign that is expected upon transiting across the angular position of inversion by the moving rotor for the current phase drive configuration to sequentially switch to the next phase drive configuration upon verifying conformity of the sign of the sampled voltage with the expected sign.
Abstract:
A basic electronic circuit generates a magnitude. The circuit has certain structural characteristics and the magnitude undergoes variations in function of the structural characteristics of the circuit. The circuit comprises at least two circuit parts suitable for supplying respective fractions of the magnitude and the at least two circuit parts have different structural characteristics.
Abstract:
A calibration circuit calibrates an adjustable capacitance of a circuit having a time constant depending on the adjustable capacitance. The calibration circuit outputs a calibration signal carrying information for calibrating the capacitor and includes a calibration loop. The calibration circuit includes: a controllable capacitance unit suitable to receive a control signal and including at least one array of switched capacitors that can be activated by the control signal, the unit being such as to output a first signal characterized by a parameter depending on the amount of capacitance of the array activated by the control signal; a comparison unit suitable to receive the first signal to assess whether the parameter meets a preset condition and to output a comparison signal representative of the assessment result; a control and timing logic unit suitable to receive the comparison signal to change this control signal based on the comparison signal, characterized in that the first signal is a logic signal and the parameter is a time parameter of the first signal.